Okay, so I'm going to attempt to resurrect an old Husqvarna ride on mower that was gifted to me. My GP is currently at my mechanic's workshop awaiting parts & a repair and I am stuck at home with 10 days off work and have run out of jobs to do. Frosty & Kiwi egged me on to start a new thread, so here goes. No - it's not Pontiac related - it's just a bit of fun. If you're incensed by this content, tell Ringo and he can shut it down.

The story: few people are aware of the Pontiac Mower Division and I am fortunate enough to have been given one. This particular model is the GT Mow (pun intended) with the Tri 4 Power engine. As you can see, it's a barn find and I have spent all day beginning the tear down. That colour is Engine Fire Orange - a popular hotrodder's choice back in 2005.

After a day of sweating, swearing & grunting, a lot has been dismantled. More to come over the weekend.

I love the GT Mow! It's obviously the high performance model off the LeMarsh, not to be confused with the pickup truck version, the Lawn Ranger. The world land speed record mower is held by Weedy Gonzalas! 

We have high expectation that you will put that back in lawn and order soon. Once it's fixed, you'll be running around singing "let it mow, let it mow, let it mow!"

I hear there are some very good mechanics you can consult too. Mowses, Sir Lawncelot, Mowhamad Ali, Mr Mowjangles, David Mowie, Rick Mow-ranis, eLawn Musk, even President Mowbama, So there is plenty of help out there. Don't hesitate to ask  mate. 

Edited March 4, 20224 yr by Frosty

YEP......It's all apart.    Damn didn't find anything wrong.

Couple more things to remove and your into a "FRAME OFF"!!!!!  We expect the frame to be sandblasted, epoxy coated, [ or "chromed" ] dump the KAWOY for a 421 & Muncie 4 speed and a good set of "slicks " out back & OH YA wheely bars!!!

10 hours ago, Frosty said:

I love the GT Mow! It's obviously the high performance model off the LeMarsh, not to be confused with the pickup truck version, the Lawn Ranger. The world land speed record mower is held by Weedy Gonzalas! 

We have high expectation that you will put that back in lawn and order soon. Once it's fixed, you'll be running around singing "let it mow, let it mow, let it mow!"

I hear there are some very good mechanics you can consult too. Mowses, Sir Lawncelot, Mowhamad Ali, Mr Mowjangles, David Mowie, Rick Mow-ranis, eLawn Musk, even President Mowbama, So there is plenty of help out there. Don't hesitate to ask  mate. 

Now THAT'S funny! You sound about as bored as I am (was) Frosty.

And to JustA, you're right! Apart from a coupla slowly leaking tyres there's nothing obviously wrong with it - looks like it needs a good clean and spruce up and a little maintenance which I don't think it's ever had.

And to DualQuadPete (coolest name ever - I am jealous) I will NOT be doing as you suggest. I am mad, but not as mad as you!

Pontiac GT Mow update. I've been pottering about fixing up any little issues and have done some detailing and lubricating. Honestly, I don't think this thing has EVER been looked after. The engine oil is clean, so that's promising. In fact, engine runs like a gem so I cleaned & gapped the plugs, soaked the poor air filter in hot soapy water coz it was clagged and will simply monitor it's progress if I ever get it to work again. Will change oil & filter once she's warmed up.

I removed every wheel except for the right hand side rear. It WILL NOT budge. I YouTubed all the wacky procedures peeps had dreamt up but you know what? Wheel can stay where it is. I managed to bend my puller AND it's associated high tensile bolts and started to deform the rim with the built up energy that the puller had exerted. It didn't move one millimetre. Stuff it - wheel looks shit hot where it is. How's this - the little front wheels have been thoughtfully fitted with grease nipples from the factory, so of course they slid straight off the axle. The rears slip onto a shaft with a keyway. I managed to get one off and before it went back on I sat there and made that bloody shaft shine, then greased it up before sliding that wheel back on. Where are the factory grease nipples for the rears???

