First mowers, mower prices, restoring vs. buying restored

[daniel grover]

Hey there,

Someone posted a mower on the facebook page and it made me think about how we acquire these mowers. How did folks on here find their first mower? How much did you pay? Would you do it the same way again?

[Does’ Leap]

Hi Daniel:

I found all my mowers on craigslist. All of them are MD #9. The first I picked up for $500. It was in very good condition. It needed some new seals, timing and register work. I also put in new knives and guards.

I bought my other 2 mowers for $600 – one for parts and the other to make a new mower. They were also in decent shape and I did similar work to them.

If you have a decent place to work on a mower and have the time, I would recommend doing it yourself. However, given the amount of time that goes into getting a mower “right”, Donn and Jay offer some great deals.

Good luck.

George

[Ed Thayer]

I paid $600.00 for my first mower. It was a McCormick Deering single horse mower with a 4′ bar. It was all original and in very good condition. I used it for two seasons then regrettably sold it.

I now have a No 7 McCormick Deering that I am considering rebuilding. I talked with Jay and he has some mowers ready to go for very reasonable prices, but I think I will try to get mine up and running this spring.

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[Jay]

I was given a #7 many years ago – long before we had horses. I kept it for about 10 years and finally started using it. At that time I didn’t know much at all about what I should do or what needed attention. I’m amazed now that it cut at all. Over the years since, I gradually through trial and error figured out what makes them tick or “hum” just right and I still use that mower – it’s my favorite one, completely rebuilt and painted, though we use 3 different ones. As long as they haven’t been pulled behind a tractor too much and haven’t been cracked bent or broken in an accident, they can generally be put into good shape without too much difficulty if you are willing to take a little time to work on them.
The IHC/McDeering #7 & 9 and the #6 if the bushings aren’t too worn are good mowers, as are the JD big 4 and the #3. Most parts are available for the bars and most of the bushings/bearings etc.
Look out for things like tread bars on the wheels worn way down, place where the drivers’ feet rest worn, slop in the pitman shaft – take hold of the pitman flywheel and if it moves up and down at all the bushing inside needs replacing and perhaps the shaft replaced. Can be done and is not too big a job, but not something I would start out with unless I really enjoy figuring out how to rebuild something. Look for one that doesn’t have that wear in it. Lynn Millers Mower book is a great reference when working on mowers. Good luck. Jay

[PeytonM]

I paid 400 for a Case #5, he had it set up to use on a tractor but didn’t get to use it, he also put new knives and guards on it. I just had to make a new pole and the steel rod that the evener hooks on to, goes to the front part of the sickle bar, don’t know what its called.

Take your time and shop around, there are a lot of people that put a huge price tag on them and they sell them as a yard piece and think people won’t use them to mow anymore.

I know where there was a MC No 9 with rubber tires and they guy wanted close to a grand, tires were rotten and needed work. I was there to pick up a JD 2 bottom plow, and by the time I was leaving he was down to 300, I kind of wish I would have bought it now.

[Cameron Littlejohn]

I found my md #7 on craigslist for 150 and drove to get it talked him down to 75. I turnef new inner shoe pins on the lathe at work and replaced the seals. The bar was bent but I had an extra pawpaw had left me when he passed.

[Author]

Posts