My New/Old Sears SS/16

I think it's a Suburban. Not sure of the year, but it's old and HEAVY!

[@ManWithAWrench2013]

Had one just like it. They make a a lot af accessories for those. Its pretty much a small tractor. I personally had a push blade on the front (for snow and track building) and a 3 point hitch on the back that I used to pull small equipment. Great find and very useful.

[@bigmikes357]

Just bought a 1974 sears suburban for $80 but it’s in better shape, I’ve been watching you’re videos since I was in middle school I’m a senior and I finnally got a sears, I have always wanted one , I can’t wait to get time to start working on it

[@snowmangsx1100]

good looking old tractor buddy,,find you a hood of some kind before long,,I like it.

[@Zack_Raefski]

Whatever you do to it will look sweet man, just another one to your fleet, haha. Nice grab Fearless, them old tractors will run forever.

[@tommymodified]

Cool find! Looking forward to seeing more videos of this. Just bought an old Cub Cadet model 147 in about the same condition (or maybe even a little worse) haha.

[@s12gearhead]

Great find!! I got a 1972 ss15 briggs love the thing tough as hell! Cant wait to see more on it. Deff need to post it to atltf lol

[@Fearlessfront]

it sounded pretty sweet when it was running, I'm glad to hear it a good motor

[@LawnGone]

great timing Fearless! just waiting for the snow to receed so i can retrieve the same tractor from my neighbors place(freebie!) tractor has the deck,a snow blower,and a rear plow.interested to learn more about the old beast..keep the vids coming!

[@Chooman69]

Glad you're going to get it going one way or the other. It will treat you well.

[@mrmanandstuff101]

I just watched this video again and then you look at where you are with the Suburban now! Man it looks killer now! Get that new video up Fearless im stoked to see it!!

[@alexke1503]

It's worth restoring I'd say. That's a nice powerful engine! I want to see you driving around with that! ;)

[@sahsbarisax]

Nice mower, i am new to "romping/muddin" i guess tht is using tractors i race dirtbikes but all of your videos are very helpfull and fun to watch....keep i fearless dude

[@Fearlessfront]

Reggie! holy shit! Thanks for the mower man, I hope you stick around and see how this all pans out! haha And I know nothing about points, and those type of ignition systems. so this is all kinda new for me

[@EnginesandElbowGrease]

Love that thing, good thing I found it for you. Haha I can't wait to see it in person. KEEP THAT ONAN.

[@Pedaln]

Cool machine. I really want to hear that twin running =)

[@lamarzimmermanmennonitefar5269]

hi Todd, I just bought a nice Roper RT8E just yesterday. it is all complete, and has a blade and shaft drive deck. it looks like it has been stored a long time. i'd like to get the motor running it has a bad coil.Roper made the Sears tractor for Sears back then.the one you have is a few series newer than mine. I bought it for parts but I changed my mind as soon as I researched the brand. I want to post a short video on my channel soon.I hope you will take time to watch it. thanks Todd

[@KhmerBoy82297]

KEEP THE MOTOR!!!!! these motor are usually made in japan and there really rare!! them motors are worth fixing up and onan are really used a lot on rvs as generators and i had one myself made in japan and still works now since my grandfather gave me it and he had it for over 30 years!! really reliable engine and this would be a torque monster as a trail rig. im really hoping to see it running and on your vids!! hope u keep it and keep up the good work!

[@zacharymoen8788]

I got my wheel horse for 100$ and have been using your videos to help me make a mud mower

[@ChevChamp35]

This is what i would do Todd, Finish the Lifted Mower (Make it slower, blot down the body, fix the shifter linkage) Get the Racing Mower/Go Cart tweaked to the point where your happy, Get the Craftsman Crawler running (Rear tires, Carb Cleaned, Painted) Then as your, say, working on making the Murray anymore better, get going on this. Id say this would be a great summer side project for you! Nothing but romping/racing this summer with a side project.

[@Fearlessfront]

Awesome man, your gonna have to come romp with us sometime!

[@joshualee3d]

Awesome old tractor! I say get in running and use it for a workhorse. Those things had crazy pulling power!

[@tbonesinator]

ill tell you once you get it running, wont ever let you down those motors never die.

[@MrMustangMan1965]

Those friggin motors are one of the best out there !

[@GamingForAnAfterLife]

nice video and tractor!

[@Fearlessfront]

I tested this one before I started it, it has 100+ psi on both sides, which surprised me!

[@reggiestratton8036]

I got that rearend locked with high low range an works awsome the one i showed you when u bought sears off me

[@carabela125]

That's a good motor, got one in my welder/generator. It's always hard to start cold, needs priming.

