Free Busted Garden Tractor, But Can We Save It?

I went to a garage sale and this 1991 craftsman gt tractor was broken down in the yard with no takers, lets load it up and see if we can bring it back to life.

[@snotbubbles3276]

Neighbor threw out a small push mower the other day, asked him if he wanted it. He replied no, said it doesnt run. Pulled it up my driveway, emptied the bowl with a 1/2 drive socket and started it right up with some starter fluid while he watched me. Once I knew it ran I cleaned out the bowl of the carb, gave it the Mustie pressure wash, sharpened the blade and then reassembled the stop start cable to the handle. I gave the neighbor a free mow with it then I gave it away to a friend for his daughter. I was able to accomplish all of this by just watching these Mustie videos over the last few years. I feel very confident when I see any mower that doesnt run any more. I can usually fire one up in under 5 minutes. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@user-yn6px4oj8z]

Very cool

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

Surprised he didn't want it back...🤔🤔🤔

[@SteelheadTed]

Way cool man, I feel the same way watching mustie’s videos.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

@@ToyManFlyer1100 probably got another mower before tossing it. as one would be expected generally to do.

[@argonthesad]

Shouldn't have got it going in front of him, lol.

[@TimeBucks]

Love older garden tractors

[@artxtreme06]

Good

[@NTKGamer940]

Eeeee

[@NTKGamer940]

Eeeee

[@Mrxtoz1]

👍

[@rayvoorhies7180]

Machine dates back to when Craftsman was very well made and durable.

[@johnny-fn1ji]

Still not as reliable or solid as the 60s and 70s suburbans !

[@gcarlson622]

The good ole days.

[@akshonclip]

@@johnny-fn1ji But made in the USA nonetheless.

[@atractorkid7]

It's funny because the hitch plate design has been around since the early days, and some of them came with the same 3 speed with hi and low range lust like the old ones

[@Mikefngarage]

now without sears a piece of history

[@atariforever2002]

Can't say what I'm more envious of, your shop/workspace or the seemingly never-ending "stash" of goodies... nice vid!

[@atariforever2002]

@@tetedur377 meh 🤷‍♂️ it was already junk when he got the stuff. Organizing and storing it would be phenomenally expensive and impractical. And its not like its biodegradable wood. Most of it will outlast him by a long shot. The fact that he can reuse it and not just scrap it is cool imo.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I'm envious of Mustie's positive attitude. He laughs when I'd let loose with invective and give up.

[@steveharleyfan]

I really love the lift - I wish I had one of those...

[@rverro8478]

@@steveharleyfan Oh, I can relate.

[@rverro8478]

@@tetedur377 Well, your user's name is kind of a hint.

[@andyhamilton8940]

The Floridian in me was scared when you went to open the hood and flip up that deck!🐍

[@TheOtherBill]

Snakes? Not a problem in northern New England. It's pretty certain you'll find a mouse nest.

[@scottpollard3270]

Same here from NC. I expected to see a copperhead under the deck.

[@roger4375]

I have fought the battle of Resurrecting a Craftsman riding lawn mower myself. While Mustie1 makes it look fun and entertaining it was a little less than that for me. End result I got it going and functioning and it lasted me about 15 years before I sold it. The new owner still uses it. As always, I look forward to spending Sunday morning watching old stuff come back to life with Mustie1.

[@orbitalair2103]

My craftsman is well nigh 31 years old. Couple years ago it got oil leaks...all the rubber and gaskets were shot, had to rebuild it a couple of times to tame all the leaks. But still running.

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Amazing the battery still had life in it.

[@wildbill23c]

I don't think it had sat too long given how easily and quickly it started. I think that steering rod is why it ended up parked.

[@allyouneed71]

good morning

[@felixthecat1672]

Good night 🇦🇺

[@richardthomas1743]

WOW! That was a good find! In todays messed up world that is a rugged tractor and well worth fixing!

[@tridocao143]

ok

[@billdyke9745]

Mustie's stash never fails to amaze...

[@craigbowley6783]

Its good to see someone with enough sense to actually clean out old rusty threads instead of SO many you tubers that just leave em and struggle with em wondering why things are going so rough. Let me guess you even clean tour electrical contacts instead of thinking electricity flows good through corrosion and grease.

