Landed an 1861 today
 

Landed a pretty fair 1861 today, owner said if I could get it out of his way I could have it, needless to say I got there quick! Anyway, its got a leaky rearend/tranny, bad battery, and he thought a blown headgasket. He stated it ran but we couldn't get it started so had to push it out of his shed and onto the trailer.

Got it home & threw the charger on it, cranked it and it started & ran. Had a blown head gasket on the left side, but while I had it going I tried the pto (has a 54" deck) & it worked. Tried the hydro front & back & moved a bit but didn't run it long with the bad gasket. Lights all work, bodywork seems ok.

Pulled the engine tins & pulled the head off- had a head bolt broken off in the cylinder, but it was protruding. Figured I could grab it with a vise grip & turn it off, but it ended up breaking off flush. Ended up drilling it out & retapping the hole. Ordered a new headgasket & pulled a head bolt out of a junk KT17 I have around.

Anyway, whats the general consensus on the Cyclops tractors, and the 1861 specifically? I grabbed it thinking I'd steal the M18 out of it but so far it seems too good to part. What are the good & the bad on these tractors? I'll try to get pics up later this week. Thanks, all.

Congrats on the 1861 and free to boot!:beer2:
Only built in 1992. The only negatives about the Cyclops are the plastic cracking or breaking, paint issues at times, and wiring gremlins. These are the only issues I have heard bad about them.

Nice score! Hope to see some pics soon.

Well, how would you like to double your money? I have a 1862 and really like it. You do have to be careful with front plastic, can't go ramming into trees not anyone would do that. Have two-stage snow-blower for mine, by the end of winter snow was piled 12 foot deep along the drive.
Did have a problem with the key switch's smoke escaping, soldered a new harness on and a new switch, no trouble since.
Enjoy

Nice find on the free 1861.

Head gasket made it today so I nailed it back together & threw the battery charger on it. Was a little finicky but it fired up. Ran it down the road to Mom & Dad's to try the mower & it seemed okay, they didn't really have any thick grass I could hit. The brakes are about non existent, and the steering is super loose (appears almost all the freeplay is in the column). I think I may try the mower a bit more tomorrow & then try to look at the brakes & steering this weekend.

Thanks for the update and glad to hear you got it running!

X2! :beerchug: