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Service life of garden tractor engines

16 years ago

I have a question for the forum. The sales rep at the local John Deere dealer recently told me the service life of the B&S full pressure lubed and oil filtered 17 or so hp'd lawn tractors is a paltry 500 hrs. Has this been the experience of forum members?

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Comments (12)

tmajor
16 years ago
One of the devices, I've heard of using, is the "Driveway Patrol". ... designed to detect approaching guests or intruders. It consists of two battery powered pieces ... the motion sensitive transmitter and the noise making receiver. For deer, the transmitter is put in the area to be protected. The noisy receiver is put in the same area, under a protective bucket or such. Does it work? ??? It senses movement on my driveway, but it hasn't scared anybody away (the receiver is in the house).
tmajor
16 years ago
One of the devices, I've heard of using, is the "Driveway Patrol". ... designed to detect approaching guests or intruders. It consists of two battery powered pieces ... the motion sensitive transmitter and the noise making receiver. For deer, the transmitter is put in the area to be protected. The noisy receiver is put in the same area, under a protective bucket or such. Does it work? ??? It senses movement on my driveway, but it hasn't scared anybody away (the receiver is in the house).
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This is something I'm really trying to get my Dad into, since he has a 3 or so acre field on this high point of his mostly wooded property which he hasn't figured out what to do with. Right now he's more concerned about building his house, but next year he'll be more entusiastic about the great things he can do with this plot and his JD 265. There are a lot of uncommon attachments still available fairly reasonable on eBay. My purchases which have arrived at Dad's doorstep over the past two months include a NOS Deere sleeve hitch for $75, a Brinly used-once disc harrow for $100, and a NOS Brinly furrower for $35, and a Brinly back blade for $100 (for landscaping around the house). I lost two auctions for bottom plows, one I bid $155 and the other $170. I think they cost around $300 new. Both went for about $5 more than I bid. I think it's getting a little late in the year for planting anyway, so I guess I'll put off the bargain hunt until the fall when I should get some better deals. As far as I can tell from the minimal sources I've found on the Internet, I'd imagine the process should go something like this: 1) cut the brush down. A bush hog is best but I would think a belly-mower fully raised would cut if it's not thick, woody growth. 2) till up the soil I'd expect a bottom plow would use less gas, and probably be quicker than a tractor-mounted tiller, although the tiller would fluff the soil more and decrease the need for discing. 3) disc the soil My inexperienced guess would be to use two disc harrows in tandem, one facing in and one facing out, weighted down with cinder blocks 4) furrow the soil Either use a set of furrowers (I think the Brinly furrowers use the same frame as the cultivator tines). 5) sow the seeds I guess for some crops like alfalfa you'd just use a broadcast spreader, but corn, peppers, or most others would require the use of a planter, which I've seen selling for $250+ and don't seem to be available from Brinly or Agri-fab anymore. 6) use the furrower or disc harrow to cover the seed If using tandem discs, I'd have both turned inward. 7) sip some lemonade and watch the crop grow 8) after a few months, cultivate between the rows to eliminate weeds and aerate the soil I guess you can use the disc cultivator or tine cultivator, driving directly over the plants. Once the plants are more than 6" I guess you'd use your Troy-bilt walk-behind tiller unless you left a space between rows wide enough for your tractor. 9) cultivate again a few months later 10) harvest the crop I don't know of any garden tractor attachments (other than a Haban sickle bar--no longer in production) which would facilitate harvesting. I haven't found ANYTHING that really goes step-by-step regarding what you need to do to use your tractor to increase garden productivity. So for davidandkasie and windcatcher, if you could offer any details, timelines, or corrections to my conception above, it would be greatly appreciated.
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I put a new 18hp Honda engine on my CC1862 in March of 05. This was a complete KIT to fit a CC682. It included adaptors to make the engine fit the existing holes in the chassis and make your existing electric belt clutch also fit the engine. It also included a new muffler and an adaptor to hook up the drive shaft. Every thing worked out nicely, except the muffler output is in the wrong place for the 1862, since it was ordered for a 682. The 1862 kit did not exist at that time. I just left off the plastic front piece and the plastic hood. There was also a little issue to hooking up the electrical wiring, but they helped me with this. Since you will be ordering the correct kit all these problems should not be an issue. I am pleased with this installation and would do it again. It is my favorite lawn tractor, and I have several. I also don't care if it has a hood or not. I could put the hood back on it if I moved the exhaust output from the supplied muffler to the place necessary for this little tractor. This kit cost $1,340 in March 06, including freight of $90 delivered to my home. I would do it again. They now have a complete kit to fit your cc1862 for $1,650, which includes a 24hp Honda engine. You can contact them at http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/RepowerItems.asp?Brand=Cub%20Cadet&Model=1862. Phone (800) 321-6725
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tmajor
16 years ago
I don't know how that got over here.? It was a response to somebody on the "Lawn Care" forum talking about deer chasers.

Sorry, it still might be of interest.
tmajor
16 years ago
Plus, I got it posted twice!
LOL "Old age doesn't come alone"!
xpostech
16 years ago
What you need is 'Grounds Control II', Major Tom.
butchs_hobby
16 years ago
That just don't sound right, maybe if it's on a cheapo lawn tractor, but not for one that's filtered and pressure lubed. I've got over 2500hrs on an old B48 Onan twin, still runs good and no funny noises! Does use a little oil but what the heck.
deerslayer
16 years ago
Consumer grade engines such as the B&S Intek have a 500 hour service life. Commercial grade engines such as the B&S Vanguard have a 1,000 hour service life. The main differences are better crankshafts, better rods, and crankshaft bearings instead of bushings.

That said, a meticulously maintained engine can last much longer. Butch's Onan is a good example. I have a Kohler M12 with over 1,000 hours and it doesn't burn any oil and makes no odd noises. I bet I'll get at least 500 more hours from it. BTW, my M12 doesn't have an oil filter and is splash lubed.

-Deerslayer
dynamike59
16 years ago
Exactly 4 years ago I bought a new lawn tractor with a 25hp Intek
The first thing I did ,after I brought the tractor home was install a hour meter.
I save my old tractor to do all the hauling,draging of the driveway ,spreading and airation of the lawn , so all the new tractor does is just mowing.
I live in southeren Michigan and mow .8 of an acre.
Last week the hour meter read 100hrs.
Thats just 25hrs a year and if the engine just lives 500hrs ,that means 20 year life span.
I doubt the rest of the tractor will last that long.
turnage (8a TX)
16 years ago
I had a b&s 14.5 hp intek that lasted 4 years and was using 8 oz of oil every tank of gas. Same story with an 18.5 V-twin intek.
bubbawareagle
16 years ago
While not a tractor engine story, I do have a B&S engine story. B&S Sprint 3.75 hp on a Murray push mower from Wal-Mart, 15 years old in the DEEP South - about 50 hours of use per year. Thats 750 hours so far - it still cranks on the first pull. Other than quit changing oil and cleaning air filter twice per year, actions which I just can't seem to bring myself to neglect, can anyone tell me how to kill this thing so I can finally buy a tractor?
tmajor
16 years ago
Lend it to a neighbor! Guaranteed, when it comes back, it will be junk.
bushleague
16 years ago
Most folks can only estimate what kind of hours that they put on their equipment without a hobbs hour meter. B&S will tell you 500 hours and Honda and Kawasaki 2000. Your mileage may vary.

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