[@g.n.6471]

I love lawn tractor videos. I wait all year for them. Then the snow blowers in the winter.

[@andyhamilton8940]

I bet Taryls buddie Elkskins Mower Junk yard would have all the missing components. He likes those bigger old lawn tractors.

[@spencers4121]

lol I'm amazed at the "trash" you get. That thing is newer and better shape then my riding mower I use.

[@shin-pad1052]

Watching from Norwich UK, thanks for another great video 👌🏻

[@richardbenson4048]

Going to love to watch this machine come back to its former glory.

[@johnturner8829]

Good Morning everyone.

[@Chairman750]

Mustie, only you could go to an estate sale and find a mower in a field that has been left out in the weather, bring it home, and it runs. Your luck is amazing. Good find. Can't wait to see the finished product. Take care. See you next week.

[@darrenswails]

I found one on trash night, drained the gas from the tank, fuel lines and carb bowl, put distilled water in the battery and charged it , poured some gas in the carb, and it started right up..

[@phillipsharpe6459]

Mustie on Sunday, coffee fixing stuff, brilliant, 😁👍

[@dst6619]

Amazing it fired up after sitting soo long!😲

[@timbrogan607]

Coffe cup in hand, Mustie1 and a great video. It's a good morning. Thank you sir

[@dominickserignese8837]

I really enjoy the long mustie1 videos.i have learned a lot from watching you. The time seems to fly by so quickly. Your content is very interesting and I enjoy it. You are always into something different. Great variety of tinkering. Wouldn't mind seeing a midweek shorter video also.Mustie1 videos have become part of my Sunday morning routine.Have a great week D and thank you!

[@jamesbondjr4902]

💯❤😎👌💪🙏

[@anthonyblacker8471]

Isn't it the best when you go looking for something then find something else you've been looking for but just COULD NOT FIND?!?!?!!!! I love it!!

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I think I would spray one blade with oil and put it on the rigged nut as sort of a Passform. Then fill it with welding. Could work to reconstruct the torn nut😎. Nice Video👍👍👍

[@Mikefngarage]

I am amazed at how many people just throw away good stuff. if that were in CA....someone without a license would be driving it around town as a means of transportation......Just blows me away how we allow this stuff.

[@perryturpin766]

Good morning all, we gather again on this wonderful Sunday to watch the great Mustie!!!! Thank you Mustie for the wonderful content, good day to all!!

[@CliffLewis28]

Good Morning, Sir! ✌🏼

[@YukonHawk1]

Anem to that.

[@brianstroud6306]

I bought a craftsman gt exactly like the one u stole the steering arm off of. I payed 200. Had been sitting 2 years. Took a few days got it running and cutting great! Tour videos really helped! Ive been watching your work for a few years. Thank you! Keep up the great work my friend.

[@dietersmythe9649]

Don’t worry about the length of the videos, I’m hooked!

[@DZCamaro-kz2vd]

That's around a 1996 year model. I bought the exact same tractor new. Great tractor!

[@themaritimegirl]

That's what TractorData says, too. In 1991 they were still using the grey color scheme.

[@Paul1958R]

I still have my bought new 1996 Craftsman Lawn Tractor - 15HP B&S, Hydrodrive, 42" deck/bagger. 2nd engine in 2005. 100 percent rebuild including replacement frame in 2020 (old frame had cracks from use with plow blade in late 90s early 00s).

[@chipwright6193]

@@themaritimegirl That's what I was thinking too. My Dad bought a smaller model with the 12hp Briggs in 89 or 90 and it was the metalic grey color scheme. Then after that my sister and her husband bought this exact same tractor and it was green. The only difference was that it didn't have those bulky looking plastic pieces on the rear fenders.

[@josephsteffen2378]

@@Paul1958RBack in 1996 25hp mowers were super expensive. Great review. Nothing else like a mechanically inclined person's(actual owner) analysis. Yeah, not from some "writer" for a magazine whose critique may be biased towards advertisement revenue (bribe).

