After my husqvarna yta18542 I bought from the tractor shop scattered the transaxle at 87 hours, I went and bought this gt6000. Way heavier duty than any other mower I've ever had.
Model number 917.257711, engine number 422707. Horizontal opposed brigs 18 i/c gold.
The motor turns out to be junk. I half expected it as the seller said it was using a ton of oil at few years ago when he parked it.
Front axles and steering have a TON of play
Tires don't hold air.
Nothing unexpected for a $100 mower.
I don't want to blow this thing completely apart and restore it. I want to make a functional mower that only needs periodic service once a year or so. Id like to keep it going until retirement. Id like to do this as simply and inexpensive as possible while keeping in parameters. I don't want another project, I have a turbo miata on a body dolly and a street legal 71 duster nascar mutant for that.
Step one I think is putting an engine on it. A known runner. What i have kicking around in the family: the known good engine in the husqvarna. It's a single, and always felt underpowered. I also have a 80 hour 22hp v twin briggs from a wrecked scattered zero turn, and a rebuilt Kohler twin that i did for my neighbor years ago. These options range from free to 150 bucks.
Im looking for the easy button here. That way I can make it run and see what the rest of its really like. Like I would with a car. Am I overthinking that?
Also, I know it's going to need a front end rebuild. Having never been into any on a mower before, this is new territory. I see no heim joints in the steering or anything other than where bushings should have been and what looks like the ball from a hood strut. Got no idea how this is supposed to be serviced.
