1956 Economy Tractor Engine Swap- Part 1

[@victoryfirst2878]

So nice to see you lift the engine by hand into the empty space where the Briggs once lived. I would like to find an old Economy tractor. But all I have ever found is used to the bone junk. Just hope one day that I find a real nice unit. Nice video Jake and hope you get this running and purring like a cat. Good day and peace. VF

[@stevelecain886]

the way you speak and go about your explanations would make you an excellent instructor your videos are excellent quality and the info very accurate and well explained.

[@5Tractorguy]

Appreciate it Steve. My dad always says if all else fails I could do documentaries.... but tractors are more fun.

[@stevelecain886]

tractors are indeed more fun..lol

[@straightpipec6099]

You make it look so easy. Nice find and nice video.

[@5Tractorguy]

Thanks C60

[@jdjeep46]

My 1965 Economy Jim Dandy has the K301 Kohler. My 1961 Economy has the Briggs 23 motor. My 1955 with the 24” rear tires has the Wisconsin engine. I have a bunch of John Deere two cylinder tractors too. I am learning but I am extremely impressed with your skills.

[@genesloan3175]

Good videos of the Economy. I'm not too familiar with them, but have seen some on various forums... of two old Bolens I own, I have a 1965 medium tube frame model 1000, made only one year. Have owned it almost 10 years, just now beginning to do a resto-mod. Found a correct TR-10D Wisconsin engine for it. Replaced clutch facings, now torn down and painting it "close to OEM" colors. It has a very desirable factory optional Hydro Lift that works. It also had a homemade dozer blade on it. I'm hoping it will be functional for use of grading my gravel drive. So I share your "old iron" appreciation of the old garden tractors. I really enjoyed your video of another rare tractor .... Off to see part 2!

[@cattmann1405]

Had a sympathetic twinge in my lower back when you were lifting those engines..lol. Great video, Jake! now.. off to watch episode 2...

[@RichardALee]

Great video, learned a lot. Thanks

[@5Tractorguy]

Your welcome Richard, glad you enjoyed.

[@UnitCrane514]

Awesome video! Cant wait to see part 2!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Good deal, Jake! Can't beat a 301! I had mine running today, dragging the wood splitter out where I could hook it to the Craftsman to finish up the woodpile till more comes along. They just putt, putt, putt along. I hook the splitter to the Craftsman by regular hitch a 1 1/8th ball on the back of the splitter so I can hook the buggy to it for hauling later on. The local convoy but it saves a trip and I can go and come with everything, even a saw if I need one. Things are cooling down everywhere so maybe you can limber the old 5 back up and get a tune video out!I I got a new carb that didn't have a ball on the throttle and ordered a set of balls from Holley I think. Now I've got spares! Glad everything is good with you. Happy wrenching and picking!

[@5Tractorguy]

You said it Lewie! They's a good engine! Sounds like me back when I used to mow lawns in the neighborhood. Made a hitch to pull double wagons behind a tractor, one for the mower and one for the grass clippings. Ah yes, the banjo. Down right shame I haven't been picking nearly as much as I'd like... I think working 'till 7pm every night may have something to do with it. Been picking up the 'ol 6 string a bit more just for something different in between. Hopefully when the work evens out I'll start getting back into the rhythm!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

My hitches aren't so pretty but they work. I've got one with a ball on the cross bar on the 5665 kidney mower to drag the splitter, an old 20 ton MTD up out of the hole on the lower end of the shed.About a 2 foot drop from one end to the other. Lots better than trying to yank it out with the little 2-wheeled dolly thing you can move trailers around with. The ball on the back of the splitter is offset to keep the buggy out from under the 'H' beam of the splitter for going through bumps and over banks. The one on the CRaftsman is reinforced with an 'L' shaped piece of 1/4 inch x 2 flat bar where the hole goes for dainty stuff and an 1 1/8th ball in there with regular ball hitches on the splitter and the buggy. Simplifies a lot of stuff. And I sure wished I was closer and my cording hand hadn't gone to pieces because we'd burn some midnight oil upon occasion! All my stuff was guitar related but just haven't had the inclination to dig out the dobro or the bass. And with you having a Tarheel Hillbilly Uncle you know how it is BUT keep on banging on something. We'll ALL like it when the c.d comes out!

[@craigtate5930]

Cool machine... love that loader design

[@crankysports]

I love your projects Jake! I have a lot of video catch-up to do

[@5Tractorguy]

Hey thanks James! Looks like you're doing pretty good so far haha.

