5 Reasons Why to Restore a Vintage Garden Tractor 

A couple reasons I could add. *Meeting cool people! We go to antique tractor/machinery shows almost every weekend from spring to fall, mostly in southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and Ohio. I like to meet other people that share my interests. *Great way to make some extra cash. I don't sell parts like Norm here, but I do a ton of small engine work on the side. I find these tractors all the time around me sitting in people's yards. (Rural area) often times I can pick them up for $100-$200, do a little tuneup work, get them running, and make a couple hundred bucks. Not getting rich off it but I use that money to support my personal garden tractor habit. Once people know your into these older machines, you'll be surprised how many times someone will say something like "I've got an old Cub cadet sitting behind the shed, you can have it if you want it."

He included a Bolens photo in the mix, Finally, Norman!

Just built a 1970 Wheel Horse Raider 10 for my Dad to ride around his yard, run out to get his mail and to visit neighbors. He's 88 and don't get around well. Delivered it yesterday, cool seeing my old man pulling wheelies in his driveway, grinning ear to ear.

I agree I found a 416-8 wheel horse left for 30 years in a field. I rebuilt with my boys. Runs great now.

Norman you are a great guy, a great dad to get your children so much, and I think you have a great business that you have developed. You got it all going on so keep up the good work!

Love it brother, just found your channel and I must say you’re a man after my own heart.

You would be a great and fun neighbor to have.

I am with you Norman. Old garden tractor lover forever. While they are 30-40 years old they can still run and drive like a dream. Love your channel. Thanks for saving the tractors!

Thanks for your help Norman. I just bought a carb off of you for my Cub 107. I have been looking for the right mower for about a year and found the perfect machine. Your videos have helped a ton!

I couldn't agree with you more! Thanks for posting videos and helping people get started in the garden tractor hobby!

Great video! I definitely agree it's a really good way to learn mechanical things and small engines, that's how I started about 13 years ago with a old massey ferguson 7 tractor

Nice video. Very true about how the old tractors were built and how durable they are. Good to know you have parts for them.

Just picked up a 1973 wheel horse 8hp 4 speed for $100 bucks a few weeks ago. Traded for a wheel horse parts tractor about 2 weeks later. And now I have a nice little tractor with parts easily accessible that is way more capable than my jd mower.

Totally agree. Love them Horses!

It was great to find your channel ( and website) love old garden tractors . Bought a club cadet ( broken steering ) $25, John deer 214 in great shape $50 , Husqvarna 26 hp ( throws belts ) $50 wrong sized belt …it’s a ridiculously fun way to make money & now I have my grandson hooked !

Bought a engine rebuild kit from this guy on ebay , price was great and great products ! The kits also include a couple small parts other companies don't offer in there's 👍 Like no shit this guy sells it all same parts as other companies but at a better price , and also offers small hard to find parts others don't ! I honestly believe not only is he in it for the money ( of course ) but he really loves garden tractors and honestly wants to help other people rebuild there's and no he doesn't know me and I am not being paid to advertise for him .

Good video and agree, save these old machines and it back to life

I have a 1984 / 782 diesel cub cadet it mowes great and run great and loving it

I like the way you keep it real. Thanks for sharing friend.😎👌🏾👍🏽

Love your channel. I love big tractors, But your right I can own 30 garden tractors for the space that 3 farm tractors would take up. Plus garden tractors pretty much all have around same engines like you said so I can keep parts on hand. I love saving old machines, And keeping them from the scrap pile. It's a great hobby, especially for kids to get involved.

They don't​ take up a lot of space until you get about 25 of them Hahaha

Great video. I got into these old tractors because for the amount of work these old GT's can do for what you pay for them, you can't beat them. The amount of money you'd pay today for a machine and attachments to do what my 214 will do it would be way more than I paid for my tractor and its attachments. The only drawback there seems to be at all is that sometimes parts can be harder to get with these old machines, but you help us out with that!

Love the video! You can definitely find good deals. There’s a local guy selling a 1973 John Deere 110 minus the deck and front grill, and the engine is missing the starter for $200. All the sheet metal and paint is in pretty good condition as are the tires. A new starter can be had for around $50, and a used one even cheaper. Keep up the great videos. This ol’ Ohio country boy loves old iron regardless of size.

I don't know how much snow falls in Maine but when 20" or more falls in one day a garden tractor is most valuable tool. Earlyer this year last winter got 36" of snow in 1.5 days in North East Pennsylvania, the only tool that had power to move all the snow was my 1967 restored Simplicity Landlord 2012. As a side note the first year simplicity to be equipped with my favorite engine, the Cast Iron Briggs & Stratton duel synchro balanced 30c.i. 12 horse power engine. Equipped with Snow Blower, rear sleeve hitch 45 pound lift counter weight, hand made 160 pound center weightbar, rear wheel weight, agricultural tires, and tire chains. Loved it👍 Love your videos as well😉

They are great. I love my 69 JD 112 it’s my main work horse on our farm. I built a three point hitch for it and all its attachments. Love your videos

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!! I am just as into these old tractors!

Great job in restoring these tractors! I’m on board.

Great video so true.

