Did a lot today actually. Drove a couple hours away and met up with forum member
@bugnut. He had offered me the mower, and tiller. Then the spreader. I was supposed to go May 1st, but between money being tight, and it being the anniversary of my grandfathers death, I had to reschedule.
Luckily, Bugnut is a rockstar and said to reschedule till today. So we did.
Mower is a 2008 craftsman lts1500 with a brigs and Stratton 17.5 hp. I was told it ran on ether.
Got it, the tiller and the spreader home. He also threw a few gas cans my way, which is PERFECT because I needed one for 2cycle for the chainsaw. And the spreader alone was worth the trip. Been wanting to get one to spread bug-b-gone for the ticks. I cannot lay on the ground anywhere in my yard or pole barn without getting at least ONE deer tick on me.
Unloaded everything and got to work. First cleaned out the rats nest from under the cover. Then got the mower to fire up with little difficulty. But she would NOT move under her own power. After confirming the belt was decent, and that it was in fact turning the pulley on the rear differential, and that there was no noise coming from the differential, the issue must be with the wheels/hubs/spindles/etc. Pulled it apart, and the driver side was missing the woodruff key. Snagged one out of the simplicity, and we were motorvatin! Mowed a few passes in the yard before the left deck pulley stripped off the spindle/mandrel. Gonna take it apart here in a minute to match one up from TSC if they have it like their website shows.
THEN, I pressure washed it thoroughly. She cleaned up decently actually.
THEN, worked on the Craftsman I got from that kid. Got the engine unstuck but it only makes a 1/4 turn either way before locking up solid. Oh well. It was $25, and I got $50 of parts off it (wire harness for the Ariens, throttle linkages for the Ariens, shifter for the Craftsman I just got today).
That’s about it for today. Gotta clean up and get food started. 4am comes stupid quick on Sunday nights/Monday mornings.
Thanks again Bugnut!!!