asechrest
En-Route
Howdy, folks. Long time no post. But I still lurk and catch up sometimes. (For those of you who remember my jetski thread, credit to Ted for the inspiration, I sold it for $1,500 and upgraded to a 17' Key West Dual Console for my family of four. We've had great fun, including a trip to the Keys wherein we took it 5 miles out to Alligator reef - four separate times. It is a fantastic little boat, and as the Key West plant manager says, it "Just Fits" - the family, the tow vehicle, the garage.)
Anyway, I'd like a lawn tractor. Yes, it's totally unnecessary for my urban lawn of 0.3 acres. But I want one anyway, and I'm happy to take on an older model as a fun project. What I want -
1969 Poloron Stallion Twin 7 - This is about as unique as I can get. Pull start (!). Seller says he's found the mower deck. This is a completely defunct manufacturer, but was Made in USA out of Indiana. The engine, as I understand it, is a Briggs and Stratton 7 HP. So motor parts are likely not impossible to source. But if a frame component breaks (mower deck, frex), I'm SOL or am looking for a fabricator. Looks to be in great cosmetic condition for its age. And what an awesome conversation piece. Still, I don't want a garage queen. Everything I owned gets used for purpose. I want to mow. Still, for $200 asking, what's to lose if it runs and operates? PS - Bonus train for neighborhood kids? lol.
Honda 3011 Manual, 30" cut - This, my gut tells me, is the more sensible choice. Ad is from a commercial seller. Rear engine rider from Honda. No year given but probably 1980ish. Parts availability, both engine and frame, probably hugely better than the Poloron.
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Will take any other advice. Thanks, all.
Anyway, I'd like a lawn tractor. Yes, it's totally unnecessary for my urban lawn of 0.3 acres. But I want one anyway, and I'm happy to take on an older model as a fun project. What I want -
- Must cut grass (required)
- Would like to be able to do a couple interesting things with it - pull a cart and haul debris from the conservation area behind my house; pull a grader for my upcoming back patio project (coming soon, I swear); give rides to kids.
- I'm alright with a project, but I'm no metal fabricator.
- I'd like to keep cost under $500.
1969 Poloron Stallion Twin 7 - This is about as unique as I can get. Pull start (!). Seller says he's found the mower deck. This is a completely defunct manufacturer, but was Made in USA out of Indiana. The engine, as I understand it, is a Briggs and Stratton 7 HP. So motor parts are likely not impossible to source. But if a frame component breaks (mower deck, frex), I'm SOL or am looking for a fabricator. Looks to be in great cosmetic condition for its age. And what an awesome conversation piece. Still, I don't want a garage queen. Everything I owned gets used for purpose. I want to mow. Still, for $200 asking, what's to lose if it runs and operates? PS - Bonus train for neighborhood kids? lol.
Honda 3011 Manual, 30" cut - This, my gut tells me, is the more sensible choice. Ad is from a commercial seller. Rear engine rider from Honda. No year given but probably 1980ish. Parts availability, both engine and frame, probably hugely better than the Poloron.
--
Will take any other advice. Thanks, all.