Sears SS-14 Garden Tractor Questions

Space Tractor · Jul 9, 2016

I am planning to buy a Sears SS-14 Tractor tomorrow. It was parked 15 years ago, but ran great when parked. It is a "survivor", in great shape by the pictures. It has the Briggs and Stratton cast iron 14 HP engine. I was told that the owner, now deceased, took meticulous care of his equipment. The engine turns over freely. I know I will need to pull the gas tank off to clean it out, and do the same with the carb. I assume all the parts for the engine would be readily available? Are there any issues with these tractors? I assume I could get it running easily. I am 55, and just want it to play with, and to use as a back-up mower (my justification for buying it

). Any comments would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks!

MNGB · Jul 9, 2016

(reply to post at 08:04:40 07/09/16)

Hi Space, the SS14 is a great GT lots of power built to last, cleaning the fuel tank changing the filter and new gas lines are good ideas I would wait on the carb to see how much gunk was in the gas tank if not much leave the carb for the time being and see how it runs the B&S Flojet carb can be challenge to take apart a if you do decide to dissemble it be sure you remove the main jet and the long emulsion tube before trying to split the top from the bowl and be extra care to have a screw drive that fits the tube slot but doesn't contact the threads. The B&S 32xxx engine is a nice running strong engine and does like gas, is the deck a 42" or 48"? Those decks cut very nice I like the ones I have and mow with mine all the time. Good luck
GB in MN

El Toro · Jul 9, 2016

(quoted from post at 08:04:40 07/09/16) I am planning to buy a Sears SS-14 Tractor tomorrow. It was parked 15 years ago, but ran great when parked. It is a "survivor", in great shape by the pictures. It has the Briggs and Stratton cast iron 14 HP engine. I was told that the owner, now deceased, took meticulous care of his equipment. The engine turns over freely. I know I will need to pull the gas tank off to clean it out, and do the same with the carb. I assume all the parts for the engine would be readily available? Are there any issues with these tractors? I assume I could get it running easily. I am 55, and just want it to play with, and to use as a back-up mower (my justification for buying it ). Any comments would be

helpful and appreciated. Thanks!

I have a 14hp Wards tractor with the B&S engine I bought new.
I'm 83 and still using the tractor for plowing the garden.

Space Tractor · Jul 9, 2016

(quoted from post at 09:57:38 07/09/16)

(reply to post at 08:04:40 07/09/16)

Click to expand...

Hi Space, the SS14 is a great GT lots of power built to last, cleaning the fuel tank changing the filter and new gas lines are good ideas I would wait on the carb to see how much gunk was in the gas tank if not much leave the carb for the time being and see how it runs the B&S Flojet carb can be challenge to take apart a if you do decide to dissemble it be sure you remove the main jet and the long emulsion tube before trying to split the top from the bowl and be extra care to have a screw drive that fits the tube slot but doesn't contact the threads. The B&S 32xxx engine is a nice running strong engine and does like gas, is the deck a 42" or 48"? Those decks cut very nice I like the ones I have and mow with mine all the time. Good luck
GB in MN

Thanks GB, your tips are exactly the type of information I was hoping to receive! I have never had a 14 HP Briggs, but have had the similar Kohler cast iron engines (K321?) on a few Power King tractors I had a number of years ago. I regret selling those - got laid off job back in 2009, and I sold both when I didn't really need to...found work pretty quick. One had a loader and owner still has it locally. My grand-dad had a Suburban that I loved to ride as a child in the late 60's, and I look forward to getting this one going. I don't know which deck this tractor has, but I will definitely mow with it some on my 3 acre lawn. Thanks again, Paul in VA.

Space Tractor · Jul 9, 2016

That's a great looking tractor, thanks for sharing the picture. I love to see and hear from folks like you who have had one of these great old garden tractors for decades! I look forward to enjoying mine when I get it going. Thanks again, Paul in VA

T.R.K. · Jul 9, 2016

About a year ago I checked and could still get the parts-rings, piston, rod, gaskets- to rebuild a 16 hp. cast iron Briggs on a welder. We never did the overhaul because the estimate came to over $1,000. I am pretty sure you can find carburetor parts and fuel system parts to fix yours.

Some parts can't be had from Briggs any more, like some of the sheet metal is NLA, though.

Space Tractor · Jul 10, 2016

(quoted from post at 19:34:24 07/09/16) About a year ago I checked and could still get the parts-rings, piston, rod, gaskets- to rebuild a 16 hp. cast iron Briggs on a welder. We never did the overhaul because the estimate came to over $1,000. I am pretty sure you can find carburetor parts and fuel system parts to fix yours.

Some parts can't be had from Briggs any more, like some of the sheet metal is NLA, though.

Thanks for your comments, I'm hoping it just needs a good carb cleaning and new fuel pump, lines, filter, battery, etc...

MNGB · Jul 10, 2016

Hi, normally that model Suburban did not have a fuel pump just gravity feed here's some good information on the large Flowjet carb
http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/briggs_large_two-piece_flo-jet.asp

Space Tractor · Jul 10, 2016

(quoted from post at 08:01:52 07/10/16) Hi, normally that model Suburban did not have a fuel pump just gravity feed here's some good information on the large Flowjet carb
http://outdoorpowerinfo.com/repairs/briggs_large_two-piece_flo-jet.asp

GB, thanks again, this will definitely make it easier to get it going! Inside of tank has surface rust/powder, does not appear to be pitted to any extent. Engine very clean looking under the hood. We tried to get it to fire by dumping a little bit of gas in cylinder, but no spark. Has been stored inside a shed all its life, has not run in 15 years. I have some ceramic media for a tumbler, I may shake that around in the tank and flush. The gear shifters felt great going through the gears. I can't wait to get it going! Here's a picture of it in my trailer.

Space Tractor · Jul 10, 2016

Here's a picture of the SS-14 inside my trailer.

MNGB · Jul 10, 2016

Good looking SS14, pull the cover off the points and clean them (located below the exhaust on engine block), I use carb cleaner first if that doesn't pull them out and clean them up good and check that they a closing and making contact using a light or ohmmeter if still no spark it maybe the coil coils seem to go on those series engines more than others. Good luck

Space Tractor · Jul 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 16:53:36 07/10/16) Good looking SS14, pull the cover off the points and clean them (located below the exhaust on engine block), I use carb cleaner first if that doesn't pull them out and clean them up good and check that they a closing and making contact using a light or ohmmeter if still no spark it maybe the coil coils seem to go on those series engines more than others. Good luck

GB, I am not a small engine expert, but with your links and instructions, I should be able to get it going. You have saved me a lot of time and I appreciate your links and instructions. Thanks again. Paul

Sears SS-14 Garden Tractor Questions

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