[@tasnikas746]

Good evening from Down Under

[@tasnikas746]

@tigershadow1 g’day man from rainy Melbourne

[@dennishenion9412]

Please don't change your videos! I think your right, take us for the ride learning how things work and learn how to fix things on the fly! I love your videos. I got my hands on a Jacobsen super Chief I also need to get running. Thank you., Dennis

[@josephsteffen2378]

You have "The Mother of All Hoards"! I'm jealous.

[@localcrew]

The loose steering can be fixed by ordering the “C” channel that the axle sits inside. It wears away over the years making the steering loose. I fixed a friend’s Craftsman tractor this way. I think the part was fifteen bucks or so. What I do on these Craftsman tractors is google the model number and get part numbers from there. Always eBay for belts cheap.

[@cogburncg8501]

My grandpa has the exact same mower, he’s had it for around 20 years and me (the grandson) use it around his house for everything outdoors. Hauling brush, mowing,etc. very easy to maintain and such a durable model. Craftsman knew how to do it

[@Shadowsoul2701]

The hitch in the back is a sleeve hitch, it uses single pin garden attachments, most of them made by brinly. Very common for lighter duty machines with or without hydraulics.

[@richardjones5255]

The tractor turned out nicely, what a shame for the old owner of the property, life came to an end and their time and effort ends up coming to something close to nothing. The property looked so sad and abandoned, I guess the executors had not decided how to resolve its state. At least the tractor is getting revived.

[@dimievers5573]

The exhaust on that type of craftsman is standard . It is not an addon . But as heavy as it is it does tend to break off at the welds where it connects to the down pipes .

[@kensherwood4866]

Fine tractor it seems to me. Well worth a 2nd video and a further work. Still surprised how people let such valuable equipment lounge about unused and unloved. Fortunately it's found a good home and rather than being scrapped it gets to live a 2nd productive life, which is a real bonus

[@vaibhavdlv]

Most people would just let something sit idle and rot, rather than spend time and money to get it fixed. Some few like us tinkerers like to get into the thick of things and repair things. But then we are not most people. p.s. also most people think they have way better things to do with their time than messing with hardware.

[@shonepolk9112]

Good morning Mustie glad you’re back!

[@chipwright6193]

My sister and her husband bought the same tractor as this. I believe it is from the early 1990's. that one has the sleeve hitch on the back. You could put a garden plow, disc, scraper blade, or any other sleeve hitch attachment on the back. They are a nice tractor. They gave it to me a couple years ago. They only bought the mower deck with theirs. I wish I could find some other attachments to go with it.

[@mrc3584]

I have one of those! The rear fender flares are SUPER rare. Truly a heavy duty machine! Mine has a winch mounted on the rear sleeve hitch. Comes in handy when you get stuck.

[@echobeefpv8530]

Very quick startup on this one !! Good idea to split the videos, 1.5 hours was getting a bit long, even for me. Your videos make for a great start to my Sundays , thanks for all the hard work !!

[@dougierotten]

Watch half one day, the other the next.

[@dougaranda6187]

That was a good score. Plow, wheel weights, and basically no repairs. I love the handle controlled hydros, no foot fatigue.

[@afberglund2764]

Satisfying see you washing that neclected mower.

[@redneckbryon]

The best thing with Craftsman’s, a lot of the common parts that break and wear out are still available. I think this machines is more of a 90s Model, not an 80s, since it’s using a V-twin Kohler, the older machines more traditionally used the, Boxer style Opposed Twin. I would think the machine you have at your house would be pretty much the same, but it’s more of a late 90s when the GT’s were bring phased out of production.

[@DarKMatter.1]

I think you’re right. I have this same mower but a 42” and it’s a 91. Mine doesn’t have the fancy electric PTO either. It’s got a lever you push up to engage the deck.

[@markraymond1196]

Your exactly right. I have a gt just like that I use everyday doing various things. Mine is a 94. And a real workhorse. Wouldn't trade it for any of these new junk they put out

[@xray111xxx]

Good morning. A great day to save a Tractor. Sears original that Craftsman. Wonder who the OEM was as Craftsman gets everything from other suppliers and has their name on it. Suppliers like Easco, and so on. Another motor at least gets a 2nd chance. Because Mustie is on the job. Thank you sir.

[@douglaschalou5112]

MTD Cleveland ohio makes nearly all of these for various brand names...

