Very nice pictures. Its good to see 50+ year old tractors still working, and doing the jobs they were made for! They sure did know how to build them, back then. Good looking machines, and thanks for sharing.
My sons, and I have always enjoyed our off road buggies, and were forever upgrading them to go a little faster. Unfortunately, they're always to cramped for me a 6'3" tall, so I decided to build one that would fit me. Its nice, and long. I built the chassis out of 1" square thick wall tubing, with 1.5" channel iron reinforcing the primary frame rails. The roll bar is 1" thin wall to keep the weight down. The engine is a 420cc 15hp Honda clone, with governor removed, ARC con rod, and carb rejetted. The drive is a Comet 94c Duster snowmobile CVT torque converter, with the stall speed set at 3200rpm. The axle is a 1" with a custom made sproket, and an disc brake. Its top speed is 42mph, but this thing has a agressive take off. It always leaves a rooster tail of dirt behind you when launching. I'm getting older now, and I really wish I had put suspension on it. My aching rear! Sorry for the poor pics, but I thought I had better ones. Mine is the Green one.
900cc BMW powered Wheel Horse! Can you say 0-yard mowed in under 6 seconds!
I have one Ian, that I'm still hoping to get finished some day, but my old engine, and garden tractor addiction keeps getting in the way!
Its a Smart Car gone Wild! Actually it was never a Smart Car, it was actually a road legal electric car, that got a coil over suspension installed, along with numerous other off road upgrades. Its electric motor was removed, and I put a way to under powered Honda 11hp GX340 in, and a Comet 44 Mag CVT torque converter. After realizing this wasn't enough power, I decided to start looking for a 1000cc or so air cooled motorcycle engine to put in it. Never have gotten any further. Some day. Thanks
If anyone else wants to join the Elf Owner club be my guest , or even some Gutbrod owners as they are basically the same other than the branding.
I am biased of course but they are a brilliant bit of kit, they are little tractors rather than a ride on mower. They have 4 forward gears, 2 reverse gears all driven with a proper car type clutch, they also have diff lock, rear PTO both ground and engine speed and a front PTO, oh and handbrake which I always forget to release
That is an amazing machine you have there, and the PTO driven trailer is awesome! I know of one guy by the name of Will, who has one here in the U.S., but he went thru a bunch of work to get it here. The Germans shure do know how to properly equip a garden tractor! Very Nice!!!
2 very good reasons for hanging on to the Case, one for the memory, and 2, you'll never find another one in the condition you've brought it up to.
Very nice surgically reconditioned Kohler Matt
As always, thank you Richard. Actually, it was watching true craftsman like yourself doing a restoration, that made me strive to do better work. This tractor does bring back alot of good memories for me.
Yes,
a credit to you for all the right reasons.
I did know someone here in the UK with similar, but not with a black chassis (frame?) I don't think .... grey possibly?
But yes,
Very very nice work there!
Thanks TITCH, I appreciate it.
A fantastic restoration Matt, the "Gary's Case" decals add the perfect and very special touch
Thanks Ian. I really felt the need to put something on this tractor, that would always remind me of Gary, and these decals did the trick.
What a lovely restoration and a great story, a fitting tribute to your friend, well done that man
Thank you!
Wow Matt , Gary`s Case tractor looks a real treat , i bet you would struggle to ever let that one go eh . Your Buddy Gary would have been delighted how it turned out .
I think i may have seen one or two of those here in the UK but there wouldnt be many kicking around .
The US has a far greater selection of Garden tractors than the UK .
I think the reason why Garden tractors are more popular in US than UK is that your homesteads are far bigger & you have more of them than we do & besides Britain was really quite poor after the second world war so people couldnt afford these tractors not until the early 60`s when Britain started to import more Garden tractors
Thanks Neil, and your right, I'll never get rid of this one. Thanks for the information, and although we may of had a larger variety over here, I've seen some really cool garden tractors on this site that I never knew existed. This really is a great place to see equipment from around the world!
Matt
Great tractor matt, and one to treasure....
Thanks, and I"m certainly very attached to this one.
Thought I'd post another one of my more recent projects. This was given to me by a close friend (Gary) two days before he passed away from Cancer. He was one of the kindest, most giving individuals I have ever known, so this was a very special project for me, and made for a great memorial of him.
