walker

[marcsmith]

Well I think I may have found my basket case walker.... actually I got three of em to look at.... ones a 20HP dsl for 1500, but something wrong with the engine...another is missing an engine only $400, and the third is complete but its the smaller MS (light duty) series with the smaller 13hp single and is a bit tired $850 neg. one in NJ, one in NC and one in Richmond VA....

[PineCrestWoods]

Friend of mine's dad sold an older 48" walker (with hopper) I assume it had the 13 or so hp engine- for $600. I kept meaning to ask about it, as I saw it had just been sitting, then it wasn't sitting there any more. I shoulda bought it for cleanups. :-(

Isn't that what some of the old farts used to use commercially?

[marcsmith]

they have their markets. not many around here.

[PineCrestWoods]

Well why are you wanting one? Just for fun?

[Surf'n'Turf]

why a walker marc? i haven't seen them around here in years since the landfills won't allow grass clippings. great machine for what it does, popular in NE I hear.

[marcsmith]

i've got a half acre, and I've got a 21 push mower and the back yard is a 20* incline I use my neighbors 32" MTD tractor when I cut her lawn..

I don't pick up my clipping now, and I doubt I would change that. but come fall, the machine would be a godsend. my property sits next to a wooded area so I get a lot of leaves...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2124+t...00862&t=h&z=20

if I needed to pick up clippings I have enough areas I could compost if I wanted...

The walker is one of the niche machines...I loved mine in Florida, but once I got the lazer I was off to the races. the walker really held me back....productivity wise 90% of the time. Unless I had pick up from over growth... Its a nice compact unit, self contained and If I ever got ambitious I could always put a snow blower on it for my neighborhood....

[Sammy]

Look for a used Grasshopper.

[marcsmith]

I worked for a company that had grass hoppers, I wan't impressed...but that was 15 years or so ago...

[PineCrestWoods]

To each their own. I went from a JD tractor (180) to my Grasshopper (618) in '03, and was SO happy. It's the 18 kohler with 52" deck. I get a great cut with mine. It is slow, though, which I'm sure helps the cut. Some might not like the front mount deck, but I think it follows the contours of the ground well. A friend of mine has the same year 618, but with a 48" deck. Absolutely hates it. Says they can't get a good cut at all, and they always bog it down. I don't know what they're doing wrong. Will I get another one? I'm not sure. I like the cut. I'd have to get more power, and I don't think they even make them with the weaker hydros that I have. But they're so danged expensive- IMO, well overpriced. I think there are much better values out there. Plus, my little ol' 618 is 9 feet long!!

I think Walkers are overpriced, too.

I think you're right on with trying to find one in need of rehab.

[marcsmith]

with the out front deck you sit lower to the ground so you don't get knocked off the seat by the other branches...on the low trees... the MS I'm looking at is the light commercial/estate version so it a little low on power and speed. 6mph is all...I'll get...but I don't ever let my grass get that long were I need a bunch of power... I have access to a shop at work, so rebuilding a motor will be a piece of cake. and if I have to repower or do a short block. no biggee. I see this a winter tear down, clean up, repaint reassemble....I wonder how well a walker would look in orange and blue...:)

[Sammy]

Piney, never knew you was a 'Hopper Boy ! ... Thought U was a walk behind type.

The 616 and 618 are kinda slow, move up to a 700 series and you will get lots more speed.

[Sammy]

Some might not like the front mount deck, but I think it follows the contours of the ground well.

They also reduce a lot of trimming under bush's and such.

[Sammy]

Plus, my little ol' 618 is 9 feet long!!

You need one like this.

[PineCrestWoods]

Sorry, Marc, kind of hijacking your thread here....

I got my hopper in '03- I knew nothing of commercial machines. I didn't know the difference between a commercial and homeowner machine. Nothing of what to look for. Had no intentions of mowing anything other than my acreage. I was just sick of spending 3-4 hours mowing my place with a tractor style mower.

Looked at a couple exmarks, but they weren't offering any special financing. Knew of a Grasshopper dealer and went there, because G-hopper had 0% financing for 5 years. Bought a 618 that day, and, until I started mowing commercially, was really happy with it. Now, I feel like I wanna get off and push to make it go faster!

Yes, they reach under bushes and pine trees a mile!

Oh... .and Marc, I think an orange and blue Walker would look awesome! Have you picked one of the 3? Or were you gonna get em all and create the perfect Walker?

