Project in the works.

Project1FEL

New User
I'm looking at acquiring to Montgomery Wards (Gilson) tractors. The owner has several implements. One is an FEL setup. He's asking 1200 for the whole deal and neither tractors currently run. I'm looking to bargain down on that price. My questions for the Board are can that assembly be removed and attached to a later model tractor? I have a late model Craftsmen GT 2000 that I want to equip if it's plausible. If it isnt, then would it be crazy to try and stuff my Craftsmen motor into that Gilson? Looking for cheap fixes to utilize a FEL. Please give me some input. I'll be selling whatever I don't end up using. This group gets the first choice after acquisition.
 
Most Craftsman tractors that I have seen or been around are not designed for the extra stresses imparted on them with a FEL. Axles and frames aren't strong enough to carry much load and with a FEL it would be helpful to have power steering. You might think about something like a Deere 318. They can sometimes be purchased right and they are built heavy enough to take the load and have power steering.
 
In My OPINION..... any tractor that cannot be sat upon, started with the twist of a key and then put to work is nothing more than a "parts tractor". Parts tractors normally sell for 50 to 200 dollars. So if you personally think they are worth 200 hundred each, then you have to evaluate the other items to see if you can find another 800 dollars. Depending on the condition of the FEL, it might be worth 500 or so. Aside from mower decks which are part of the 200 dollar per parts tractor pricing, what other attachments does he have?

Your Craftsman isn't much of a true garden tractor other than the GT label Sears stuck on it. Putting a FEL on any Craftsman is not a good idea. I agree with johnpop. Go and find a Deere garden tractor that has power steering and preferably a loader already mounted. The 300 and 400 Series would fit your needs and there are lots of them around.
 
You would be way ahead to fix the old Monkey Wards tractors....
they were real garden tractors built by Gilson; not a lawn tractor like your Craftsman. Back when those Wards tractors were being built Sears was also selling real garden tractors as well.
If you compare your Craftsman to the Wards, you will see there
is a tremendous difference in the construction.
JMHO
 
Thank you Tom and John. Those are both useful posts. I fully plan to hit this guy below the belt on prices. The tractors both don't run, but he had a bunch of attachments: push blade, rotoriller, mower deck, and grading blade attachment. If he's not up for like between 400 and 600 for the whole pile I'm not going for it. If he does then I'll post the implements, I don't need anything except a FEL and Mower. So overall thoughts are to look for a Deere 318? Would it be worth using my mower to redo the Gilson?
 
Thanks Brian. So my next question on the
Gilson are they an expensive refurb? Has
anyone slapped a new motor in those old
frames with decent success? I'm trying to
beer and chicken budget myself a garden
tractor, so the less I have to step beyond
the yard with what I have already the
better.
 
Ok so updating my journey. If I could get my hands on the FEL and a John Deere 110 or 214? Would either of those work to handle the FEL?
 
Doesn't the Gilson have an engine with a horizontal crankshaft ? And doesn't your Craftsman use a vertical shaft engine?
 
What exactly do you intend to use a FEL for? And are you expecting to mow your lawn with the FEL tractor?
 
The FEL is intended for moving small/medium landscaping rock and yard equipment around a lot I own and maintain next to my rental property. It's big enough to not wanna work by hand, with too many obstacles for a regular use small rental tractor to easily manuver. I've read the limits are roughly 3 to 400 on the little tractors, that's more that enough to save me some time and energy. The mowing is for the lot itself. I have to keep the switch grass down to prevent fire hazards to the surrounding properties.
 
I'm not a superb gear head so you'd have to tell me how to distinguish the 2 in order to answer that. That's half the reason I'm here. I seek the knowledge and wisdom of the real wrench turners and rebuilders! I'm really good at tear down and prep. I have a buddy that makes things work.
 
With a FEL, power steering is king! Hydro is nice. 3 to 400 pounds doesn't sound like much until you try to turn with the bucket loaded. Also, the FEL also imparts a load of it's own on the tractor. You will see what I am talking about if you try to turn with a load when you are in soft soil or mud or when you are not moving.
 
I can't offer any advice as to the Sears models, but since you brought up the 110 or 214 DEERE models I am going to say that having a massive cast iron front axle and large, strong spindles vs. a cheapy stamped steel front axle is a big PLUS when hanging a little loader on it.

I have been a fan/collector of DEERE 140's since I was a kid, but as prices have dropped with age I have picked up a couple of 318's and a 322 and have retired the 140's (similar front axle to the 110 you mentioned). Either of those would be my dream tractor to hang a loader on because of the BRAWN of the front axle and spindles.

If you get a chance to look at a 318, compare the front axle and the size of the spindles to the Sears your are considering.

NOT to mention factory power steering.
 
No power steering on either. Cast iron axles, stronger than some stamped steel units used in other tractors, but spindles not as heavy as a 318, for example.
 
Here's my Wards tractor built by Gilson. I bought it new in 1971. Hal
a205067.jpg
 
If there is one thing that can be counted on here at YT, is that Hal will post a photo of his beloved tractor at every opportunity. ROFLMAO
 
I've been hauling leaves out to the street with that tractor, won't be long I'll have the snow blade on it. Never rebuilt the engine. Hal
 
Uhhhhhh. so what you are saying is .......when the snow flies, you post another photo of your tractor. LOL
 
Nice tractor Hal. So owner sold the pair to some poor soul at full price (goodluck to them) anybody seen or know of a FEL for sale in CA? Also what other models besides the 318 are ok by Deere for mounting a FEL? I'm open to suggestions.
 

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