Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Zero turn radius lawnmower

From: John Innis <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 13:14:13 -0500

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That's a tough call.  Without knowing what make and model hydrostat is in
it, I'd suggest replacing the mower.  I have a similarly aged Grasshopper
zero turn that I have been having a similar debate about.  In my case I
decided to rebuild the motor (1750 hours).  My motors was not in bad
shape.  The big end of the connecting rod clearance was just out of spec
and the ring gap was just over the limit.  I checked for cylinder
straightness and out of round and found it all to be within tolerance.  It
was not too expensive to replace the connecting rods and the rings to get
back into spec.  I also replaced all the bearings and oil seals as well as
the PTO clutch (bent the pulley getting it off).  Total bill for the parts
was just over $500.  I probably spent 10 hours or so doing the work.  If
you can do the work yourself, consider going this route.  I don't know what
a shop would charge to do this stuff, but I am guessing it would be at
least $1500 for the rebuild.  At that price it might not make sense.  I
have only ever had one issue with the hydro's on this mower, and again I
was able to do the work myself.  But I have also heard that parts for the
older units are getting hard to find, especially Peerless units.  I have
been watching the rise of the electric machines, and have basically decided
to try to keep my grasshopper going until there is a good all electric
option.

On Fri, Mar 25, 2022 at 12:40 PM Robert Nogueira <[email-masked]> wrote=
:

>
> I have a 20 year old gravely zero turn radius lawnmower. The mower is
> solidly built and has held up well. My problem is the engine is on its la=
st
> leg and I=E2=80=99m questioning whether it would be worth replacing. The =
main issue
> is the hydrostatic transmission for the drive. They=E2=80=99ve never give=
 me
> trouble but I=E2=80=99m wondering how long they generally hold up.
> I do know they=E2=80=99re expensive to replace.
> Should I take a gamble on just replacing the engine?
> Bob Nogueira
> _______________________________________________
>
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=3D Never offend people with style when you   =3D
=3D can offend with substance --- Sam Brown  =3D
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<div dir=3D"ltr">That&#39;s a tough call.=C2=A0 Without knowing what make a=
nd model hydrostat is in it, I&#39;d suggest replacing the mower.=C2=A0 I h=
ave a similarly aged Grasshopper zero turn that I have been having a simila=
r debate about.=C2=A0 In my case I decided to rebuild the motor (1750 hours=
).=C2=A0 My motors was not in bad shape.=C2=A0 The big end of the connectin=
g rod clearance was just out of spec and the ring gap was just over the lim=
it.=C2=A0 I checked for cylinder straightness and out of round and found it=
 all to be within tolerance.=C2=A0 It was not too expensive to replace the =
connecting rods and the rings to get back into spec.=C2=A0 I also replaced =
all the bearings and oil seals as well as the PTO clutch (bent the pulley g=
etting it off).=C2=A0 Total bill for the parts was just over $500.=C2=A0 I =
probably spent 10 hours or so doing the work.=C2=A0 If you can do the work =
yourself, consider going this route.=C2=A0 I don&#39;t know what a shop wou=
ld charge to do this stuff, but I am guessing it would be at least $1500 fo=
r the rebuild.=C2=A0 At that price it might not make sense.=C2=A0 I have on=
ly ever had one issue with the hydro&#39;s on this mower, and again I was a=
ble to do the work myself.=C2=A0 But I have also heard that parts for the o=
lder units are getting hard to find, especially Peerless units.=C2=A0 I hav=
e been watching the rise of the electric machines, and have basically decid=
ed to try to keep my grasshopper going until there is a good all electric o=
ption.=C2=A0 <br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" clas=
s=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 25, 2022 at 12:40 PM Robert Nogueira &lt;<a hr=
ef=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div=
><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border=
-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><br>
I have a 20 year old gravely zero turn radius lawnmower. The mower is solid=
ly built and has held up well. My problem is the engine is on its last leg =
and I=E2=80=99m questioning whether it would be worth replacing. The main i=
ssue is the hydrostatic transmission for the drive. They=E2=80=99ve never g=
ive me trouble but I=E2=80=99m wondering how long they generally hold up.<b=
r>
I do know they=E2=80=99re expensive to replace.<br>
Should I take a gamble on just replacing the engine?<br>
Bob Nogueira<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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alk/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.te=
am.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"g=
mail_signature">=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br>=3D Never offend people with =
style when you=C2=A0=C2=A0 =3D<br>=3D can offend with substance --- Sam Bro=
wn=C2=A0 =3D<br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 19:24:58 -0400 03/25/2022 07:25:00 PM, Serialize complete at 03/25/2022 07:25:00 PM

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From: Jeff Scarbrough <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2022 11:47:23 -0400

On Fri, Mar 25, 2022 at 7:25 PM <[email-masked]> wrote:

> BTW, here is a short video of it with the snow blower (and enclosed cab.)
> https://youtu.be/Y8WGm5EINjY
>
> That thing ROCKS!

We don't get much snow here in Georgia, but pollen season is about to
start and it looks like it might be handy for that, too.
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