Anyway, will send some pics once I get a few parts and am able to start reassembly. The mower deck needs a little TLC and one pulley and a grease nipple to be replaced - probably why the thing threw yet another belt and the owner simply had enough and gave up. Perhaps he should have had a look...

If YOU have your own GTMow, don't just use it and then park up and crack a beer. Hose it down, park it somewhere congenial, crack a beer and give it some love. 10 mins of love means potentially a lifetime of service - a bit like your missus!!! Come on feminists - I'm ready for ya!

4 minutes ago, Fitzy said:

10 mins of love means potentially a lifetime of service

haahha good luck with that one mate 

I forgot to add this pic yesterday - the aftermath of a wheel that wouldn't budge.

Ok Mr mowitall.  Here's my John Deere project tractor.  Gonna have to wait on my daily driver. That doesn't come out til spring and I don't seem to have any pic's of it.😟

Justa, so you're green with envy over the GT Mow? Who could blade you?

Edited March 9, 20224 yr by Frosty

If we all ignore Frosty, perhaps he'll stop the puns! Yeah, I doubt it too.

That's a tough looking little tractor, JustA. Solid & no nonsense. The modern smaller JDs don't have a good rep here - unfortunately it looks like they are depending on the green & yellow paint to sell them, which is a pity.  If you dig under the JD corporate colours, it's just a regular light duty domestic grass cutter - ideal for your neat suburban lawn. If you're on any sort of larger property with a bit tougher terrain, then best to look for something a bit more heavy duty, and I reckon that ol' tractor of yours will just about go forever. What's the engine?

6 hours ago, Fitzy said:

If we all ignore Frosty, perhaps he'll stop the puns! Yeah, I doubt it too.

Not at all mate! 

Figured this would get popular.  OK everybody, show whatcha got.

7 hours ago, Fitzy said:

If we all ignore Frosty, perhaps he'll stop the puns! Yeah, I doubt it too.

That's a tough looking little tractor, JustA. Solid & no nonsense. The modern smaller JDs don't have a good rep here - unfortunately it looks like they are depending on the green & yellow paint to sell them, which is a pity.  If you dig under the JD corporate colours, it's just a regular light duty domestic grass cutter - ideal for your neat suburban lawn. If you're on any sort of larger property with a bit tougher terrain, then best to look for something a bit more heavy duty, and I reckon that ol' tractor of yours will just about go forever. What's the engine?

It'sa,  1978  Kohler powered beast.  Think it's 15hp.   Have put alot of work in this thing.  It was in a rollover accident.  Ol guy rolled it in the ditch plowing his driveway. His SON all but gave it away to get it out of there.  Had many hours straightening the hood, grill, all supports.  Wasn't running, but quick check and a bunch of new wiring got er fired up.  While upsidedown the battery shorted out N melted the main harness.  Cleaned up pretty good, left the well deserved PATINA.  Picked up a 36in mower deck and removed the bent snowplow.  Took forever to get the correct drive belt for the mower and then to have probs running the deck while engauging the PTO.  Used this to pull stumps last summer.  This thing will move my house. Will dig into the PTO problem when spring hits and it gets warmer out.  This will be the workhorse for the Nothern property.  One I'm using will mow and keep the field knocked down, but won't move anything short of the small trailer to haul N stack firewood.  As you said MODERN JD"S are a joke and refered to as Home Depot mowers.  You can still get the real deal at a JD dealership.

You knew it was coming............   Was part of Gold Eagle products as a demonstrator.  The mower boys slipped in and screwed everything up.

 

I'll have to post a pic of my little Greenfield - I never thought this was something i would ever be doing, especially after going balls deep in a Yank Tank resto. It's funny how life works out.

So, for any lawn mower fans (how very sad if you are one, like me) if you haven't already done so, check out Taryl Fixes All on YouTube. If you're not in the loop, Taryl Dactyl is a mower mechanic and his clips are the perfect amalgam of blistering humour and good down to earth advice & techniques. Hilarious and yet informative viewing.

I used to think mowers were for other people, until I bought a place that needs some serious regular mowing. Now, I'm a fan. I really need to get out more and meet functioning humans.