[@157bradley1]

Very cool tractor Fearless. I have owned more than one of those. For YOUR use, I would recommend parting out the Onan online. They are desirable and in pieces will bring good money. I would then seek out Kohler K241 10 Hp side shaft motor. They are extremely common, found in Cub Cadets, Wheel Horse's and many other vintage tractors. They are very easy to work on and make GOBS of torque. They also have a huge aftermarket support for pulling tractors. They are incredibly tough. My .02 :)

[@tomb.6078]

the SS 16 is a good reliable engine. I got the same tractor. First thing to check is the vacuum operated fuel pump on the side of the carburetor.

[@Joelholland78]

Those are awesome machines, keep the motor slap a plow on the thing

[@Bennyboysgarage_]

Nice man cool find cool engine

[@Fearlessfront]

I know, I kinda want to do that to it, but I still have the lifted to mess with, and I just got done doing the go kart build, so I don't want to open that one up yet... I may put it on the back burner for a bit, then get to it later.

[@UnitCrane514]

You should do an amazing paint job like the racing mower. Wheel weights are badass, I would make it a nice work horse!

[@Fearlessfront]

thanks man, I think I have the 3 point, but no pto anywhere besides the drivebelt

[@mattbaker2693]

nice find man i know were one is at just like that but its still got a disk plow on it ,but yea thumbs up man i hope you get it running good.

[@9102jack]

COLLECTOR ITEM. POSSIBLE MID-LATE SIXTIES, EARLY SEVENTIES. KEEP EVERYTHING. THROW NOTHING OUT. that one looks complete, could fetch quite a bit for the refurbished deck alone. keep the motor running well, good 16 onans are difficult to find. Good luck on the build/restoration! :D

[@Fearlessfront]

thanks for the info! I'll deff look into that!

[@Fearlessfront]

I'm definitely not interested in fully restoring it, that would take a ton of time and money to do. Right now, I just want to have some fun this summer, and do the little projects and upgrades here and there

[@MrPjonny]

My uncle owns a jacobson chief and we use that for garden tractor pulling! It is mostly cast iron and the transmission is really nice. But getting parts for that wouldnt be to hard as long as you know where to look and what to search.

[@mikemac777]

Hey Fearless, the problem with running for 5 minutes and dying is a bad coil. My 1952 ford 8n did the same thing. If it was fuel, it would take less then 5 minutes to empty the bowl in the carb. Most of those canister coils are oil filled an that's how they keep cool. If the oil leaked out or if there are bad windings in the coil pack, it would get too hot and ground itself out. It sounds like that's where your trouble begins.

[@keiths99d]

I have been watching your vids pretty cool. i have two sears customs from the 60s one i mow with the other i put in a 16hp briggs and converted it to a dullie. I am a engine machinest by trade and we do a lot of small engines. The onans is a good engine but the most expensive one to repair and parts are very hard to find. Cummins diesel is who ownes onan and is the oe parts supplier.Good luck. I woud like to see you mud this one too.

[@JSW793]

I have a neighbor that has a tractor just like that except all the green parts you have on there are painted yellow. I think it's a 70's tractor. He's kept it in amazing shape and uses it every week to mow his corner of the street. I don't know much about Onan engines but I know they're really valuable and worth fixing up. I think you should try doing a bit of a restore project on it, at least to get rid of the rust and make it good looking.

[@Dale_ks88]

Nice looking revovery rescue lawnmower

[@richarddowner4292]

get it going and beat the crap out of it.. come on we all know you can.. I can't wait 2 come up and hang on 1 of your off road romps with MY FEARLESSFRONT OFF ROAD TRACTOR :-) thanks for the update and the great info on a great summer heehee I can't wait. I did do a little run with the tractor, yep I need 2 put mud flaps on the rear. holy cow the mud just ripped up my back and neck (covered me in mud just from the back wheels spinning). Mud flaps are really needed that will be another update.

[@dagwood64]

Those Onan engines are very tough and reliable. I think I use to get onan parts from JC Whitney's but I don't see any there now. I know they still make carb kits for them, I will have to do some research for you and get back to you on where to get em. That was back when Sears made a good tractor.

[@Powder_actuated_lead-]

I remember when this video was posted I was 15 and now 24 hope your doing good man

[@Fearlessfront]

holy crap! does it still go pretty good with those tires on it?

[@Fearlessfront]

damn, those would be huge front tires!