I don't know if you guys have these on the other side of the pond, but they are a very well built machine. They are a true hydraulic drive, not a hydrostatic. They have a much higher pressure, and volume than a traditional hydrostat, which made them perfect for loaders, and such. Its pump is bolted directly to the back of the engine, and it has a hydraulic motor on the rear end, as well as hydraulic raise, and lower cylinder.
Case built these tractors, almost unchanged from the 60's, and they're still being built today under the Ingersoll name. These are the only garden tractor that I know of, at least over here that remained basically unchanged from the 60's all the way to present. Here is a link to the current Ingersol site. http://www.eastmanind.com/INGERSOLL/tabid/186/Default.aspx
This particular Case is an 84 model, also know to the Case collectors as the Black Frame model. This was the year Case sold their garden tractor division to Ingersoll, and although they still wore the Case name, they were owned by Ingersoll. These are a somewhat collectible year, as it was the only year they came with the black frame, as well as different decals, and a white seat. Although I no longer have a white seat on mine, as it was in bad shape, as can be seen by the pictures. This GT is equipped with a Kohler K-301 12hp engine, and a 44" rear discharge mower deck. Here are a few pics. Thanks
What a gorgeous Wheel Horse! Looks really tuff with the 23x10.50's and wheel weights. You do first class work, and thats certainly a first class tractor.
What a great restoration and I m loving seeing these little tractors we dont see in this country keep em coming.
What I would love to see now is a pond walk behind.
Thanks Steve, and I too am enjoying seeing tractors here that I've never seen before.
Posts that tell a story are simply the best IMHO and this one is great.
Re the headlights, they may not be factory but I can fully understand where your son was coming from, they add so much extra character to that little tractor!
Great to see such interesting stuff from your side of the pond which is much appreciated - spread the word.
Andy
Thanks Andy. Yes, i'm glad I put the headlights back on it as well. Its a real joy to watch Danny on his tractor, and see him enjoying it as much as I did over 30yrs ago. He takes great care of it. He checks his oil religiously, and washes it all the time. His tractor is always cleaner than mine are.
I've been enjoying looking at the stuff from your side of the pond as well, and I'll spread the word.
Sort of post n pics you don't ever tire from looking at. Great story, terrific little Tractor, Quality workmanship and Matt has the guts to post a pic of himself when he was a 'Nipper' ....... 'Proper Job' there Matt
Thanks Richard. Every time I look at those old pics, it reminds me what a rotten, obnoxious kid I was! You can see me sneeking up behind my sister in the second pic, and just look at the rotten look on my face in both pics!
yeah what Richard said Matt , & dont you take any nonsence off anyone , i think you look great in those shorts & white socks
That's a fantastic restoration Matt (Welcome to MOM by the way), it should last many many more years now.
Thanks Ian, I appreciate both the welcome, and the kind words. I hope it last for years to come, but I must say, Danny puts some serious hours on this tractor! Anytime I'm out working my tractors, mowing, tilling, etc., he's on his tractor. His motto is "if dads getting seat time, so do I".. He's a real chip off the ole block!
The briggs engine looks astonshing
The little tractor just has sooooooo much character
That is now one SWEET ride and love to see those old pics.
Thanks for sharing it. Probably a lifetime memory for your son too.
What happened to the lights? Was that something your Dad added or were they factory? I see you closed the holes when you restored it
Thanks, and it did build some wonderful memories for my son, and I both. He loves his tractor as much as I did as a kid, and I hope to see it passed to his son some day.
The story with the lights is this. These never had lights from the factory, or electric start, but when my dad gave this to me initially as a kid, I wasn't strong enough to pull start it myself. It had the old starter cup that you wrap a rope around. So, my dad installed an old Delco starter/generator on it for me, and with the added electricity, he decided to install headlights.
I have since put headlights back on it for Danny, because when he saw the pictures of it when I was a kid, he wanted to know why I stole the headlights off of it! So, I re installed the headlights, and even added an old set of bullet taillights.
Hello all. I thought I'd share a few pics of my childhood Garden Tractor, that now belongs to my son Danny. Some of you that have spent time at the RS may have seen the thread where I restored this tractor for my son Danny, a couple years ago. http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/32609-standard-tractor/?hl=%20bantam
Its a 52 Standard 3000. In 53 they took the name Bantam, but it was still the same tractor. My dad gave this to me over 30 years ago, and it was my pride and joy as a child. I managed to hang on to it all these years, and had the privileged to restore it, and pass it on to my youngest son. These are very small tractors, and although I don't have any attachments for it, you could get them with all the standard stuff. Mower deck, snow plow, dump cart, etc.. It still has its original Briggs 9FB engine with 3hp. You could get these tractors in 4 different sizes. The Bantam Jr.(2hp), 3000 (3hp), 5000 (5hp), and the 8000(8hp).
