Welcome to the zoo. Being a fellow Canuck, you likely have a Turf Trac, an MTD built for Federated Co-op. It has a single speed f&r transaxle with a lever operated variable speed pulley.They were very popular.
You could short block the engine or upgrade to an OHV.A complete rebuild would probably not be cost effective.

Thanks Canguy.......I think I heard someone mention Co-op when I was up lookin' at it deciding to buy it or not....to me it looked like a decent little lawn tractor....my first one so what do I know about lawn tractors. "TURF" I never heard of this brand but I'm glad you filled me in so it's made by MTD....then I'm wonderin' where to look for parts for this one or is it a throw away and buy a new one...I have too much money and time invested to do this....I've changed out everything except the engine and I guess this will happen in the spring of next year....you live in BC so I gather your familar with the Princess Auto stores...they have one in my area and qouted me $700 plus tax for a 12 or electric start 13 HP B&S OHV pressurized oil circulated with a oil filter I gather a short block would cost near the same...I've been readin' other posts where guys were buyin' new MTD's for $800 +I guess this be US price correct? anyhow you've told me what I needed to know and I thank you ever so much take care..Ampa

Is this the same engine that was overfilled with oil after an oil change?I have replaced worn out engines with tractors I bought just to get the engine.Paid $25.00 for a rusty junker,but the engine,a 14 HP Vangaurd twin, on it was like NEW condition.I am saviing the Vangaurd for, in the event I ever have problems, with a 16 HP Onan twin in /on my Toro "Z".Many engines out last the unit it is installed in.

You got a good deal on that ol' junk rider for the engine...if the transaxle is any good you could sell this for $100-200 I paid out $39 last week for a carb rebuild kit...I also managed to buy an ol' junk CTC Mastercraft for a $100 the guy let me take the whole tractor he only wanted the(non runnin' 12 hp B&S engine for parts I took it out and brought it to him.... the rest of it was mine for spare parts(mine needed a transaxle which was like new...so I'm okay on the drive line issue I also had a problem removin' the rims from the axles...used a puller and changed it to 4 bolt...(new rims and tires 4 bolt plate new studs 2- 3/4 bushings and a bit of welding fixed this problem

With all of the low cost junk people are buying comes a second line of engines. You cannot go wrong with a 20 year old "L" head B&S. Tune it up, remove the blower housing and get rid of the nest, and off and running. I just slapped a 20 year old Briggs I?C 12 hp in a one-year-old Craftsman LT series riding mower. I am still picking the crankshaft and engine case out of the mower deck from the OHV mess that was OEM.

Have a great one!

You have a Craftsman? Heh...

This was the issue I was meaning to get across B&S side valve/verses the OHV B&S are using now days...what was the reason the OHV B&S blew apart????....the engine in my TURF is 20 years old.....at least it's still running.....I have no hour meter on this one....so I have no clue to what this engines been through...I do know the engine oil was pretty black in color when I changed it..I put straight SAE 30 oil in it...but I was told if I use it all year I should put in 5x30 multigrade oil to help the startin' issue as I installed a Craftsman 42" plough and a new set tire chains....I'm not too sure it will plough snow but I'll soon find out correct ????anyhow I think SAE 30 is a good choice for this old side valve engine of mine correct???.....thanks for the info... bushleague and take care