the showman 4,074 #1 Posted January 27, 2018 Back last summer while I was at a mates barn having a rummage, right at the back in the darkness I found a red tractor that ive never seen before. After a bit of research I found that it was built by Toro for one year and because of poor sales was dropped. The dealer had 10 and offered them at a deal and my mate bought 3. Two were used for a contract that he had then parked up and the third is still new and not assembled. The one I have bought is a Toro GMT 230 1978, It has a Kohler 23 hp engine, hydraulic deck lift and bends in the middle. It was parked up in the barn in the late 90s after doing 170 hours work and left until I spotted it. After fitting a makeshift fuel tank and a good battery it fired straight up with everything working. Have to say i'm chuffed to bits with it and sounds really nice, awesome thing to drive 11 HeadExam, Cub Cadet, 4x4forks and 8 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #2 Posted January 27, 2018 Restore, or leave as Chris. ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #3 Posted January 27, 2018 Very nice Chris. Good find. Not too dissimilar to a Bolens GroundKeeper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #4 Posted January 27, 2018 And Pam didn't hit the roof either, result ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #5 Posted January 27, 2018 Here's today's photos 6 Cub Cadet, Triumph66, Stormin and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #6 Posted January 27, 2018 I would have brought if for the engine Chris Trac Fest Entry this year?? 1 HeadExam reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #7 Posted January 27, 2018 35 minutes ago, Alan said: Restore, or leave as Chris. ? I'd find that a hard decision to make due to its rarity. Bit big for Chris's lawn, but great for the green and verges I mow. Bet it will sup the juice though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #8 Posted January 27, 2018 3 minutes ago, Stormin said: I'd find that a hard decision to make due to its rarity. Bit big for Chris's lawn, but great for the green and verges I mow. Bet it will sup the juice though. Well Norm, if he buys the new and unassembled one too, he needn't make the decision. One for show and one for play. If Pam didn't mind the first, shouldn't be a problem with another. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #9 Posted January 27, 2018 I'm not sure about that, Alan. One will take up a lot of his workshop space. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #10 Posted January 27, 2018 Very nice, never seen one before Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #11 Posted January 27, 2018 2 hours ago, Alan said: Restore, or leave as Chris. ? I'm going to leave as is at the moment apart from a good power / steam clean 1 hour ago, Chris said: I would have brought if for the engine Chris Trac Fest Entry this year?? Would have been an expensive engine Chris 11 minutes ago, nigel said: Very nice, never seen one before I've never seen one either Nigel, its not even in my Toro history book 2 Cub Cadet and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wristpin 400 #12 Posted January 27, 2018 Back in the early 80s I knew someone (now deceased) who bought three, still in their shipping crates and ran them for a while on contract grass cutting. Cheap but not entirely suited to UK conditions! PM sent. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeadExam 1,783 #13 Posted January 28, 2018 Unbelievable find, the engine alone is a gem. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #14 Posted January 28, 2018 Nice to have the original brochures and manuals with it too. 5 Triumph66, Alan, HeadExam and 2 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #15 Posted January 28, 2018 The Turf Truck would be handy. I also like the 3-Wheeler. 2 the showman and HeadExam reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #16 Posted January 28, 2018 That is an absolutely fantastic tractor, I love it. It hard to imagine that they were not a good seller as it looks perfect for cutting large areas of grass. Great find. It has the same engine as my main grass cutting tractor and I budget for one gallon of petrol per acre. Those engines do run hot and can suffer from head gasket problems. I now regularly remove the tin around the heads, blow out any debris and re-torque the heads. Not had any problems since. 2 the showman and HeadExam reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #17 Posted January 28, 2018 So is the deck supposed to be white chris ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #18 Posted January 28, 2018 34 minutes ago, nigel said: So is the deck supposed to be white chris ? It shows on the brochure it has white belt covers but mine has red covers , don't know why ??? 1 HeadExam reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeadExam 1,783 #19 Posted January 29, 2018 9 hours ago, the showman said: It shows on the brochure it has white belt covers but mine has red covers , don't know why ??? All the white paint went to Howard Bolens 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cub Cadet 613 #20 Posted January 29, 2018 Awesome Find! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #21 Posted January 29, 2018 that's a great find Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #22 Posted February 3, 2018 Just remembered that I also had fuel pump issues with the K582 in mine, you would have to crank it over for a while before you would get fuel to the engine. At great expense I fitted a new OEM fuel pump but it made little difference, so I added a manual primer and in-line tap. A couple of pumps with the primer and it fires up the second you engage the starter. I also put an additional battery earth lead directly onto the engine which made it run smoother. 2 the showman and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #23 Posted February 3, 2018 31 minutes ago, slf-uk said: Just remembered that I also had fuel pump issues with the K582 in mine, you would have to crank it over for a while before you would get fuel to the engine. At great expense I fitted a new OEM fuel pump but it made little difference, so I added a manual primer and in-line tap. A couple of pumps with the primer and it fires up the second you engage the starter. I also put an additional battery earth lead directly onto the engine which made it run smoother. Thanks for the tip Iain I'll keep that in mind Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #24 Posted February 3, 2018 I've fitted those primer bulbs to my C-125 Work Horse and to the C-121 Black Horse. Saves a lot of cranking. I intend to also fit them to the C-81 and Sears/Roper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #25 Posted February 9, 2018 Well I saw Chris earlier today and saw his new toy. It is a very impressive bit and of kit and we both agreed that we were surprised the model never took off. It was great to catch up with him today and I look forward to catching up with him at RPT this August. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
