1980's Sears Craftsman II: Briggs & Stratton 18hp Twin Part II

It's alive. With a quick clean out of the carb and a new starter, this old GT fired right up and runs like a champ. After the grass-killing heat wave knocked off, it sold on Craigslist in just a few days.

[@localcrew]

I just "Inherited" a "Lowes" brand mower from my neighbors that has the 18 horse Briggs in it and I did have to replace the starter gear awhile back. Not yet on the starter. Anyway, I'm gonna put the motor on a 52 inch commercial mower and part out the rest. My mower looks very similar to this one but the deck had a cable system that raised the front of the deck along with the rear. Complicated, but it works. Nice old mower!

[@TheSaturnV]

@pulse301 Nobody seems to know. Maybe the way the starter mounts on the engine. What is known is that 2-3 years of use and the magnets seem to break apart. Nice motors though, and the bright side is the starter is really ez to change.

[@DesertDigger1]

That's a real prize.

[@terrymatthey5840]

All the pivot points wear . then that lets the front of deck sag . May not be the right way , but what i do is pull the pin that attaches front bracket to mower deck . Then drill new holes lower on the mower deck . . Just not to low or the bracket will hit on the deck . But that will raise the front of the mower deck up . some reason i think it is a inch and a quarter or so lower i move the hole down .

[@TheSaturnV]

@1968hambone Yeah, it has a nice smooth and low idle. Pretty impressed.

[@TheSaturnV]

@NomaDairy Actually a lot has happened with the old orange creamsicle. If I can just get into a position to paint the dang hood, I can finish off that video series. I've got lots of video in the can, and it's practically done.

[@lovebumperknows]

I used a strong bungie chord to hold the deck at the approapiate height

[@TheSaturnV]

Yeah, it's a weird setup. I liked the tractor just fine but for the life of me couldn't see how that deck could ever get more than just a couple of inches or so off the ground. No matter, it sold for a nice chunk in just a couple of days on Craigslist.

[@TheSaturnV]

Sold it last summer. :)

[@Texassince1836]

Its the fact that a steel shaft rides in an aluminum upper housing. Other briggs motors use steel tops on their starters with steel shafts, reducing wear. If someone were to drill out the aluminum top peice, and install a steel bushing, the starters would last longer.

[@jonathankuhn7837]

I know this video is old but do you know the model number of that engine? Thanks

[@илармйБаланчук]

Хто дасть совет де можна купити стартер

[@jojojeep1]

That’s the way they ride the deck, that’s why I don’t use one anymore or use it just for snowplowing when my father owned it his grass was flat as a golf course he was able to use it he gave it to me I can’t use it in my yard

[@garymathews9534]

great looking tractor .what yr is your tractor .to raise the front of the mower deck ,screw in the front pins at the front of the mower deck.I have a 18 hp B&S that seems weak .I would like to convert my 87 GT 18 to a vertical engine .what yr should I look for a conversion donor .

[@harleyguyinmilw]

i love mine, although, mine is just a bit older, but also a GT 18/44. but has shifter between your legs, not on the fender. the briggs runs like a maniac!! But the welded together front axles are weak. I've had to weld mine twice now, they crack near the kingpins. I'm going to upgrade mine to a cast iron front axle.

[@2LateIWon]

Nice work that hood does look really solid. Sound strong too.

[@TheSaturnV]

@brian242 I know, right? The front of the deck barely raised high enough to clear a domino! I really had to watch out to not snag it on things. Nice machine, poorish deck.

[@TheSaturnV]

@hebert4230 Ok, thank you. There is someone on the MTF Craftsman forums asking about this very topic over the last couple of days. I thought I was going nuts trying to figure it out, I kept thinking surely they wouldn't design something like that!!! :)

[@suchfunstuff]

@pulse301 Upper armature bearing, usually. Once the bearing wears to a certain point, the armature starts to drag and make friction, leads to the starter getting hot and having reduced torque.

[@TheSaturnV]

@oologahan The best thing about it was the way the entire front end came off with two flat head screws. Pretty cool.

