Technical Articles

Do you want to turn your old garden tractor into a serious earth moving machine? How about convert your manual lift system into a power system? Want to add a rear PTO? Do you want to multiply your engine’s power by 1,000 times or more? It’s all possible by using the science behind hydraulic power!A hydraulic system is a simple, space efficient way of multiplying and transferring your engine’s power to multiple applications for your tractor. By utilizing hydraulics you can build a front …

You may have heard of the term “grenade gears” when researching the Kohler K series engines. Even I have heard many people proclaim they throw the balance gears out when rebuilding their engine, and that they don’t do anything anyways. When asked why, people often site some anecdotal evidence of gear failure they heard through an internet forum. It seems to me that few small engine enthusiasts understand why balance gears exist, why they are important, and what causes premature failure. …

The ability to detect, observe, and measure electricity is crucial when trying to understand how a tractor works and learning what you can do to fix it. The digital multi-meter is like a doctor’s stethoscope. It allows us to see the invisible force of electricity and measure how it interacts with the components in our engines and tractors. A digital multi-meter measures current (amps), voltage (volts), and resistance (ohms).For the sake of this article I am going to be focusing on digita …

Engine Science: Measuring Your Engine’s Cylinder BoreBy Norman NgSo you have decided to finally pull apart the engine on your old Garden Tractor and are planning to rebuild as a winter project.Before you order parts or contact a machine shop make sure you measure your engine components carefully and determine the correct size.In this article I will explain how to measure your engine’s cylinder bore with a micrometer and a telescoping bore gauge.The Telescoping Bore Gauge:The telescopin …

Engine Science: The Governor SystemThe governor system in your engine is crucial to keeping your engine running while you enjoy your garden tractor. It’s like cruise control for your engine’s RPMs (rotations per minute). It keeps your machine working regardless if you go uphill, go downhill, hit a thick patch of grass, or pull a heavy load. There are three types of governor systems used in outdoor power equipment: mechanical, air vane, and electronic. However, for this article, we are …