[@dodecahedron1]

this was built by AYP as a continuation of the roper built series of craftsman garden tractors they had made before being bought out by electrolux

[@themaritimegirl]

AYP would have built this one. According to TractorData it's a 1996 model, not 1991.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@themaritimegirl is correct. AYP (American Yard Products), now Husqvarna, made the better Craftsman mowers and GTs. MTD made the lesser ones. You can still get parts by using the Sears part number, it'll just show up as Husqvarna. Tip: Sears model numbers were "xxx . " and xxx was a 3 digit number indicating the manufacturer.

[@josephsierra7295]

@@dodecahedron1 Yup..AYP. I had the same one.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍👀

[@douglasbrown8175]

Really nice piece for a handy guy to bring back to life enjoy.

[@gearheadgregwi]

I run from hydrostatic stuff. Love the old belt-driven stuff. I'm a weekend marine mechanic. Rather be working on boat engines. Rain day today. Thank goodness for Mustie!!!

[@aryonllewellyn]

Hi mate. In future if you find yourself bothered by bees/wasps, you can pacify them by smoking them. It's what beekeepers use to pacify their bees before checking their hives.

[@robertjean659]

Looks like a well built mower, good find. 🇦🇺🇦🇺👍👍

[@BigBalledBastard]

Bud, I do the same thing you do. I fix everything. We come from a time when we were shown by our fathers and uncles. Now, these kids just want to play video games!

[@richardcline1337]

I made the horrific mistake of not tying the hood down on my MTD Yard Machine when I was bringing back from the shop that deemed it too far gone to repair (Tecumseh engine with almost no parts available). Yep! Ripped that sucker right off! Since it was going to a neighbor to use for parts it didn't upset me but just that I was not thinking about how the wind would react to it being on the trailer backwards. Even at my advanced age I found I can still learn a few things.

[@RenovationFarmhouse]

Love older garden tractors. I use a ‘68 Wheel Horse Charger 12 on my few acres. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to Part 2

[@kriswright1022]

Mines a WH 312 A, mows my 2 1/2 acres just fine! Very well made machines!

[@josephsteffen2378]

I love to hear stories about lawn tractors etc. Being from middle class Pasadena, California...a riding mower was a luxury. Especially since, if you owned one: you had a huge piece of property and/or were wealthy. But, for folks across America who lived were land was less expensive, I guess it's more of a necessity than a option.

[@vinnieesposito8645]

Loved when you went "shopping" at 25:48 I can relate to this type of shopping!

[@davidweidner1675]

Good Morning I like the 45-minute to 1hour format

[@baggins1]

Just replaced drive and deck belts on one of these. Great machines

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

👍👌👏 It started right up and the price was right too! ;-) 😁 Looks like a very decent quality. I hope that we can watch the second part next week (not in half a year or so). Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health.

[@Adam_Lynn]

That's a chunky little tractor. Thanks for the video Mustie.

[@roterakaten636]

My grandpa had one of those exact models of branden tractor. It never stopped going. My cousin now uses it on her driveway and yard.

[@bigcatchoutdoors8424]

Keep em long Mustie!! Love spending my Sunday mornings with you

[@swany8393]

Love your videos. I’ve watched them multiple times and have been a subscriber for over 3 years now.

[@AndysDogHouse]

Hey Mustie. I love estate sales. You never know what you will find. Good stuff. WOW, you did well. That is a great score. Even the plow will get you some good $$$. It is all gravy. Good for you Thanks for sharing.🍁👍👍

[@josephcormier5974]

That's an awesome find for free solid tractor great video excellent content thank you for sharing five stars brother

[@dphoenix1]

My dad had an earlier version of this exact Craftsman tractor (his was mid to late 80s, so I’d date yours to the early 90s maybe). Different engine (flat twin) but same horsepower, three speed manual with high and low range, same electric mower blade clutch, but it didn’t have that hitch setup in the back. Anyway, I mention all of that to bring up that plow attachment, which my dad also had… it is pretty useless. Even with the wheel weights and tire chains installed, the tractor just can’t maintain enough traction to push much snow. So you might be tempted to try to build up some speed and momentum, but the plow is not built for that at all and will break (iirc there’s a roll pin that will shear off, but this was 26 years ago so my memory is a little hazy). So your decision to not even try to use it is a good call. It isn’t worth the effort to get it installed, especially when you have to pull the mower deck first. I’ve seen similar sized tractors that have snow *blower* attachments on the front (can’t remember if they were hydraulic or pto shaft driven, one or the other), and those work SO much better and more effectively than a basic plow blade like this.

