Picked up a Monkey Wards mower

[Deleted member 995608]

This was a freebie from one of my shoeing clients. Montgomery Wards 26" mower with a Briggs 5hp motor. It doesn't run, tires flat et cetera. It's a goofy looking thing and I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it. Nonetheless, I just ordered a few carb links/springs it was missing and bought 4 tires and tubes. I'm gonna try to get it started today.

I found all the info on the B&S motor, but I can't find anything on the mower or which MFG actually built it.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Looks like a snapper?

 

[JR]

I know Simplicity built lawn tractors for the M/W name for many years, but I'm not sure about that particular model. I'd contact your local simplicity dealer with whatever model info you have and see what they can come up with. Some of the local guys around here are old timers and a real wealth of knowledge.

 

[jgillott]

I could be wrong, but it almost looks like a '70's MTD to me.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

A friend of mine in high school had one very similar to this one at his cabin. I built a little platform to stand on behind the seat that doubled as wheelie bars. Good times were had for years on that thing.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Yep, it's a ghost. I have it posted on mylawnmowerforum.com, mytractorforum.com garage journal, et cetera.......Nobody remembers or knows anything about this thing. I have found 2 different outdated for sale ads via Google images, but neither has info about the goofy thing.

I did get it started and runs pretty well. Once I get the new shoes for it and can move it around, I might tear the carb down and rinse out the tank. But then again, if it runs maybe i shouldn't screw with it

 

[TFucili]

Looks like a Murray to me.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I know by the code# 85090307 that the motor was built in 1985. I was guessing 70's but I was wrong once I figured out how to identify the Briggs motors

This link has a chart to dating/identifying B&S engines:

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/briggs-stratton-model-locator.aspx

 

[jgillott]

I would never had guessed it was that new.

 

[TFucili]

I know by the code# 85090307 that the motor was built in 1985. I was guessing 70's but I was wrong once I figured out how to identify the Briggs motors

This link has a chart to dating/identifying B&S engines:

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/briggs-stratton-model-locator.aspx

That could be a replacement engine, too. Did you go through the whole decode process model/type/code? The I/C engines did come later, but that cast rewind does not look right for that engine vintage IIRC. Would have been a stamped housing by then. Could be mix and match parts. If you pull the head off, an I/C engine will have a sleeved bore, sometimes stellite valves, and rotators.

 

[Mark31]

We used a couple of these motors on Yazoo self-propelled mowers to cut graveyards. The industrial/Commercial was (supposedly) a step up. One did ok, one the bolts holding the carb on got a little loose and dirty air ruined it. The best engine we ever had on one of those mowers was a Korean Robin. Compression ratio was 6.7, I believe.

 

[Mark31]

duplicate post

 

[Deleted member 995608]

That could be a replacement engine, too. Did you go through the whole decode process model/type/code? The I/C engines did come later, but that cast rewind does not look right for that engine vintage IIRC. Would have been a stamped housing by then. Could be mix and match parts. If you pull the head off, an I/C engine will have a sleeved bore, sometimes stellite valves, and rotators.

Not really but I will check

Model# 132922

Type# 2016-01

Code# 85090307

Edit: 13 cubic inch, series 2, vertical shaft, Sleeve Bearing Flange Mounting Splash Lube, rewind starter.

 

[JR]

This guy looks like he's got a similar model, but appears to be much older given he said it hadn't run since the 70's. Engine also appears to set further back.

https://youtu.be/vyccD87Ni5o

I'm still betting it's Simplicity heritage.

 

[TFucili]

Not really but I will check

Model# 132922

Type# 2016-01

Code# 85090307

Edit: 13 cubic inch, series 2, vertical shaft, Sleeve Bearing Flange Mounting Splash Lube, rewind starter.

Got to thinking about this. It's been many years since I was in the OPE business, but Briggs had a "sales guide" for selling replacement engines, and that would have spelled out what OEM it was sold to, or if it was a service replacement engine. Not sure if they still do that.

 

[TFucili]

We used a couple of these motors on Yazoo self-propelled mowers to cut graveyards. The industrial/Commercial was (supposedly) a step up. One did ok, one the bolts holding the carb on got a little loose and dirty air ruined it. The best engine we ever had on one of those mowers was a Korean Robin. Compression ratio was 6.7, I believe.

Robin engines were sold as Wisconsin-Robin when they first came to the US, as Teledyne-Continental was the US distributor. They were Japanese, made by Fuji Heavy Industries AKA Subaru. They exited the small engine business about a year ago.

And to your point, I could sell pumps or generators of equal size to the same crew that abused them equally, and we would be doing a shortblock on the so-called Industrial-Commercial Briggs engine, and the Robin engine would still be going strong and not using oil.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

After all the searching I've been doing, I starting to feel an itch for vintage garden tractors. My wife is gonna love my new hobby.

 

[TMyers]

I believe your mower was made by Gilson Brothers Co. in Wisconsin. They were in business until 88' when bought out by Lawn Boy.

 

[TFucili]

I believe your mower was made by Gilson Brothers Co. in Wisconsin. They were in business until 88' when bought out by Lawn Boy.

Good call, I forgot about Gilson. They were known for rototillers.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Sorry to say but I found out what this thing is. I fired off an email to one of the online vintage garden tractor parts houses and it came back unanimously as an MTD Lawn-flite 5/26..... 5hp w/ 26" deck, which is exactly what this thing is.

I was hoping it was from one of the better builders so I'm slightly disappointed. I'm still gonna use it though as there are some spots in the pasture too big for the 3pt mower, and places I won't use my Scag on.

My motel has roughly 2 or so acres of Bermuda lawn that I don't want to screw up with pasture weeds like, yellow thistle, cockle burrs or goat head thorns. This little turd mower will take the place of some of my weed whacker chores instead.