Thanks for letting me join. In Southern KY, I'm the proud owner of a 1980(?) L185 2WD that I believe was set up by a dealer back then just to be an estate mower. I bought it in 04 from a doctor I worked with for $750, including a rickety Woods belly mower. Maybe was a dealer option because looking around I see many in that configuration.
When we had to move into town in 08, I loaned my beautiful little Bota to my father in law who is on a fixed income, living with my MIL on 8 rough acres next county over. He kept fluids and filters changed regularly, but sometimes my Bota (as we call it) got kept outside or in a dirty barn. He claims he's selling out come spring and at 57, I now want my tractor back to refurb and make into a flashing light beauty.
Here are photos from yesterday, where my tractor has sat for a while in my FIL's open barn. It's covered in dust and mowing residue because unlike me when I had my little farm, he doesn't hose her down and use a leaf blower to dry her.
I'll be posting many questions next spring about my refurb process, but I do know that among other things I will need to knock out the hood dents and repaint (doctor's dad ran into a tree), try to unbend the front bumper, remove dash and fenders to sand and paint, and install flashing yellow lights, rear implement lights, and.....blue "ground effect" lighting. remember this will be a parade tractor that will most likely just be driven around the suburbs with me proudly on board.
One leak concerns me. Around the gear and transfer case shifts, when she warms up oil weeps out at the seal going into the housing. I hope it's not a big expensive deal, because I am living on fixed income. I will have to do all my own work or have my son in law and son help me physically with the fixes. Also, on the steering linkage side, she has way too much side play where her axle pivots left to right. I'm hoping it's just worn bushings.
Anyway, thank you for looking. This winter I will write up a "to do" refurb list, using the archives here to prioritize everything.
Oh. Can a member here tell me exactly what model I have from my photos? She's 2WD and has the original factory tires. Thanks again. Don.
When we had to move into town in 08, I loaned my beautiful little Bota to my father in law who is on a fixed income, living with my MIL on 8 rough acres next county over. He kept fluids and filters changed regularly, but sometimes my Bota (as we call it) got kept outside or in a dirty barn. He claims he's selling out come spring and at 57, I now want my tractor back to refurb and make into a flashing light beauty.
Here are photos from yesterday, where my tractor has sat for a while in my FIL's open barn. It's covered in dust and mowing residue because unlike me when I had my little farm, he doesn't hose her down and use a leaf blower to dry her.
I'll be posting many questions next spring about my refurb process, but I do know that among other things I will need to knock out the hood dents and repaint (doctor's dad ran into a tree), try to unbend the front bumper, remove dash and fenders to sand and paint, and install flashing yellow lights, rear implement lights, and.....blue "ground effect" lighting. remember this will be a parade tractor that will most likely just be driven around the suburbs with me proudly on board.
One leak concerns me. Around the gear and transfer case shifts, when she warms up oil weeps out at the seal going into the housing. I hope it's not a big expensive deal, because I am living on fixed income. I will have to do all my own work or have my son in law and son help me physically with the fixes. Also, on the steering linkage side, she has way too much side play where her axle pivots left to right. I'm hoping it's just worn bushings.
Anyway, thank you for looking. This winter I will write up a "to do" refurb list, using the archives here to prioritize everything.
Oh. Can a member here tell me exactly what model I have from my photos? She's 2WD and has the original factory tires. Thanks again. Don.





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