1956 Economy Tractor Engine Swap- Part 1 

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

tractors are indeed more fun..lol

Thanks C60

Your welcome Richard, glad you enjoyed.

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

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!

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!

Hey, there's a first time for everything!

Thanks pal!

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.

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

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!

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

@@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.

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

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

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!

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.

No way, kohler is the way to go.

Briggs has more torque

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

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!

@@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

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.

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

@@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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

'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.

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

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

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.

Was it easy to make it mate to the trans?

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

5Tractorguy the feeling of satisfaction priceless

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.

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

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

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

I thank so myself.

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

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