Craftsman Rider

Magicmiler

Team Owner
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Sep 30, 2009
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My neighbor gave me a AYP Craftsman branded Bob Villa DYT 4000 rider.
Oh man. Put a new battery in,.Did the usual, new fuel, new fuel filter. Got it running and across the Street to my garage. Then, replaced the fuel filter, air and oil filter. Found a leaky fuel tank grommet and fuel line. What a chore to replace those. For a Hydrostatic tranny it moves quicker than my 2 Deeres. It also has a snowblower, cab, wheel weights( I have to pull the weights to put air in the rears), and a Keg weight.
Runs decent, tommorow is carb cleaning day and adjust the valves. 21 H.P. Briggs V Twin . Same as 1 of my Deeres Then, I'm selling it.
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I had one of these mowers for my place in California a few years ago, no snow stuff, but, 24hp and hydro. Damn thing would shutoff the mower if you went to reverse, until I figured out, (duh), the key switch had a setting that prevented that. Hydrostat trany is the only way to go. Mine was a good tough machine and I mowed some mean stuff with it.
 
Put the 'ol gal up 4 sale today. Asking 700.00, see what happens. 93 total hours on the meter, not bad for a 17 year old sled.
I have the cab and tire chains as well.
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If I lived in a snow area I would buy that in a heartbeat just to move the snow.
 
It's a beast of a package. I have a herd of Deeres for 3 seasons, don't really need this too. Damn shame though, pretty solid winter unit...
 
Got the beast all together and functioning properly..Blower works like a champ.
All told, I have under $50.00 invested, already for sale locally for $700.00, which is a fair off season price. I could wait till fall and try for more $, but I just don't want it hanging around anymore.
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Next victim..One of the early 108s, built in '79. Love these 8 h Briggs. So simple and easy to work on. Start working on it tommorow . Once I clean it up, I'll see if I want to flip it.
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That rigs been in the garage or storage it's whole life, note the steel leaf and debris guard. Those were pretty solid units for small home owner yards.

I'm nosey, what was the damage IE: $$$?
 
Free. The guy knows I flip, restore and race 'em. Really leaning toward keeping it, the little unit is rugged!!
Original owner, and yes, barn kept most of its life ...
 
My hobby until relocating to Florida was restoring John Deere lawn and garden tractors make prior to 1980. I managed to sneak in a couple of post '80's but mostly had older stuff and a lot of accessories and odd parts. Sold everything when we moved. At one time had eleven tractors ranging from a 110 to a 332.
I held on to my favorites until the very end, an early 1964 110 in original condition with original snow plow and '63 mower deck.
The other was my prized 332 repainted John Deere construction yellow and a post rear installed with foot hold down> That tractor was gone through from top to bottom, had lug tires, trim ribbed front wheels, a tachometer and it would kick butt for a three cylinder Yanmar. Also had the 322 version in original condition and the difference between the 322 and 332 was the Yanmar engine in the 332 was diesel and the 322, gas, same block and different fuel delivery system.
 

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The 110 in the photo is a 1954, early serial # and only the second year they made JD garden tractors. The Dakota was my pride and joy and was used to tow the trailer, usually had three tractors sideways on the trailer and one in the bed of the Dakota.
The 332 with the front end loader is the same one I restored and painted JD Construction Yellow.

I really miss the hobby but have no room to work on them here and there isn't as much, almost non-existent, activity for shows, plow days, etc., in Florida and it is a long, long , drive to go to one out of state. At 84 I ain't up to it any more although If we still lived in North Carolina I would think nothing of it to travel to plow days in Maryland, Pennsylvania and points west.

Here is a youtube.com address to view a the 2015 PA Plow Days.


All us old guys do is reminisce. :cool:
 
Saving up $ for a 318..Indestructible beasts.
Anyway, got the 'ol 108 fired up after some basic maintenance ( plug, oil, filters,)and running. Love these little 8 hp Briggs.Cleans up pretty good. Might just restore it, see what happens...
After some more research from Tractor Data, the serial number indicates this sled was made in 1984, not '79 as I had earlier thought...
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Next knucklebuster...
1985 Bolens 8 hp Briggs , not often seen manual & electric start. This might be my yard rat...
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