Moto-Mower progress pics

Well its been awhile since I've shown any progress on my 10 hp Moto-Mower. As of today its pretty well reassembled. I acquired a replacement transaxle as the original had a blown reverse. I finally got that painted and got everything bolted up today. Now, it just needs some electrical and other small repairs and maintenance for the engine, and the gas tank reinstalled and it should be back up and running. Here's a couple of pics with it all reassembled. My repaint job on the transaxle looks like crap, but it will do for now. I also installed the sleeve hitch bracket I had, but I don't have the sleeve hitch itself.

Looks real good Evan. Glad it's up and going again.

Looks good are you going to restore it or leave it

tracktor312 wrote:

Looks good are you going to restore it or leave it

I'm going to leave it the way it is...its all original except the transaxle.

Well today I spent a little more time trying to get this thing finished up. I reinstalled the gas tank, and then removed the shutoff because I knew it was plugged. Turns out the little screen inside was plugged solid. So after cleaning that up I went to work on pulling the head. The threads inside the spark plug hole are a mess, so they need to be repaired, and I figured everything under there needed a good cleaning. I'm also gonna get a new head gasket as this one had some leaks. Here's a few pics:

Is that a Kohler in there?....My Ford 14 hp Kohler looks like it is leaking there too. maybe I need a new head gasket.

poncho62 wrote:

Is that a Kohler in there?....My Ford 14 hp Kohler looks like it is leaking there too. maybe I need a new head gasket.

Yeah that's a Kohler. Its a 10 horse. I'd say this one definitely needs a head gasket. This engine really hasn't ran much at all for about 13 years, other than for a few seconds on some starting fluid.

Clean everything up nice maybe you will find it to be a std piston gotta watch the mud on the head that will make it run hot quickly.. post more pics of it cleaned

Today I took the head to a reputable guy who rebuilds engines. He rebuilt the engine in my Bolens tractor before I owned it and also rebuilt the engine in my dad's 8n. He is going to install a heliocoil for me. He also had a new head gasket waiting for me when I got there. I'm gonna pick it up Monday, so it should be up and running next week finally.

Anyone have any tips or recommendations for properly cleaning the carbon buildup off of the piston and valves?

Evan, I use a small wire brush to get the big stuff and then the rest with Brake Parts Cleaner and a rag. Dad used his pocket knife (dull) to clean off some of the cakes on buildup. Yes he uses his pocket knife to scrape stuff with, hence it is always dull.
Also, make sure to clean where the gasket seats. Really easy Evan, and if you need a munual I can send you the one Larry sent me. It has the torque values and bolt pattern for torquing. We always do half the value the first lap, then the full torque value the second. I usually make a third lap just for fun.

Well the block surface is now cleaned up, as well as the back shroud and cooling fins. It definitely was a mess, and could probably use a bit more cleaning to be perfect, but it looks much better than it did. I'm suppose to pick the head tomorrow and then will reinstall it and give it a whirl.

Looks good is there a stamp on the piston???

Motomow wrote:

You inspired me to get my old motomower out evan and run it,I forgot that it is in really decent shape,motor runs awesome can't wait to start on it.Are you totally redoing yours or just getting the motor is shape for now?

Good deal Ken!!! I'm just getting the engine up to speed right now, as well as the transaxle. I don't plan to ever paint either one, seeing as how they both have most of their original paint. I'm hoping to take them both to the tractor show this weekend, so hopefully I'll have it ready to go this week!!!

Evan(PA) wrote:

Motomow wrote:

You inspired me to get my old motomower out evan and run it,I forgot that it is in really decent shape,motor runs awesome can't wait to start on it.Are you totally redoing yours or just getting the motor is shape for now?

Good deal Ken!!! I'm just getting the engine up to speed right now, as well as the transaxle. I don't plan to ever paint either one, seeing as how they both have most of their original paint. I'm hoping to take them both to the tractor show this weekend, so hopefully I'll have it ready to go this week!!!

Fixing one up for me to drive around at the show too I assume?

wvbuzzmaster wrote:

Fixing one up for me to drive around at the show too I assume?

Sure Buzz, I just hope I can take both Moto-Mower's. It'll be nice to have 2 tractors there to do a little cruising around anyway!

tracktor312 wrote:

Looks good is there a stamp on the piston???

Larry, I went out and checked to see if there was a stamp on the block, and there was. This is what was stamped on it: MS-35903-1. Does that mean anything to anyone? Thats the best I could make out anyways.