I've included a couple of pictures of it from my childhood. I'm the obnoxious looking boy in the pics, and the girls are my sisters, and their friends. In on pic, my dad is on the seat, and in the other pic, my mom is on the seat. I've also included a couple pics of what it looked like before I restored it, and after. Thanks
Great information Neil. However, if your trying to date the early Briggs engines, that won't work. Here is a link to get your manufacture date for the early engines, as well as some great info.
OMG , what a collection. they are just amazing works of art.
Thank you sooooooooo much for showing those to us ,
They are just beautiful
Where do you keep them all?
Thanks Neil, and actually all the engines that are picture here are living on display shelves inside my house. I have about 50 old engines, most of which live at my shop, but these are the privileged few that live in a climate controlled environment. Believe it or not, it doesn't bother my wife at all. She likes them!
That's a huge collection, what a great thread!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks, I appreciate it. I do have a few old engines, and it seems like every time I turn my back, they multiply like rabbits!
What a wonderful collection - just amazing really.
Thanks for sharing both the pics and details.
Andy
Thanks for the kind words Andy.
That Gentleman, is a pictorial record of B&S Engines unlikely to be found anywhere else. They are truly superb 'Works of Art' in their own right.
I know who to ask for guidance when I'm lucky enough to stumble over an old 'Briggs'. Thanks Matt, I'm sure people will endorse the fact they just had to be on here.
Thanks Richard, I take that as a great compliment coming from someone who does the caliber of work that you do. I've spent alot of time drooling over your C-120!
I agree, some collection. Superb!
Thanks You.
All gorgeous restorations...like artwork all.
Thanks for the encouraging post.
You guys sure know how to make a guy feel at home.
Pics 1-4 are of a 48 model N, with a mechanical governor, which is unusual. Most all Model N engines were equipped with an air vain governor. This engine was originally on a David Bradley walk behind garden tractor, and is also equipped with the aluminum sheet metal.
Pics 5-7 are a Briggs NP. The NP is different from a regular Model N, because it has a bearing, rather than a bushing on the PTO side of the crankshaft, and it also has mounting holes to bolt equipment directly to the engine.
Pics 8-11 are a 52 NPR6. It has the 6:1 gear reduction, and is a very late production model N. The model N line of engine ended in early 53, and they only made just a very few in 53.
Pics 12-14 are of a 52 Briggs Model 8 that I restored, and put in my son Nathans mini bike. He loves it!
I guess I'm going to have to become a supporter, as I managed to max out my allowed MB's of pictures in one thread! Wow.
Pics 1-3 are of a 46 Briggs NPR6. This engines originally came on a Bolen Power Ho walk behind garden tractor. It has a 6:1 gear reduction.
Pics 4-7 are of a 47 Briggs NS Kick Start engine. These engines use a suction feed carburetor, which is what the "S" stands for. This particular engine was used on wash machines. This one is not restored, as it was just a nice original, good running engine. I don't have the gas tank, or exhaust on it in these pics, but it does have them now.
Pics 8-11 are of a 48 Model N. 1948 was the only year Briggs ever used aluminum sheet metal on the model N. (shroud, cylinder shield, and rope cup). Briggs originally painted them all black, but I chose to just clear the aluminum parts, as this is what makes them different.
Pics 12-15 are of a 48 Model NS. This one has the suction feed carburetor.
So what was the top speed on that animal?
All this go-kart showing makes me want to break my old cart project out of the bike shed....
Sorry for the poor pics, but I thought I had better ones. Mine is the Green one. 
Can you say 0-yard mowed in under 6 seconds! 
, or even some Gutbrod owners as they are basically the same other than the branding.
....... 'Proper Job' there Matt 
So, I re installed the headlights, and even added an old set of bullet taillights. 
just amazing really.
David Bradley, the riders
in Ride On's
Posted
Very nice pictures. Its good to see 50+ year old tractors still working, and doing the jobs they were made for! They sure did know how to build them, back then. Good looking machines, and thanks for sharing.
Matt