Well folks, I took the shroud and starter generator cover off and the flywheel screen off too and found a nice big nest I vacuumed out the nest since the pictures.....
I also took the air filter off, and it looks like it's the original one! I right now plan on blowing it out with the air compressor gun and seeing how it looks. It will most likely have to be replaced, so I am planning on getting an NOS one for the engine and saving the original to be on the safe side but we will see......
I also put some PB blaster in the spark plug hole to try and free up the engine since it won't turn over by hand, I put the PB in everyday for 2 weeks but at the end of the 2nd week of the engine still not turning and the PB evaporating I put some ATF and kerosene in the spark plug hole. That too evaporated and didn't work either by the next morning so I am gonna have to most likely rebuild the engine. I took the engine head bolts out when I put the ATF in the hole just for this reason of having to take the engine apart so I can try and save some time.
Before with the ATF in the spark plug hole......
After with the ATF not in the spark plug hole......
Well I put yet another craftsman in my shed thanks to a member of MyTractorForum, along with a spare engine too! I bought this from him and now I got both the 6 and 10 horsepower version! It needs A LOT, mostly everything BUT i will get it there.
It all started with me seeing this tractor somewhere on the forum but I forgot where and remembering the fella having it, then meeting the fella at a local tractor show and expressing interest in it saying "if you ever wanna sell it let me know". Then it turns out my first craftsman or the one in the 3rd picture on the left is having problems and asking the fella for some pictures of now my tractor on the right in the 1st and 2nd picture. He then sent me a message saying he was thinking of selling the tractor and asking if I was still interested in it, needless to say I asked if I can come look at it and then went to his house to look at it and then struck a deal.
When I bought the tractor the fella I bought it from said he bought it from a kid to restore it, but was never gonna get around to it so he offered it to me before he put it for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The kid was gonna scrap it when the fella bought it! I am now the 3rd owner as far as I know, unfortunately no manuals or paperwork came with the tractor when I bought it though.
My personal plan is to document the restoration here when I can and have time, and ask as many questions as possible if I or my stepdad don't know the answer to them. I am going to take as many pictures as possible when the resto gets started and throughout the resto and upload them here as well if my phone allows me to. I also am going to "bag and tag" and label every nut and bolt possible when I take it apart, (because I made that BIG mistake on my other tractor).
Look for more on this tractor coming back from the dead in the hopeful near future....
Below are the pictures the fella sent me when he started talking about selling it.....
It is now in my shed with my other Craftsman, now I have both the 6 and 10hp versions!
So far I took the gas tank off......
and found a nice nest......
I cleaned all the rust out of it, I completely cleaned it out twice with rocks CLR and PB blaster.....
Results after cleaning one.....
Results after cleaning two and letting the CLR sit for 36 hours.....
the show is still on and it starts in an hour and 43 minutes according to their website. I unfortunately have to go to work this morning BUT it is only for a very short time from 9am-12 noon, then I maybe will be there today will the pull start Craftsman. The electric start Craftsman is at the finish line but still is not ready just yet, my goal is to work on it today after the show if I go then have it done by tomorrow for its debut.
See y'all there hopefully today but definitely tomorrow.
It's still a go, and I will be there this year on Sunday if the show ain't canceled and the weather is good. My goal is to have the electric start power unit ready for the show to make its debut, but if it ain't ready then the pull/recoil start power unit will be there by itself.
December 28th 2020, it was a good day around in the 50s so I took advantage and painted. Now there are a few runs although you can't see it in the picture, but you're most likely not gonna see them anyway so im not too worried. I may redo it before I put the new tape on but not sure....
December 23rd 2020, I got the old tape off of the footrests and sanded them down to get them ready for paint. Notice the grinder wheel marks, that was not from me the previous owner must of did that. Good thing I discovered that but its going to stay like it is.....
Ordered from Amazon, they come in a 3 pack which I don't need but at least I will have some extras incase I mess up on the first one I cut to fit or if I need them for another project.
I'm back with an update on my electric power unit. December 4th 2020, I painted the pulley to the starter generator and the deck stop lever (or whatever it is called).....
I decided that while I have the engine off anyways, and not to mention I messed up and sprayed some yellow paint to my starter generator that I would paint that too. Plus and a 3rd reason is because it had some chipped paint spots. I decided instead of unbolting and taking the heavy generator off I would paint it right on the tractor, and that is what I did. On November 6th 2020, I taped off anything and everything so no black paint would get on the yellow like I originally did......
Before the tape.....
With all the tape and outside with a coat of paint on it already....... I really do appreciate everyone who is following these builds, it means a lot. Thanks!
Well, after seeing how good my stepdads tractor engine came out and how mine looked like crap compared to his I decided to do mine too. Soo much for JUST a front grille scratch repair and repaint. November 6th 2020, my engine was taken off the tractor and placed here. I think I'm goin' alittle overboard but it'll be worth it in the long run for me because it'll be like I want it.
Before picture.......
November 7th 2020, the engine gets sanded and painted...... Note this is after only 1 coat of paint.
Also painted the pulley gray also while I was at it,. I already sanded it before I taped it off and painted the engine.....
it's been while but I do have more updates. Lets get back to the electric start power unit now, and unfortunately no it is still not done yet. October 17th 2020, the left fender seat and battery box are put on.
Now that the tractor is done, here are a few pictures of it with the deck on it. The first picture was taken November 5th 2020, and this is the day we actually took it out for the first time for a ride since reinstalling the deck and the engine. We actually mowed the grass with it too for the first time in about 30 years too.
Well that is all for me right now, please stay tuned until next time.....
October 4th 2020- The engine was put back on the tractor after a months time, and the deck was also put back on the tractor after about 25 years. These pictures were taken a couple weeks later on October 17th.
August 20th 2020. My stepfather got the original deck out to fix a giant whole that his father blew through it. My stepfather said that he believed it was a big rock.
Now onto the pull start power unit, this is my stepfathers tractor and HE is honestly doing the work to this one. NOT me, since it is currently his and I am working on my own. I was the shower last year with it, anyways September 4th 2020...... the engine was taken off of the tractor and cleaned. I unfortunately do not have many pictures of the engine just before and after.
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6hp Craftsman Power Unit Restoration
in Step by Step restoration
Posted · Edited by 1967Craftsman's
Added A Picture
I also took the engine shroud off, here is what it looks like......