Montgomery Ward Garden tractor !

Just showing off my 1974 Montgomery Ward garden / lawn tractor 16 hp power-lift . Gilson

[@thegilsonguy8811]

They are great machines!, I got 18 of them and a ton of attachments for them. That 16 variable speed is beautiful!, I’d love to have that tractor in my collection!

[@matthew1er]

Thanks I really like it. Right now I'm starting to have trouble with the starter not working . Not sure if I'm might be the battery either though

[@wegottafishdude]

My son just picked one up but it’s stuck in gear. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[@six4standingtall]

I have two of those and sickle mower and tiller attachments I always wanted an old sears tractor but I think these are better. Rare I try to get all I can find.

[@thegilsonguy8811]

Awesome, still trying to find a sickle bar mower for my wards tractors!

[@calvincooley1074]

When I was a kid a guy would be in parades on a Wheel Horse tractor similar to this one, but what was coool was that he had fitted a pair of CRAGAR S/S wheels to the rig.

[@matthew1er]

I will have to look up those wheels lol

[@calvincooley1074]

@@matthew1er coolest garden tractor in town! Lol. They are the classic chrome five spoke wheels on MANY muscle cars from the 60's & 70's.

[@johnbenedict6703]

I noticed that one of the commenters has 18 of these types of tractors. I have six, five are currently running. They are wonderful tractors but they require all kind of fixing, more often when heavily used. Montgomery Ward tractors from the period and Gilson tractors are the same. You pointed out that the car battery in the tractor was too high. These tractors were made to take car batteries. The original recommended battery, I believe, was a type 22F, no longer available. A battery that I now use is #7590 from NAPA. NAPA also carries the belts for these tractors. When operating the hydraulic lift, the pump handle should return to the middle position (neutral position) on its own. It doesn't seem like yours does. Returning the handle to the middle, like you did, is prudent. The problem arises from a broken spring inside the pump which would do the job. I've operated a pump like yours for many years. Good luck with your tractor.

[@matthew1er]

Thanks for the info. I still need to get a new battery.. and I did not know that the lift handle should return to neutral on its own.. mine is really stiff. I will be trying to post more about mine.. I still have thing I want to do like tires, exhaust muffler and building a flatbed trailer for it . Do you know If a ATV style ball mount hitch will bolt up to these?

[@johnbenedict6703]

@@matthew1er I have configured all my garden tractors with ball hitches for towing a 5ft by 8ft trailer. In my case it's a 1 and 7/8th inch hitch. I recommend 3/8 inch plate steel cut to 6.5 inches wide by 9.25 inches long. Drill three 5/8 inches holes to line up with the bolting holes on the top of the back frame, then use 5/8 inches bolts to fasten the plate to the tractor. The hole for the ball hitch is drilled to an appropriate size for mounting the ball hitch. It's too bad we can't exchange info, I have two extra plates, I could send you one. Good luck with this project.

[@dennislortie7356]

I have a bucket loader and parts

[@matthew1er]

No way.. who makes it?

[@Vivianauxito]

Is there a way to contact you for an LED lighting review?We have been looking for opportunities to get content to showcase our products.

[@dougseaman8791]

Should bring it to an idle before shutting down.

[@johnnybegood9285]

I agree. Shutting down with the throttle not idled will suck a bunch of raw gas into the cylinder, and then the gas will leak through the rings and will mix with the engine oil and thin it out. It's a good idea to let it idle for a few seconds before you shut it off even when idled down.