Here you go Fitzy - this was the only lawn mower at the Detroit Autorama! Also, this antque Doodlebug Model A tractor was there.

 

A hotrod mower! Never seen such a thing but it looks great. The owner must have real social problems, like me. And the Doodlebug - I never knew such a thing existed. I will research it later but can only guess it was a very crude adaptation of straight assembly line parts - almost a precursor to the original LandRover.

I used to have a mid 60s ex Army Landie and believe me, it was only ever at home axle deep in mud in low range. They were essentially tractors that you could drive on the road. Underpowered, unforgiving rock hard suspension and the seats were 2" of padded cushion that were barely adequate for human backsides. BUT they really would go anywhere.

Great pics, Frosty. Thanks again.

2 hours ago, Fitzy said:

A hotrod mower! Never seen such a thing but it looks great. The owner must have real social problems, like me. And the Doodlebug - I never knew such a thing existed. I will research it later but can only guess it was a very crude adaptation of straight assembly line parts - almost a precursor to the original LandRover.

I used to have a mid 60s ex Army Landie and believe me, it was only ever at home axle deep in mud in low range. They were essentially tractors that you could drive on the road. Underpowered, unforgiving rock hard suspension and the seats were 2" of padded cushion that were barely adequate for human backsides. BUT they really would go anywhere.

Great pics, Frosty. Thanks again.

This is Bobby Cleveland,  world record holder for the fastest mower at  96mph on the Bonneville salt flats.             

There is no doubt that automotive racing can get very expensive very quickly. Even cheaper auto events, like the 24 Hours of LeMons, can cost thousands of dollars by the time you add everything up. That is why some people go for cheaper sporting venues like say, lawnmower racing. Yes, lawnmower racing. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. It is much, much crazier. Take a look at Bobby Cleveland. Back in June of 2007, he set the land speed record for a lawnmower using a modified Briggs & Strattion 20-horsepower V-Twin engine.

He set a record 80 mph speed at the time, which was soon beat by a British man. Well, Bobby is back and AutoBlog reports that he has brought home the lawnmower land speed record.

You may recall this story from SLTV Editor Kevin’s first “Case of the Mondays.” This is no gag though; Bobby completely rebuilt his motor so that it runs on 104 octane, the same fuel many high-speed dragsters race with. He also added a billet flywheel, a camshaft, lowered it and even added a wing. That was good for an 80 mph top speed, which at the time was the world record.

However, his record was beat this year by Don Wales of England. Wales took his lawnmower to 87 mph, essentially throwing down the gauntlet to Cleveland. Not one to be outdone, Cleveland returned to Bonneville with his modified mower with the intent of bringing back the record. He did it and then some, reaching an astounding 96 mph. Still shy of the 100 mph mark, but we’re sure he will get there, sooner or later.

                                                                                                                        I was honored to be sponsored for the Dream Cruise with the Sunbird and park for the weekend with Bobby, Marcel and the Gold Eagle Truck N display. Featuring Bobby's record holder and his (then) current 4 wheel drive, W/rear steer mower.  Also included was a guy from Chicago with his Chevelle that turned out to be my neighbors brother.  Whatta weekend.

 

Edited March 11, 20224 yr by JUSTA6

Eye candy................

2 words,,, seek help! 

26 minutes ago, Wrongway said:

2 words,,, seek help! 

Too late,  we are jet powered now........TRY to keep up!

Absolutely bonkers - almost 100mph on a mower??? I always fantasised about experiencing death in an exciting, explosive way that would make the news (like hiring a Porsche and driving it thru the armco on a winding mountain road and careening into the sea below, seat belt unbuckled and floor full of beer cans) but dying in a lawnmower event? Not for me.

Having said that - I am impressed that these guys push the boundaries and are doing what they love. If we don't push the envelope, then nothing improves or develops - we stagnate. Me? I just mow.

Here's my tractor in Canadian "winter" trim Pkg  22 raw HP single exhaust, chains on the "slicks"  Girlfriend says " it looks like a Mennonite Buggy"