[@wildbill23c]

The snow blower attachments run off the same Pulley/PTO as the mower deck...a pain in the ass to install and remove. I have a 42" snow blower for my Cub Cadet lawn tractor, and its such a pain to put on. Has a separate mounting system than the mower deck. The blower works pretty well, anything more than about 4 inches of snow I have to install the tire chains, but with 4 suitcase weights on the back and chains it does really well....I just install the blower in the late fall before it gets really cold so I'm not having to crawl around on the cold frozen ground LOL. The Craftsman GT6000 I had, didn't have the rear sleeve hitch, just used it for mowing and pulled a garden trailer with it quite frequently as well...mowed 2 acres with it 8 months out of the year for 21 years before the engine grenaded itself sadly. I miss that old garden tractor. Thing had to have had several thousand hours on it, didn't have hour meters on them back then unfortunately. Mine was the manual transaxle with hi/low range as well, and electric PTO, mine had the Briggs & Stratton 18HP horizonal shaft twin cylinder engine, so the rear output shaft of the engine had the belt that ran the transaxle, front output shaft had the PTO on it.

[@lukeskywalker7566]

Love this just great to see you working on old mowers keep on the oily work mustie cheers from the 🇬🇧

[@Dirtbiker4life]

When my grandfather passed in 2011 he had 4-5 of these older mowers 1 was identical just sitting around. I was only 12-13 and didn’t have any say and my parents just scrapped them all when they took possession. Looking back now I wish I was able to try and fix up one or two of them. Great video btw!

[@TBullCajunbreadmaker]

I tell you what, you stumbled onto a really good grass cutting machine. I used one like this for about 12 years and you can't get a better engine. Everything else is OK but the deck needed to be stayed on top of. It used some pretty good belts and it had lots of power. Mine was like yours except it had a low range and a high range for pushing and pulling. I put some tractor tread tires on the back so it never got stuck in wet ground. Down here it rains a hell of a lot and you have to cut wet sometimes. Now I use a 4 wheel drive John Deere but that was one very good lawn tractor for what I could afford at the time.

[@rideupsidevideoadventures3172]

Very nice. I bought nearly that exact same garden tracktor back in... let's say 95. It was used but in super nice shape with very low hours. It was never left it outside, it ran great for me and I used that thing for nearly 20 years before I resold it. Mine had the standard shift trany with a belt drive type clutch. Let me clear up a question concerning what may have gone on the back. When I bought mine it came with a Craftsman 8 hp tiller that fit this rig beautifully. I used that tiller so much I had to replace the tines. I think you have a winner here. Can't speak to the hydrostatic trany though... Looking forward to next week. Great video.

[@Rockport1911]

Classic hoarder, searching for parts for your brand new used non- running tractor by scouting out the own backyard- motorized- equipment- sanctuary :) The stash will always provide...

[@dano4380]

Thanks Mustie1! Brought back great childhood memories. Spent summers mowing yards and winters plowing snow! Best childhood ever! Would listen for the plow truck after a snow then head out about 5:30am at 10yrs old and plowed driveways! Our had a second bar attachment that pivoted on the frame to lift and lower…thanks again!

[@richardpickell8062]

Might I suggest "Jack's Small aengine" for finding the right mower deck spindles for it. Reasonable prices too. 👍👍 Jack knows Small engines.😃

[@michaelarmeniox5263]

Love your show! Have you tried a magnet to hold the spark plug when testing spark or make a saddle of stiff wire . might make it easier to keep it steady. Once again Love your show!

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

I'll stay with my Craftsman T240 Turn Tight tractor dry weight is 630 pounds.. Kohler 7000 series 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin engine..comes with a 3 year unlimited hours warranty..46" Cut tuff torq K46 transmission metal hood 3.1 gallon fuel tank it's a little tank..2 stage snow blower mounts in the front..thick Cast iron front Axle..the list is long

[@stevebrooks7197]

I love your comment about wasps! Yeah, you have to be careful!

