Unknown tractor

I think you might be right. Gilson did build for Montgomery Wards. It could be a Gilson badged for about anybody because they made for a
number of companies.
 
It's about $400 overpriced.
Possibly a Kohler KT-17 that has blown.
Tires are worth $100 tops.
The rest is scrap.
 
Looks like a old Briggs & Stratton twin. Some of those had aluminum bore and valve-seats that liked to pop out. Basically throw-away engines.
 
It's a Gilson I've got one like it in the garage under construction. Saw an older one with a B&S sell at an auction last month $200 including a tiller and it ran Otherwise, a well built machine. If I were going to get one it would be a hydro model no 90 degree gear box under the seat to strip out. I'm replacing the rear end in mine with a CC hydro axle. I took the axle out of the M W and put it in my JD 112 after the thing exploded same axle as JD but with a lot better rear axle setup. I don't ever expect to have to replace the axle hubs on the Gilson transmission
EL TORO will put in a picture of his if he sees this post, his is a beautiful machine.
 
Likely a Monkey-Ward model # GIL33418 (by Gilson). The two I worked on had cheap L-head Briggs throw-away engines. I don't know if the one in the photo is any better or not.
 
That engine in the photo, the aluminum L-head Briggs opposed twin, came out in 1978.
 
I wouldn't give 500 if it was running. Those twin L head engines Briggs put out were nothing but trouble. I think it's worth $50.
 
I have a 18 HP B&S opposed in a 1987 Ranch King (MTD) with 1600 hours on it and never wrenched outside of normal servicing. It has been
serviced about ever 30 hours with Shell Rotella T 15-40 oil.
a160989.jpg
 
High numbers does not necessarily mean high quality. Many of those twin
L-head engines were soft-bore with no cast-iron cylinder wall. They had
valve-seats that liked to pop out and ruin the block. etc. I threw many
away. There were some better quality versions with cast-iron blocks or
cast-iron cylinder liners. Many were indeed junk, throw-away engines.
There were 800,000 Yugo cars made. Does that make them good?
 
Yes, I have two of the cast-iron versions. Much better then the all aluminum ones and also better then the I/C versions with aluminum blocks and cast-iron liners that still had valve-seat problems.
 
Those were nice little tractors,its overpriced considering it doesn't run.As far as the twin cylinder Briggs it was as good of an engine as the Kohler twins from that era,better than the
Kohler KT 17 and 19 for sure.Plenty of those Briggs engines still around if you want to fix it,I have several I run and they do fine.Also have a welder with a Briggs Twin on it runs good and gives good service.
 
The seller says he bought the tractor from Montgomery Wards in 1978. Some time ago he took it to the shop for complete service. It was used to do some blade work and then it sat unused for a while. When he tried to use it again it wouldn't start. He took it back to the repair shop and the serviceman found a mouse nest in the cylinder. The cost to repair the engine was over $600. He decided against it and bought another tractor. Maybe a bent rod or crank?
 
Hi Slowpoke, I don't know how a mouse could have gotten inside the cylinder of the engine it common for mice to make a nest in the fins under the cooling tins. Those MW/Gilson were well built tractor but there are somethings to be a where of if its a manual trans with the variable speed system, the variable speed pulleys / set up) are most likely worn badly so it will not work no replacement parts are available, most times it can be rebuilt but cost about $100.00 there was a fellow in Mich that rebuilt them, as other have posted it only worth $100.00 at the most. At $600.00 I'm thinking the shop was talking about a complete overhaul and not worth it.
GB in MN
 
Owner said the transmission is "automatic". He didn't seem to know much about the tractor. The kind of owner who takes it to the shop every time it needs something. Well, I'll find out later today.
 
Hi Slowpoke, they had an excellent Hydr just about bullet proof, for me that adds to the value probably another $100.00, I have not owned or worked on the ones with the B&S twin have had a couple with the big cast iron B&S single 16 hp and the variable speed trans worked good, after the variable system was repaired.
GB in MN
 
I looked at the tractor; things don't add up. The seat is totaly destroyed from the weather, the clutch for the mower is sitting on the footboard. It is quite rusted in the bore. There is other rust on the tractor. I asked about the rust being the tractor is in the garage. He didn't have an answer. I believe it was stored outdors for a number of years and bought onto the garage to sell. Maybe the $600 to repair it was because of it's current condition. I wonder why the clutch was removed. One always thinks of these things after the fact. Any way I offered $350, he countered at $375. I said Ok BUT I need to borrow his trailer to get it home and return it Tuesday, otherwise it would cost me a 150 mile round trip to get my trailer. He refused the offer and I left. After thinking things over I will offer $275 without his trailer just because of all the unknowns. Maybe the clutch is bad; I did use a screwdriver to rotate the flywheel a 1/4 turn, the piston moved and it felt Ok.
 
Hi slowpoke I would look elsewhere sounds like it in pretty ruff condition and is going to need lots of work getting it going. What are you looking for a GT or a mower tractor or a project?
GB in MN
 

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