2020.05.18 Rust Pic

kcm.MN · May 17, 2020

kcm.MN · May 17, 2020

MJ in the UK · May 18, 2020

Heider tractor with the varible speed drive obtained by sliding the engine backwards
and forwards. MJ

Janicholson · May 18, 2020

In the U.S., we had lawn mowers (that looked like tractors) Poloron Stallion was one brand made in Michigan city they had really bad disc drive "transmissions" that used the rear drive tension to apply pressure to a rubber rimmed wheel running at a 90 degree angle on an aluminum disc driven by the engine. The speed selection was by moving the driven wheel outward on the aluminum drive disc. this also changed the rotational axis of the vertical shaft engine to align with the chain to the rear axle. They lasted about one mowing season on flat land, and an hour on hills. Out of business for good reasons.
Were the Heider tractors operational? Jim

Steve@Advance · May 18, 2020

My dad had one of those horrid things!

I had a Montgomery Ward hydrostat with a worn out motor.

Plan was to use the engine off the cone head drive and make a good mower out of the hydro.

The day before I was going to do the swap someone broke in the garage and stole the donor tractor.

I hope they enjoyed it and kept it a long time! LOL

Steve A W · May 18, 2020

My Dad worked the night shift at Poloron while
going to school for HVAC.
That was about 1969 or 70.

Steve A W

Janicholson · May 18, 2020

Follow up. My dad and I went to the Michigan city auction when the Stallion company went away. There was a bulk box of 20 inch tall Carlisle rear tires on white rims 3/4" keyed axle holes. (about 25 in the box) up for bid. My dad bid them to 8 dollars each assembly (he was an experienced auction attendee, and knew how to read the information). the tires were bit up by others to 18.50. The man who won was asked if he wanted single tires at that unit cost. He said no I will take them all. The auctioneer asked a second time "all" the man said yes, all. There were 70 bulk boxes. He had to get a bank loan to actually make the auction company happy. The man was selling wheels for 10 years after the sale. My dad bought 4 of them for the sale price from the winner, before the man figured out what he had done. Jim

gregww · May 18, 2020

My wife and I bought a new house about 1984 I think. The 1/2 acre lawn was very flat. I bought a new Snapper rear engine rider that had a drive system very similar to what has been described here. I eventually sold the mower with the house in '88. The mower always worked perfectly for me, with no problems. If I ever had another VERY flat lawn, I would gladly buy another.

2020.05.18 Rust Pic

kcm.MN

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kcm.MN

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MJ in the UK

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Janicholson

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Steve@Advance

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Steve A W

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Janicholson

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gregww

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