[@FJ80Coop]

Remove spindle nut and pulley,smack a block of wood downwards onto shaft,knocking it out of spindle housing,replacement shafts are usually 10 bux or less on fleabay and the shaft bearings can be found there as well for around 10bux for 8 or 10 of them... Much cheaper than 35- 40 bux for a complete spindle assembly..

[@zman4150]

I wouldn't be surprised if the grandkids used that tractor as a go-kart, which would be the reason for the seat being so close to the steering wheel, and when they hit a rock they tore out the steering arm. I wonder how much they're asking for the property? Would love to move up there, and not just for the yard sales! Take care Mustie1...

[@leo42062]

you read my mind i thought the exact same thing i bet it was a go cart

[@Bill23799]

Drinking Game: Take a shot everytime Mustie says ( or implies ) " Well that's going to make my life easier ". First time I ever saw so much going so right with a new patient.

[@chrissmith513]

That's the coolest trailer !

[@markswartz5660]

Make the length whatever works for you. We’ll all watch no matter what!

[@whitesapphire5865]

That chassis frame looks very reminiscent of our little old John Deere. A lot of the smaller machines use a pressed steel sheet chassis, so this is way better. Those Kohler engines are good if you look after them, and yours sounds nice. This will be a nice machine once it's sorted out, just a pity it got left to get into that condition. I wonder what stories it could tell! Definitely worth working on, even if it's only for the experience. I think I'd be tempted to figure out how that blade works on the front, but you may be missing a few small parts, though they shouldn't be hard to make, or replace.

[@rayvoorhies7180]

The manual and parts breakdown may be online. That would show what's missing and how it connects.

[@MunkyWrench]

My fav and most satisfying sound in my own shop on vids I make for my channel or ones I watch .. is when you prime the carb and it barks.. cause I know a motor is worth working on.. love your channel for years.. see u soon

[@pixelmator]

Wow you definitely have quite the selection of goodies everywhere...

[@ACCORDriver_NL]

Great video, as always! 👌 Are you planning on working on the Econoline Pickup soon? I'm kind of waiting for that ... But you've got PLENTY of stuff to work on!

[@Mark_C1]

Happy Sunday everyone 😁

[@131dyana]

Thanks for letting us see this garden tractor come to life again.

[@davidsnyder2000]

Thankx Darrin for another cool video👍 I seem to learn new stuff every time you make a video….. Thankx for taking the extra time to film everything 🙂🙏

[@davidsnyder2000]

That mower broke all expectations for me. Usually they put up a battle requiring a bunch of time, effort, materials and parts. I’m surprised 😯

[@AZVIDS]

Brings back memories of some of your “vintage” videos! Love the variety of projects you do.👍👍👍

[@MazichMusic]

Those AHP/AYP/Electrolux/Husqvarna Craftsman tractors are pretty good. The DYT4000 you cannibalized is a few steps-up from my 2004 DLT. The current Craftsman tractors are made by MTD, in my judgement, not as good

[@harveylong5878]

anything made by MTD is garbage

[@jackjaeger2189]

You never fail to make me smile.

[@chubbyjohnson5480]

A Mustie mower Sunday! Nothing better!

[@fitzfitz2801]

when you were looking at the mower deck and said i wonder whats underneath i thought to myself ......... look out another wasps nest lol 😂😂😂

[@josephlwallssr6166]

Another ,success! And at minimal cost!😀Pretty cool.....

[@JamesCouch777]

That mower is a great find 👍

[@toon2u1]

in it's day that was one helluva nice lawn mower. best thing about sears you got a complete schematic with every nut & bolt listed with purchase for diy repair. owned many of them

[@mennoboon8037]

Nice to have some parts around👍

[@bobsboltonstuff4212]

After seeing your graveyard I wished I lived around the corner. I'm after a dead lawn tractor for a project hey ho. Keep up the good work looking forward to the 2nd half

[@crapbag9724]

That's a really cool trailer, love how it scoots down.

[@rabidfarmer9765]

I love Craftsman tractors - esp w/ the KOhler motors in them. They last forever if you take care of them. Nice find!