[@knighthawk86855]

Just picked up a Montgomery ward tractor with a nice Briggs opposed twin 18hp the thing has a 46" three blade deck and two craftsman push mowers ones a key start black really nice and the other is just a regular craftsman all for free will start work on the Montgomery ward tractor soon but it runs perfectly gotta luv those opposed twins and free....lmao....great video!!!

[@Keiser1]

how much u want for the opposed twin

[@sethalverson4099]

my dad used to have one of these lol and yea from what i remember i think the decks run low

[@larrybl]

Same as my RED, I found that the low deck issue was actually caused by a worn center pivit bushing in the front axle. The front deck brace mounts to the front axle causing a strain on that bushing.

[@TheSaturnV]

@2LateIWon Thanks buddy, it wasn't the slickest solution but it will hold up for a long time now.

[@brian242]

I have a Sears GT18, same eng. and same crappy deck, man sears makes a crapper deck system

[@kevinisam]

Nice, I have one but its a 1987 and a lower class, no electric pto, throttle on the other side, and whatever But your deck should no be down that low, altho the highst mine goes is like 4 inches, that's a big difference from yours

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I've got SEVEN and that's not enough.

[@TheSaturnV]

@IHcubcadet Yeah, me too. I was really tempted to keep it just for the nice Twin. Can't keep'em all.

[@TheSaturnV]

Yeah, I liked it and really ran nice. First twin I'd ever owned. Can't keep them all though.

[@UnitCrane514]

I had that same mower and when I moved to my new house we have alot of hills. The way that deck sits it would scalp the lawn like crazy so I got rid of it.

[@pulse301]

Wow, that engine sounds smooth as silk, how impressive! I'm curious if you have any idea what causes those starters to go bad? Since you posted the original video, I have seen 2 different ones just like yours for sale in my area and BOTH needed the starters replaced.

[@TheSaturnV]

@500passwords Another one runnin' and out the door. :D

[@Chooman69]

You're back! Lots of videos in the can? Can't wait.

[@edzgarage]

Nice job Saturn.

[@Jamalsneed44]

I got one jst like it but mine is manual 6 speed and horizantal shaft

[@TheSaturnV]

Ok, that explains a lot. Thanks a bunch for this info.

[@mowerman7629]

make more new tractor videos for this year please

[@lobsterbox20]

That's a great looking machine. Nice and clean!

[@1968hambone]

good job Saturn.....the Craftsman sounds great!

[@TheSaturnV]

@edzgarage Thanks Ed.

[@NomaDairy]

nice job! hows the sears comming?

[@500passwords]

looks good buddy

[@Needmorehorsepower]

Nice work Randy! :)

[@paddywagons104]

how much you want for it ....

[@71_sears97]

How did you polish the amp meter out? My grandfathers tractor is all fogge over

[@TheSaturnV]

Glass or plastic? This tractor had a plastic gauge cover/face, so I used it as a template and cut a new one from some clear sheet plastic. For glass, you can remove the face sometimes by prying it out of the case. Clean it very well and re-install it best you can.

[@71_sears97]

I also have a steering wheel cap from my 68 Suburban 12 which is fogged up, and I heard that you can use toothpaste? I am not really sure.

[@TheSaturnV]

They make an actual plastic polish. It will only work if it's just the topside that has gotten hazy. I know many modern cars have plastic headlight lenses that get all hazy and there are products/kits on the market that make them look like new again.

[@71_sears97]

My steering cap is really yellowed and I tried some polish, but I may have to try something abrasive to get the haziness off. Thanks for the info!

[@TheSaturnV]

You're welcome. If you really have to get aggressive, wet sand beginning with 2000 grit automotive paper.

[@Keiser1]

how much would you want for it

[@TheSaturnV]

I sold it the next day. Think it went for around $500

[@Keiser1]

TheSaturnV dang

[@87Wayne]

I have one it is from 1985. Seems to have some slight differences. Mine has threaded bolts (rods) that allows for deck adjustment. Yours seems to be a vertical shaft 18HP Briggs. Mine is a horizontal shaft running front to back.

[@TheSaturnV]

Yes, it was a vertical shaft. They must have made some improvements in your model with the threaded hangars. I would have had to figure something out to get the deck higher had I kept it.