[@mikemac777]

Hey Fearless, go to any John Deere dealer for parts. They still use Onan engines in some of their equipment. From what I hear, the most commonly used engine is the 18hp twin which has the same or similar carburetor set up. The rebuild kit for the 16hp carb works with the 18 and 20hp onans. Let me know if that helps any as I'm going off some info that I've heard.

[@Fearlessfront]

I dont know for sure.. the tag says 12v on it but I thought it was talking about the starter/battery

[@RooneysSears01]

Those Onans are beasts if you get em to run right! I have 2 an they are animals. Judging by what I've seen Fearless I'd say it 73 to 75 year wise. But if I were you I'd talk to Pacificdrumma he knows these Onans inside and out he'd be a great resource for sure!

[@davekimbler2308]

a good running onan engine of that size could sell for about 300 - 400 around here . They were made here in Minnesota . And yes they were usually on high end generators for both marine and land . You might have a gem there !!!

[@TheCreedBratton]

that thing is awesome. i would save it, make it nice and take care of it for as long as possible

[@CornShuck4CE]

awsome tractor. recovery tractor love it wish it were mine

[@tbrowning7]

I had an old Sears with a snow blade on the front of it. The original Onan was dead and it was repowered with a Kohler I believe. I ended up trading it for something else, and now I'm kinda wishing I'd kept it. Keep your eye out on ebay, maybe you can find a plow, tiller, or other attachments for it...keep it around for a workhorse!

[@shawnabbey]

I used to have the 20 hp opposed on my equipment. Be advised to keep a close eye on the heads for small cracks. You may not see them unless you take the heads off. On my engine, I noticed they were around the head bolts. My mechanic said that was common on that type of engine. Not sure if that applies to yours or not, but it's something to watch for.

[@tucksbestproduction]

keep that onan.....awesome torquy engines, especially at the bottom end....et it sounds great with straight pipes:D

[@Fearlessfront]

thanks, I'll have to look him up

[@Fearlessfront]

thats a cool idea!

[@Dylan553]

Those old onans are very reliable and last a long time what i would suggest doing is flush the fuel system put fresh gas in new plugs and plug wires clean up the points and the cable the runs to the coil so it has good connection because judging from this video it is most likely rusted and corroded and check over the carb, i would give it a good cleaning and it should fire right up.

[@Fearlessfront]

ya, it sound like a cool project, but I dont have a TON of free time to do that one right now... I't gonna get modded a bit, I bought it because I really want to see what you can do to one of these... I've never seen one get pulley swapped... have you?? I thnk it would be interesting!

[@stevetaylor7471]

Have one just like it, cept for the paint job,gonna follow you real closeand see what you do to it cause I'm undecided aswell

[@Joebroni1957]

You should add a crane boom to the rear with either a worm gear winch or a electric and make it a tow tractor. I put one o the back of an older yard man but it wasn't heavy enough so I could only pick up like 200 and I had a plow for a counter weight.

[@Stevestractoradventures]

Those are awesome motors. 98% of the time the carbs are just dirty. Pull the carb apart and clean it theres probably some junk in it. Nice score too :)

[@Fearlessfront]

damn, I'll have to look out for that

[@Fearlessfront]

ya, the fiber float, thats what I'm gonna try and replace

[@ken420ks]

Dude that would be a good power house for pulling

[@S15_jimmy]

Keep it and make it a romp tractor I love the videos I've always wanted to build one never had the time or the money

[@tractors4life17]

That's bad ass those engines are usually on generators

[@64gravely]

Looks like an Onan CCK series or a B series. Great engines.

[@weseddy6138]

hey fearless, im thinking about getting a cheap mower to make into an offroad one, what type and year do you think i should try to get & would preform well on ttails ?

[@heatherwhitacre4030]

Keep that Onan those thing are beasts!

[@DUKEJOHNSON63]

Hey Fearless, how about doing a full restoration on this? Then you could take it, along with the racing mower, to those shows you were talking about. These are some nice mowers, built to last! Don't see many like this anymore.

[@FuelInjectionSucks]

My friend got a free Craftsman with a 20hp Onan. He sold the motor for $600 on Craiglist within 24 hours, so I'd say it's worth keeping

[@Fearlessfront]

thanks, I'll have to look into that

[@KeystoneMotorsports]

I got a Murray GT from I think the mid 80s. Took the entire thing apart and repainted everything, now its waiting for an engine. After that itll be for snow plowing and pulling. Definitely make it a workhorse with that heavy transaxle. Worse comes to worse you put a HF Predator engine in it.

