This is what happens when you don't know sh!t about machinery.

[jaxs]

Got to love it when people share gifts with old folks. My kids mock me for being frugal then turn around to " borrown" things that turn out nice . I picked up a John Deere LA145 free off Next-door Neighbor forum. Guy said he was tired of paying small engine shop $150 to replace starters. Sure nuff when I tried starting it the starter wouldn't crank engine over. I raised hood and used my hand to rotate engine past compression, hit the starter and it fired right up. Took it home , adjusted valves and it starts with ease. The B1750HST I recently bought isn't turning out to be such a push-over.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

If you want that thing to steer with one finger, get some needle roller thrust bearings and machined washers. I did the same on my cub and it is awesome.
My setup is a bit different than yours, but should still work.
View attachment 107183
View attachment 107184
View attachment 107185
View attachment 107186

Also, that kohler 19 is a ticking time bomb. Pull the fan cover, and flywheel and lock tite a few bolts so they don’t wiggle loose, hitting flywheel and breaking the block.

Thanks Matt, Great idea for the steering! Simple, yet elegant, solutions are the best.

I will heed your advice and take care of those bolts asap.

So just pull the flywheel, and the bolts are right there?

 

[D2Cat]

Sometimes folks just don't want it anymore! We just don't get enough snow to justify fixing or storing.

Free in MP.

 

[BruceP]

That appears to be one of the el-cheepo mowers available from big-box stores. They get the job done but are designed to wear out after several summers.

Everything from the engine (aluminum cylinder), to the pressed-steel mowdeck, and goofy pully drive-system which emulates HST is destined to fail.

 

[MOOTS]

So just pull the flywheel, and the bolts are right there?

Yes, fairly simple to see once flywheel is off. I tried googling, but my googlefu is apparently broken, as I can’t find anything on it. I “think” they are the bolts that hold the engine cover on.

 

[Countrylife]

From post #19:

If you want that thing to steer with one finger, get some needle roller thrust bearings and machined washers.

Where does one find bearings like that? I've looked for some, but also didn't know what they were called so that probably interfered with finding them.

 

[D2Cat]

From post #19:

Where does one find bearings like that? I've looked for some, but also didn't know what they were called so that probably interfered with finding them.

Ask for these: " needle roller thrust bearings ". Check at any industrial bearing supplier.

 

[MOOTS]

From post #19:

Where does one find bearings like that? I've looked for some, but also didn't know what they were called so that probably interfered with finding them.

McMaster-Carr. I will warn you, that website is addictive and has literally everything.

 

[jaxs]

McMaster-Carr. I will warn you, that website is addictive and has literally everything.

Which really isn't bad unless you happen to almost already have everything and looking to complete the set before dying.

 

[lugbolt]

those torrington bearings work good. I did it on a lot of the old Murray/MTD/Craftsman/Yard-Man/Deere/AYP mowers back when I bought/sold them. Makes em feel like they got power steering. Problem is on some of them you have to make modifications to get em in there as they're thicker than the original washer. Recently had a Husqvarna in, bought it for $50 at a yard sale, wouldn't pull itself. Dug the junk out from the clutch linkage underneath, cleaned everything up, tossed a couple torrington's on the kingpins and sold it for $700, and probably wasn't asking enough because it sold within 5 minutes. It cleaned up nice. Of course I serviced it up too. Have another YTH2448K out in the shop right now that needs the steering bushings replaced. I'm probably just going to make some rather than order em, then give it to my mom. She's mowing with a G1800, 2 wheel steer, she gets a lot of excercise sawing on the steering wheel. Before dad passed he overheated it so it's low compression on two cylinders and mom's limping it through the season. Winter project, I'm gonna have to rebuild it. Yay. Not looking forward to it.

I hate Kohler engines.

 

[MOOTS]

Also, that kohler 19 is a ticking time bomb. Pull the fan cover, and flywheel and lock tite a few bolts so they don’t wiggle loose, hitting flywheel and breaking the block.

Well damn. She popped.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Well damn. She popped. View attachment 109264

That will buff right out!

 

[MOOTS]

That will buff right out!

Lol. Luckily I have another mower with a 20hp kohler I can toss on this frame. But, it needs work too. Pretty sure every gasket is leaking… it just never ends.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I've sent 4 riding mowers to the scrapers just recently, fixing them became a never ending battle!
I've been trying to find a good 4wd F unit to do my mowing, but they are very rare up here.

 

[Nicksacco]

Before you scrap 'er, check inside for your 10mm socket!

 

[ctfjr]

That will buff right out!

but will still leave a scar

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Before you scrap 'er, check inside for your 10mm socket!

Funny story to that.
The one lawn mower got a motor upgrade from an old 9HP cast iron Briggs and Stratton to a 13 HP Honda.
The mounts were made with 10mm cap head Allen bolts, I swear to this day the tractor ate the Allen socket!
I looked for that socket for days, it still ticks me off when I open the drawer to a 3000 piece Black steel laser etched pro set of tools and ONE 10 mm Allen socket is the only socket missing!