[PineCrestWoods]

Oh... the powerfold option. That would be nice. I might miss disconnecting my pto shaft, flipping some levers and grunting to lift the deck, though. My favorite is when I forget to disconnect the shaft, and the deck stops suddenly when I have it folded 1/2 way up.... that feels super awesome when you start to lift the whole machine and pull a muscle.

[DynaMow]

hey Crawdad just gave away a couple of walkers today!!!!!!

[marcsmith]

Pine. I never had the chance to own a walker with the flip up deck. all th eone I had were stick the jack stand under it, lay down on the ground, grunt and cuss swap the blades. and the realize that you put em on the wrong side and had to do it all over again... The guy with diesel walker never called back. the one in NC missing an engine, I asked for some pictures.. and he sent me a dozen thumbnail sized pics i ask for enlargements and all he did was enlarge the thumbnails and sent em back. so I figure he's trying to hide something. The Guy in Richmond (ms36-42 with the 13hp) took a few pics, and it looks promising. I asked for a few more close ups.... I'm having one of the small trailers @ work getting a once over. since it 180 miles round trip... gotta be careful...probly head down that way on saturday....

I was only kinda joking about the orange and blue.... I could have an orange deck, blue frame, white wheels....

[Sammy]

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/1834342555.html

[marcsmith]

I think you've had one to many boilermakers sammy....

got the trailer rented and I got a 9am meeting on saturday....

[marcsmith]

well I got the pics yesterday which prompted me to rent the above mentioned trailer... here are a few... definitely needs a good clean up with a power washer/degrease I see more than few pine needles in all the wrong places. and the blue wire nut has me wondering

the key will whether or not the little red Briggs IC 11 HP has enough brass to get the job done...at least with the I/C motor its got a iron sleeve and is fairly easy to find parts, so maybe some new rings valve lap and I'm good to go...


Picture 045.jpgPicture 055.jpgPicture 048.jpgPicture 054.jpg

[DynaMow]

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/1834342555.html

cant believe you are selling your main unit!!!!


Did you upgrade to one of those popper units?

[marcsmith]

just got a video from the seller. the mower runs....

[Sammy]

Did you get the Jeep with the deal ?

[marcsmith]

naw, his daughter was too cute, and I didn't want to see her cry...

the list so far of intangibles is
body support bumpers, battery, tires, throttle cable, muffler, hydro pressure release lever.
goes without saying I'll need some fuel lines, some electrical wires, some paint, and decals. the yellow paint is in too good of shape to paint over in any color other than walker Yellow.

the hopper is in good shape and the hopper supports are rusty, but sanding and painting the'll be fine.

I do need to re weld one of the baffles under teh deck. but that it with the deck. gear boxes are nice and tight, no excess play or noise...

Hour meter shows 7,000 hours

the engine does run but as soon as you engage the blades or drive it forward the engine boggs down real bad. I'll get a compression tester from work and check the compression. but I imagine its bad and warrants a rebuild and a carb rebuild... but first gotta get the battery and fuel lines in place and clean up the carb to get the engine running good and make sure its no something simple like a governor

I;m in the process of cleaning up the garage and getting the jack stands in place to get it set..
hit it with the pressure washer this morning....

[DynaMow]

keep us updated with action pics of rebuild please.

[marcsmith]

well I drained the hydro oil...looked like chocolate syrup, but not chunky or foamy and no chunks of metal came out...did a compression test, but its low, as expected...

[marcsmith]

a few pics int he garage and the compression gauge and the hour meter walker4.jpgwalker.jpgwalker5.jpgwalker2.jpgwalker3.jpgwalker6.jpgIMG_0096.jpg

[marcsmith]

got the engine out and did some painting....IMG_0141.JPGIMG_0138.JPGIMG_0132.JPGIMG_0133.jpgIMG_0139.JPGIMG_0131.jpgIMG_0140.JPG

[PineCrestWoods]

a new hour meter, and she'll be like new!!!!! Nice work. That thing is lucky to have you (and your Fluid Film!)

[marcsmith]

engine only has 45lbs of compression. so it needs to be massaged some...the pulley is soaking in FF so I hope I'll be able to remove it so I can pull case apart and work on the piston/rings/valves.

Assuming the hour meter works...I think I'll leave it in place...as an homage....I have some black paint to add and still need to get a seat...

I need to order a decal kit as well and a battery...

[PineCrestWoods]

Piece of cake for the likes of you.

[marcsmith]

we'll see, we all know how stubborn pulleys can be...

[marcsmith]

well I found out how stubborn a pulley is...now I gotta source a new pulley and still get the old one off... looks like a die grinder with a cut-off disc is in my future....

the three jaw puller just destroyed the pulley it moved about an inch before It broke...