That mower is a perfect advertisement for the reason you should invest 100 bucks more on an aluminum deck. Sheesh!

I disagree to some extent, Ford.

my "daily driver" is a 1991 LZPN with a steel deck. I've taken care of it, cleaned the undercarraiage off at least every other mowing... nothing special, just respected it for an expensive machine and in return I have just a few paint peeling areas with some very minor surface rust, which I will attack this winter I think.

I cannot get the blade thing off to save my life (the little square with the 2 holes that is tapered on there.)

WHAT the heck is the trick? I've tried heat, 2 crowbars, a puller, hitting it with a hammer, and chanting.

have you tried P.B blaster(penatrating oil)?

That's really ugly, Murph. It does looks like the victim of abuse. And a quality steel deck shouldn't be that badly rusted unless it was left outside all the time. Man, what a mess!

Dan --

No, I haven't.. That's odd too because that's the first thing I usually grab.

SO.. before I throw bad time after good... what would you guys do here? I'm more of a vintage LB guy myself, so I'm not excessively interested in this one. However, it is an endangered 2-stroke staggered wheel mower, so I can't just pitch it.

SO... Either if someone needs some Silver parts, let me know and maybe I can share.. OR, does someone else have an obliterated Silver, maybe we could combine forces and make one good one out of two crummy ones?

My problem is that I always like to fix things instead of throwing them away... but have a warped sense of judgement when I say "this is a potentially perfectly good mower..."

know what I mean?

Murph

Murph--

I wish you'd found this thing eight months ago---I could've sold you a V-series engine that, although rough, was in better shape than the one you've got. Unfortunately, I sold it to Blaise when he was looking for some spare V engine parts. :)

Like you, I found an old L-B Silver (1995 model 10201) whose deck was too rusted to be salvageable. I wasn't sure what to do with it until I saw a NOS staggered wheel steel deck for a 10247 and a NOS V engine, both on eBay. I bid on them and won both. Using the NOS deck and engine plus the cables, throttle lever, and handlebar from the 10201 (which were salvageable), I built a like-new steel deck staggered wheel 10201/10247 hybrid that I use as a backup to my 10424. It was a fun project.

Bottom line: IMO, if there are any salvageable parts on your 10301 and you can find a cheap steel staggered wheel deck that's not rusted, as well as a V engine that's in decent shape, then building a hybrid V-engined L-B can be a worthwhile project. Otherwise, you might as well put this rusted heap out for the trash man.

Hope this helps.

Tarheel --

I'm starting to sadly agree with you.

It seems the only things on here worth saving are the self propel gearbox and the engine. The rest is shot.

Might be a fun project. The deck's rust all looks like surface rust. Have it sand blasted. Wheels are easy enough to replace. Heck, it's winter, plenty of time to complete the project by the next mowing season. The project might be pricey though but if you have the time why not.

Dynamark ---

You and I are sharing a brain wave.

I spend last night completely disassembling the thing and I decided my challenge was to get the thing quasi-restored, together, and running.

No big feat, right?

The catch: I can only spend $20. This is going to mean a lot of fabrication of parts, scrounging for junk from parts mowers...

I do love a challenge!

I took apart, soaked, and reassembled the carb last night.

All the removable things (wheels, blades, adjusters) were soaked overnight in a bucket of hot water and simple green and will be blasted off today, and the deck was soaked overnight with simple green brushed on liberally, working its way through the goop.

Today around noon or 1 when its warmest, I'll bring out the pressure washer and blast it all off!

yes, its 30 degrees out.

me

To one of your original questions, the engine can be used on other decks whether they're self-propelled or not. The only difference is the pulley itself. Just leave it on. The muffler cover mounting bosses are cast into the muffler plate. You will have to replace the muffler plate, baffle and cover. The engine could very well need crank seals, and I would replace the flywheel. You may be able to sell the incomplete engine, and I think that's what I would do with it.

WELL!

I got it together, and it runs. BADLY, however, wihtout a muffler... but it runs!

Anyone have a junky muffler for a silver series to get rid of?

Murph--

Like saxman said, you're going to need a new muffler plate in addition to a baffle and cover since the mounting bosses for the cover are cast into the plate. With the condition the mounting bosses are in on this unit, there's no way the'll hold a muffler cover on.

TH-Man,

This is admittedly speaking from total ignorance...

You say "the condition of the mounting bosses," what are you referring to? The center post which broke off has been jb welded back on (I know, not the greatest, but I've used it in worse places) and the other two are still good (according to my eye. Are you seeing something I'm not?)

Basically my goal with this mower is to get it running to some degree of stability and give it to someone who needs a mower. (and of course, someone who I know is deserving of and will appreciate an LB.)

Sorry, Murph. I didn't know that you'd JB Welded the center post back on.

If no one on here has one, keep an eye out for a used V engine (sometimes called L-B Silver series) muffler on eBay. They show up there from time to time. In fact, I've seen several on there in the last year.

Hope this helps.

Sorry to interject. Simple Green sounds like useful stuff. Please let me know what its got in it and I will see if I can get something like it here in England.
It sounds like Lawn Boys will take a hell of a lot and still run - I guess the engine finishes each run with a film of preservative oil on its inside - not so the deck! I am surprised the muffler is in such a state - scooters exhausts are usually gunged with oil - worse than a burger chain's french fry pan!

my two-cent's worth: I think the reason the shroud might be blank is because there was a tank recall on 10301. I had the recall done to mine and the new one was solid black.

so..what ever happened with the beastie!