Opinions on buying a repowered tractor?

[o---o]

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In your experience from what you've seen, how do most repowered tractors turn out? The reason I ask is because there is a 782 with a Briggs 18 horse near me. He doesn't know what kind of Briggs, just that it's an 18 horse. He's asking $700 with no attachments other than the deck which needs belts. I'm interested in it for garden work and pulling a box scraper. I'm thinking I should pass on this?

Also while you're here, is there any significant strength advantage to a 782 compared to a 1541? And would the 3 point hitch from the 1541 fit the 782?

Edit: I apologize if this should have been in the ccc/mtd section

[o---o]

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Guy has this for sale too, but way out of my price range lol.

[fourinchdragslicks]

I have never heard of anyone bragging about what a great B&S engine they have, they just seem like an economical brand name. Also, I would not use an Aluminum air cooled engine on a garden tractor that is as "well enclosed" as the 782 They need to breath lots of cool air. Unless the ducting was done VERY WELL (never is) the engine will be a lot more prone to overheating than the factory one. Personally, I would pass.

Someone told me something once about engines and garden tractors/mowers, one of those quick reference things, to the effect of: lawn mowers and lawn tractors have aluminum engines, but garden tractors and larger have iron blocks.
I believe the reasoning has to do with how they handle heat stress, from really working the engine the way you do with ground engaging equipment. Seems pretty reasonable to me.

[ol'George]

Don't want to step on anyone's toes here, but the 782 came with an aluminum block kohler.
Series 1, series 2, and replacement Mag 18's are all aluminum blocks.
They do have separate cast iron cylinders bolted to that aluminum block.
That said, I would pass on it for the price.
If you like a 782, get one with a series 2 or better yet, M-18 in it.

[SS5150]

In the last 3 weeks or so there's been 4 782s for sale in N IL & S WI, asking prices anywhere from 600-1350. The nicest one was listed at $1000 and lasted about a week. I think they are all sold now.

I'd pass on that one myself......I just don't like having to trust someone else's workmanship on a repower with a different engine type. If it was say a Mag 18 stuffed in it, I'd probably be ok if it looked like it was done well.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by fourinchdragslicks

Also, I would not use an Aluminum air cooled engine on a garden tractor that is as "well enclosed" as the 782 They need to breath lots of cool air. Unless the ducting was done VERY WELL (never is) the engine will be a lot more prone to overheating than the factory one. Personally, I would pass.

Originally Posted by ol'George

Don't want to step on anyone's toes here, but the 782 came with an aluminum block kohler.
Series 1, series 2, and replacement Mag 18's are all aluminum blocks.
They do have separate cast iron cylinders bolted to that aluminum block.
That said, I would pass on it for the price.
If you like a 782, get one with a series 2 or better yet, M-18 in it.

Dang it George, you beat me.

The 582's had an all aluminum B&S motor too.
So did anything with a Vanguard, and a CH engine.

Originally Posted by fourinchdragslicks

Someone told me something once about engines and garden tractors/mowers, one of those quick reference things, to the effect of: lawn mowers and lawn tractors have aluminum engines, but garden tractors and larger have iron blocks.
I believe the reasoning has to do with how they handle heat stress, from really working the engine the way you do with ground engaging equipment. Seems pretty reasonable to me.

You really can't believe what "some people" tell you..... Mainly because they don't know what they are talking about.
All the twin cylinder Cub Cadet tractors (82 series and up) used aluminum engines. So did John Deere's, and all the other "big names".

[o---o]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

The 582's had an all aluminum B&S motor too.
So did anything with a Vanguard, and a CH engine.

I did a Google image search of 582 tractors with the all aluminum Briggs and it appears they have some special shielding to direct heat out from the engine compartment. There's a good chance on a repower that these shields aren't there. I'm not exactly a big Briggs fan boy anyway.

Thanks everyone for the opinions, they confirm my thought that this Cub isn't for me.


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[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by o---o

I did a Google image search of 582 tractors with the all aluminum Briggs and it appears they have some special shielding to direct heat out from the engine compartment.

All of the motors in CC's do.

[j4c11]

Could that be an 18HP Vanguard in there? I hear they're good engines.

[o---o]

And it can be a real pita to work with sometimes. The po of my 1541 failed to reinstall about half of the bolts throughout time, but I've got them all back in now.