All true! 1974 Jacobsen GT14, snowblower, loader, mowing deck

Excellent video and great info! Keep the videos coming Norman, nice job!

I have a 1989 Wheel Horse 312-8 and a 2000 314-8. However, when we sold properly in VA to move south..I sold a 1964 Craftsman garden tractor...was Roper built, 7 hp (originally 6), a 1974 ST-10 Sears, I speed, a 1951 David Bradley, and a well worn 1957 Sears (mfg by Jackson MFG) 21" self propelled mower. The engine sit on a pedestal and had a foot pedal to tighten the belt for the drive and blade. It used a Briggs 8BH engine. I do so much hate not having the Bradley now. Keep up the good work!

All of that reasons are true and 5 completely my grandpa bought a old zetor 2011 and I was working evry friday on it and its now a fast and strong beast

Great video and all true, the kids do love the tractors

Wow very nice video direct and to the point

Hi Norman, After being away from messing around with a few old garden tractors for 15 years, I'm getting back into it. Just bought two Sears Suburbans, 12 + 16. I also picked up a BEAUTIFUL 68 Cub Cadet 125 in Great shape, from my friends father. He washed it after each use and kept it in his barn. Not much to restore on that one, but I couldn't pass it up. I'm taking the SS-16 down to the frame, so I'm sure I'll be looking into parts from you. Thanks for the great videos! Jon W.

Great! I agree 100% !

Right On Brother!

I agree, the problem I am having now is finding one, I like Fords, Simplicity or maybe one I don't know about yet. Thanks for the inspiration, Jim

I’m 15 and I repair mowers and I have a 1991 cub cadet and it is the best running mower I ever heard

100% agreed

Great Vid Norman Happy New Year!

I love the vintage Craftsman lawn and garden tractors

I picked up a 1978 john deere 312 w while back from a family member. It's got a 3pt. And other options I love my tractor.

Awesome video

Thanks Norman

Great video! Thanks!

dude, awesome video!

#6 It gives old retired guys sumthin to do!

I'm more a fan of small farm/ultility tractors, but I would love to have a little Ford like your 120 to be my 3000s little brother. I have a Ford 3000 and a John Deere 530 which are almost fully restored, and a Farmall 300u, which is still in the early stages. It sat for over 20 years so it's going to be quite the project!

I'm rebuilding a John Deere 68 riding mower it's turning out great

Great video

My son is a little over 1 and he says TRACTOR more than mama or dada. So I bought a simplicity 7112 with the mower, tiller and snow thrower for a 100 the other day. I can't wait to fix her up for him.

5 great reasons!

Very good reasons, I have 3 of them.

Up until recently, the oldest tractor I had was an '86 Toro 11-38. It's not exactly a featherweight (about 540lbs) but it rolls around well enough outside of our hilly terrain sections that you don't feel like you're going to pass a stone if you have to move it unpowered. Today we brought home a '77 214, and my god, it's like pushing a cast iron potbelly stove around on a wooden pallet. I'm not entirely convinced the brakes aren't seized with rust (the engine sure is!), but it was a massive battle just to get it on the trailer, tow it home and then break out the Toro to tow it to my patio; it was pouring down rain, and even though my back hurts like a mofo, I got soaked and slipped in the mud, I had a smile on my face the whole time in the effort to get it to my work area. It's now a focal point of pride to bring it back to a state it deserves for being a mighty survivor. But (!) it does speak volumes to build quality. It's been someone's work horse for 40+ years, and after I get done with it, hopefully my kids will be able to drive it at their house one day as grown adults. (presuming gasoline will still be a thing by then) I very much doubt it was envisioned that these tractors would ever see that kind of lifetime, but I guarantee the garbage they build today will return to their elemental states long before these two will!

Kids love em because they are "just their size" and get to drive them when they can reach the pedals.

Vintage garden tractors are very valuable in the long run

And they will be around for another 40+ years compared to today’s junk mowers.

I have one ,who knows when i will get to it,i don’t want to get rid of.they don’t make them Like they used to.great work .

I had a Hahn Eclipse my grandfather bought in 1969. Many people never heard of them.

Alot better than the junk today....!

Thanks!

I have a 1967 Cub Cadet 123 Hydrostatic with a dozer blade on front.

My wife didn’t understand why I wouldn’t get rid of my broken Cub Cadet. I bought a Deere and the ended up reseated the valve seat on the Cub with an old socket and a hammer. I agree with you, collect and repair.

I'm sold on them I want one ! Thanks for doing the vids wish you were my neighbour lol I've got some old fergusons and dextas wish I'd seen these first but hey ho ! I'm on the look out now .

Thank you

Love your videos brother. I would love to see some more power max videos!

I just bought a 1972 Sears Suburban 15 that my son and I are going to restore

Great video ty I turned an old Westwood 1200 ride on lawn mower into a ploughing tractor don't know if u have Westwood tractor over in the states but in Scotland here were quite common at on time and it has a 12hp Briggs engine that never gives up 🙂 keep up the good work...