[@Searsnut11]

Glad to see you finally found your economy! Looks a little worse for the wear but youll have her right as rain in no time. Looks good buddy, waitin on the next video!

[@5Tractorguy]

Thanks pal!

[@n1ksf]

This is going to work out well for me Jake, I just grabbed a K301 just past Taunton this weekend and I'm going to use it to replace the 9HP Briggs on my 64' Economy with the OEM Loader...

[@5Tractorguy]

Neat! Good luck Jim! Hope you made some good progress since you left this comment...

[@n1ksf]

@@5Tractorguy..started taking externals off the engine, starter/generator, L tube gas tank, front grille, and headlights..just need to remove the engine. I'll clean up the Kholer a bit, run and paint it before installation.

[@jtraveny]

i would love to have one of those power kings

[@sammorgan31]

You can use diesel fuel or automatic transmission fluid to give those old gearboxes a good flushing.

[@auburnfolsom]

Looks like a good project Jake. It will be interesting to see how it works in part 2. I was hoping your were going to adapt the 2 cyl Wisconsin THD onto it. ;) I wouldn't mind having one of those Economy's, but they are pricey like you mentioned. That 16hp Briggs would be nice to have as well. Hopefully it isn't too badly damaged internally, now that you found out the trans was causing the drag & it wasn't the engine it's self. Stay warm & keep up the good work / videos.

[@5Tractorguy]

Oh boy, could you imagine! I'd have more than enough power at just an idle... I may look into that 16hp some day. There's another one out back that came from a Gravely 816 that threw a rod. Who knows, I may be able to piece together a good engine. Thanks, will do!

[@mikecook8147]

"Beat it into submission" Never heard that used on a small engine pulley....That was funny!!

[@5Tractorguy]

Hey, there's a first time for everything!

[@Antiquetractorsetc]

Cool. I saw that you were working on that. I’ve always like the early Economy tractors. I’ve never seen an older one with a loader. A Kohler 301 is a good swap. I have a couple 23s. I’m selling one but it needs a rebuild

[@5Tractorguy]

The early models are pretty neat, it's just too bad this one is so worn out. Would love to find an original 50's model someday. If all the 23's here weren't either gear reduction or water pump cranks, I would have swapped one of 'em on for something more period correct.

[@Antiquetractorsetc]

Yeah a lot of them that Ive found were gear reduction or water pumps too. I have 3-4 that are just the motor, I really like the L-head Briggs. I have a bunch of them. They’re easy to work on and there’s so many of them but no so many 23s

[@nathandodge3172]

Got any with the 2 gear box

[@danbasta3677]

Lost my engine today on my 1614 1973 Power King tractor. Kohler engine, however doubtful I'll be able to get parts to rebuild this little girl.

[@5Tractorguy]

If it's a Kohler K or M series, you can get just about everything for internals to rebuild them online.

[@lawrencehp1]

Nice job Jake. Engine lift, overhead rail !! Break your back lifting that stuff. You make it look too easy.....

[@5Tractorguy]

Thanks Lawrence. Someday when I get that shop I'll either have an overhead crane or gantry, getting tired of hefting these things!

[@douglasdailey5998]

That is a cool tractor.

[@GrandWagJeep]

If the tightness you felt was in the transmission, why not fix the Briggs you pulled when you have more time?

[@5Tractorguy]

'Tis the plan... I have a twin to that Briggs with a thrown rod so I'll see if I can make one good one out of the two.

[@MrSticks9999]

Love the older Economy. I'm looing to buy one. I do however, own a 2418 that I am installing a loader. Seeing your tractor and how it's mounted is good for me. How does it operate? And issues with the thin frames these tractors have?

[@5Tractorguy]

This one is hokey as ever to run being homemade. I have had a couple here from customers with factory loaders. Much easier to operate, work well and the frame has no problem structurally. From what I've seen though, the common issue is where the front axle pivot pin mounts to the frame. Welds can break and it can loosen up, or the front end of the frame can crack from the added weight. Just something to keep an eye on.

[@MrSticks9999]

@@5Tractorguy Its been suggested that I add some frontward and rearward supports on the frame.

[@5Tractorguy]

@@MrSticks9999 Definitely wouldn't hurt! The factory loaders have a sub frame that clamps to the tractor frame underneath. It spans about 3ft long. On the rough idea of a double frame on a truck, helps keep it from flexing.

[@perfectionedc4781]

Hey can you send me some pictures of how the mower deck is mounted I have a 1955 with mower deck but can’t figure out how to mount the deck

[@5Tractorguy]

Sorry Nathan, long since sold the Economy with the deck.