[@ChevChamp35]

Basicly just get this running, Paint that hood? Fix the tire & use it as a work horse/beater! I like the idea when you said to use it for pulling the mowers out of a pit. Get everything functioning basically, no need to make it look pretty :)

[@cl80pw]

you should do it up nice as a recovery tractor for pulling out stuck mowers and pit a winch on the front!

[@kaisersrock]

thats a sweet tractor my dad had one keep the motor the r very good and sot after and bad ass the tranys r built mine has the same one pulled a chevy s10 backwards with it. i would pully swap it and make it cruise cause u could still put it in low and crawl with it

[@Fearlessfront]

Thanks man!

[@boodoorn]

That motor is totally worth keeping. You will regret getting rid of it. Once you get the motor running it will keep on going and going. There tough little motors.

[@Fearlessfront]

I'll give this motor a chance, it sounded good when it did run

[@jamesb1307]

it will be worth it to get it running,that thing is a beast.

[@redneckbryon]

Keep the engine they are very tough. The transaxle in that tractor they used it up till around 95 or 98. There are other videos on KZbin of people using similar tractors for pulling or mudding they work well.

[@lackerspeed99]

I recon have a go at getting that motor going good. clean fuel, and sounds like it needs a new spark plug or maybe just the wires. Looks like a tank!!!!

[@craftsmancrusher207]

Looks better now than then

[@Fearlessfront]

I think I'll give it a little love, and use it as a workhorse... maybe a romp here and there, but I do take care of my rigs. I wont intentionally beat it to death, but I do know it's value.. thats why I bought it immediately after seeing the ad

[@rtabish]

something that old, i might clean up, repaint, and stock out. having an old classic can be almost as much fun as having a beater you can trash on. i know most people don't cherry out old lawn tractors, but there are a few nice ones out there.

[@Fearlessfront]

I know what your sayin, but these sears tractors are still pretty common, so I didn't feel too bad about making a rig out of it. Plus, I use it a lot as a work horse around the house. It does really well. And when off road, it's almost unstopable! If it had been a rare, or uncommon model, I wouldn't have done what I did to it. (I'm assuming you saw the finished product) But I did sell the motor, and mower deck to someone that really wanted them for their own restoration job, so those won't go to waste.

[@rtabish]

Fearlessfront oh, ya. i understand. like i said...most people don't "restore" these things. you can go on a few of the tractor forums, and there are some really detailed restorations, but sometimes i wonder about the sanity of guys like that...too much time in the garage by themselves...those exhaust fumes can really kick your butt...LOL

[@Fearlessfront]

rtabish LOL! yeah! ive been there!

[@autumnburruss4767]

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[@snowmangsx1100]

believe this or not but I know where 2 of those are with the hoods on them,,i dont know if he'd part with just the hoods but I'll check and see but probably would cost a lot to ship,,buddy that is a heck of a heavy duty lawnmower.

[@Fearlessfront]

it's alright, I don't need one anymore. thanks anyway

[@dylanphillips9745]

It looks a lot different now compared to then 😂

[@TheWolverine-rm2kr]

Ikr

[@thensh1tguy]

Lol I love his shop talk lol

[@shelleylandon9204]

that murray was like brand new

[@Fearlessfront]

Ya, It might have been gone by the time I got to see the add. Thanks for letting me know! Onan = staying there... haha

[@UnitCrane514]

Please make it nice!!! I bet if you gave it a good clean up with a power washer and replace the consumables like the wires and what not it will be a strong runner and will be well worth your time and money. Those Onan engines are like the old Tecumseh's: they are total work horses and you cant beat them! Super reliable and strong runners!

[@rrud59]

i have a sears just like that. rebuilt motor. its been sitting in a shed for a few years since. now its a wiring mess and i don't get any power past the solenoid. and when i jump the starter i get no spark.

[@Fearlessfront]

thanks man!

[@connorwilloughby8819]

Move 12in rims to the front and bolt some 15in rims on the back. Should be the same bolt pattern as your xj. I run 33x12.50/15 on the back of my sears with about a 1 psi air pressure. Works great like big tundra tires

[@64gravely]

I would replace the coil first, They tend to go bad on those Onans quickly. Is it the 6 volt or the twelve volt coil? They came with both.

[@jamesholt2403]

hard starting even with gas down its throat sounds like points pitted or burnt... pull heads check valves of its as old as you think might be fitted with soft valve seats (leaded gas) may need freshened up and just mod a briggs carb on it and youll be amazed by that lil work horse. and a lil unique trick since you know it runs find an old RV with an onan gen. and take LP kit and fit it on and have an ALTERNATIVE fuel toy :)

[@EpicMallCop]

Keep it I have one and the motor is great huge power