I own an old Montgomery-Ward garden tractor, a Roper Rally mower, a 1969 J.I. Case 442 PK, a 19?? Case 80 vari driv RE garden tractor, an 86' MTD Coast to Coast garden tractor, an 1987? Craftsman 12hp OHV lawnrider, and a 1970's TORO RE riding mower (possibly a whirlwind). lets just say I got quite the diverse collection.

Did not realize you were in Maine.. cool cool

THat's right cool even at 72 years old

Just picked up a sears suburban 18hp onan . First gt restore .

I’m turning one into my a to b for work I will be in touch

I’m 11-year-old kid I live on a farm I saw your videos and was delighted because I really love tractors since I was 4 all I wanted is to be able to drive a tractor so I set out on a search Kijiji craigslist everywhere nothing no tractors I live in Canada and I’m in the country so would be really useful to have a tractor around I just would like to know where I can find a tractor

Dude I run a 1969 F100 Ford garden tractor around home! Just found your channel, hooked, subbed. 👍 enjoying the cold? We were -4 this morning in Troy. Be well

GREAT VIDEO, AND YOU DO GREAT WORK!

great video, I agree with it all

Thank you for information on the tires ! Two thumbs up ! Next question, my ignition switch has 4 tabs , b , battery, s, start , d ? and c ,?coil ? Will appreciate any information ! New at this , want to learn for a retirement hobby ! Btw , its a simplicity 3112v i believe ! Thanks !

Got a point. I picked my first classic gt this spring. A 1973 john deere 112. Bought it for 200 bucks and the old farmer was absolutely shocked when i told him i was gonna do a full restoration on the ol girl. Not many 25 year old kids that want to restore old mowers

sears suburban is my tractor addiction of choice. rebuild most of it out of TSC and ace hardware

Just the title of the video is enough of a reason for me

I have 24 wheel horses and one speedx and two case love them and it doesn't take a lot of cash to restore them

One from the 80s or not much better than the ones now of days

I'm currently restoring an old Snapper Comet (Model 3080 rear engine rider) for my grandpa and I'm almost done with the painting process so I will be reassembling things soon. However, I haven't planned on restoring the engine along with the mower, it's a good-running 12hp Briggs L-head, not the original motor unfortunately, but I also have another motor of the same type that has broken down and needs a rebuild. Do you think I should try to restore and paint the bad motor to replace the mower's current engine, or just stick with the engine it had on it when I found it? Thanks.

I have a GT6000 Craftsman from the 80s it has a high and low 3 speed and I take it mudding and it's built to last

old machinery is difficult to find parts ive been ripped of a few times getting parts so now i got a walking tractor same desighn since 1977 still made by belarus ,my old allen champion heavy duty mower is gone but i still have memories i have manual and catalogue wich no ones ever heard or there is no information about it on internet only the allen scythe

i have two garden tractors case 446 and bolens husky 1050 and on really big international tractor and one small mtd lawn tractor

loving vids can you give us a tour of all your equipment in one of your videos

Where can I find one is my question ? Here in my area during the big steel scrapping craze people sold everything.

I have a John Deere 112L lawn tractor I’m going to restoring this year so anything you recommend should I do to make it go faster and easier

I gone one I really love for free is a 1962 I believe wheel horse

I love seeing your Ford tractors. I am a die hard ford guy. I so want to get a Ford tractor. The tractor I have now isn't that old but I love it. It's a 92 Craftsman gt and it's been a great tractor. I paid 350 for it in 06 and I am still using it. I haven't done much to it in repairs. It has a 18 horsepower Brigg's with a 6 speed. I like it better then the other Craftsman I have witch is a 08 model. The 08 has my snowblower attachment on it. I use the 92 to mow the lawn. I want to put the snowblower on the 92 and the mower on the 08. Hopefully next summer I will get that done.

good video Norman, do you guys carry any onan parts?

I wish we had more old GT here in Sweden 🇸🇪. They were very expensive so didn’t sell well when compared to larger tractors. But large tractors are not for the average homeowner. One thing to be happy about here in Sweden though are all the old and cool front cutting deck riding mowers like Stiga Park and Husqvarna riders. So how much snow do U have now? Heard you were hit pretty hard. Not much snow here in Sweden 😢

You know I'm not big into getting help from youtubers as I like figuring stuff out myself. However I feel like ur the only exception I could trust u, u sold your channel to me quite easily with this video. I picked up a 1986 white yard boss lt-112 and I cannot find anything on it except a parts list. Idk if u know anything in white lawn tractors but if u do let me know

Can you offer any help with the carburettor on a 1972 Lombardini (intermotor) LA490? my Belos 272 (Swedish made) walk behind has this motor, and will stars, although with difficulty, but immediately begins to leak fuel out of the hrizontal where the carburettor comes apart. It will almost die as soon as I give it some work to do. It's a nice big heavy walk behind which I like to use as a snow plough or snow blower, depending on the snow. I love your enthusiasm, by the way!

Need reverse parts for David Bradley walk behind and the belt sizes can you help.

Its awesome seeing someone this passionate about whatever. Just wish youd return my email lol

I have a jacobsen 1450 super chief, I use it for plowing snow, Towing logs, and towing out new lawn mower out of mud. Cause newer ones weight 200 lbs, when my old one is like 400