[@jeffshearer5125]

Dammit, gonna be a long 5 days.

[@5Tractorguy]

Hahaha hey I'm the one that has to wait to work on it! Hopefully by this weekend...

[@farmalllover8217]

Nice video. You should diesel swap it.

[@5Tractorguy]

Sounds neat but nope, no diesel for this old rig!

[@simonrichard9873]

Nice job! What was the original engine?

[@5Tractorguy]

Thanks Simon. It would have either had a Briggs model 23 or Wisconsin AEN from what I'm told.

[@danbasta3677]

I need to replace and or rebuild the engine of my Power King tractor as it just died yesterday. I'll need to get help trying to figure out how to take the engine apart/off the frame in order to see what and how to get things evaluated and redone to get her up and running once again. Big job ahead of me.

[@mckenzie4003]

Would of kept the Briggs instead, but awesome either way!! Love that front end loader

[@cunninghamscadets8924]

No way, kohler is the way to go.

[@1teddy1979]

Briggs has more torque

[@cunninghamscadets8924]

You stick those bad boys on the dyno? Get me the sheets. Ill stick to my kohlers atleast we dont have up-draft carbs smh

[@5Tractorguy]

Haha see what ya started! If I had a 23 here that had the right crank I would have swapped it on. All the ones left are either gear reduction or water pump. It's unique for sure!

[@1teddy1979]

@@5Tractorguy haha just gotta stir the pot ether engine is awesome I love them both just always have a thing for those old cast iron Briggs

[@stevelecain886]

nice tractor only thing that scares me and I'm a hydraulics guy is they used water pipe for hydraulic pressure and that's only rated at 300 psi..lol. please be careful, I know someone has gotten lucky so far but the deterioration of that pipe and low rating is a bad combo.be safe love your video's.

[@5Tractorguy]

That was a thought in my mind, although I was concentrating more on the badly dry rotted rubber hoses. Luckily there is a gauge on the valve, who know if it works, but I can keep tabs on it. Most this will do is play around in the compost for part 2. I don't trust the welds to do much more than that!

[@stevelecain886]

yeh I figured you would take that in account your a smart guy for sure and yes the hoses are good to keep an eye on.but it is pretty cool the way they built it, i want to build one for one of my bolens or maybe my wheelhorse , anyway keep it coming enjoy your videos tremendously.

[@FullMetalFab]

Lucky guy, I've only ever seen one economy for sale in my area and the guy wanted $1200 CAD not running. I really wanted it but damn way to much for me, I'll stick with my Cubs.

[@5Tractorguy]

I paid just upwards of that for the three of these, Sears ST/16 with Johnson loader and a truck load of Economy parts and misc brand implements. Bit more that what I wanted to spend, but the '62 just sold today and I have some takers for the Johnson. Between these and Case, they seem to run the highest around here.

[@FullMetalFab]

Ya the joy of living in Canada, all the cool stuff is "rare" and price jacked sky high. Even gravely stuff is few and far between around hear, had a lead on an older one but the guy sold it before I could make the trip.

[@danbasta3677]

Have two Power King tractors and a Internationsl Havester Cub Cadet tractor. Love all of them, great tractors.

[@carrollthim8460]

good video biger trackor biger mower work beter god bless all

[@jtothefx]

I clicked subscribe immediately after hearing the theme song...

[@5Tractorguy]

Lol thanks Jesse. Can't beat some good ol' bluegrass.

[@jtothefx]

5Tractorguy the feeling of satisfaction priceless

[@Speedn108]

Starting at 2:50 that sounds like my cousin Joey singing. He’s been in a few different bluegrass bands. We are located in West Virginia.

[@Speedn108]

5Tractorguy what is the band name of the music playing?

[@5Tractorguy]

@@Speedn108 That would be the Deer Creek Boys. From Virginia I think... Good band!

[@gordoncorey8023]

Hi how are you doing today have not seen you in a bit hope you all ok

[@5Tractorguy]

Doing mighty fine here Gordon. Business is jumping and there's been a lot of new tractors showing up lately. Appreciate ya checking in.

[@ianwinfield929]

Hard to beat a Kohler K-Series. #Courages-R-Crap

[@5Tractorguy]

You said it, worked on/serviced a couple... was not impressed.

[@tonyballard6877]

I thank so myself.

[@craigengelman4534]

i just put a predator 22hp on my 68

[@FIXANDREPAIR]

Was it easy to make it mate to the trans?

[@brownwrench]

Overkill on the battery

[@5Tractorguy]

Well that's all I had so.....