I got a "plastic one" !!!---2284

[john hall]

Yep, I done gone and got me one them plastic lawnmowers! Last year I decided I had more mowers than we need to use--but I sure wouldn't mind having one of those great big cyclops Supers---if a cheap one came along. Tues night I did a no-no. Pulled up CL and typed in Cadet. Up popped a 1450 Cadet--but it sure looked like Cyclops to me. Going to Cadet's website revealed it was a 2284. Price was cheap---my kind of cheap (as in very). Looked a little rough, didn't run. I emailed the guy and he texted me around 10pm. Arranged to go look at it yesterday but he had a family emergency. He promised to hold it till I got off work today. In the meantime I sent the ad to Sam Mac. I figured he'd give an honest opinion and not buy it our from under me. To paraphrase Sam, he'd be all over it. I was hooked, if I couldn't find anything horrific, it was going 15 miles north.
I really need to pause and thank Sam for being a GREAT guy and not buying this behind my back since it was well within driving range for him. I'm sure I'll be making a pest of myself asking questions.

I had a buddy come over today to help dad get the trailer hooked up behind dad's truck. Dad met me after work and we set off on yet another adventure. When I got there it turns out the guy flips late model lawnmowers, and he has some REALLY nice looking stuff. I was drooling all over a Cadet Tank with a new engine and immaculate original paint. Must have had 15-20 other mowers of all brands for sale. All were fairly new and in above average shape--guy has an eye for quality. This machine did not belong with the rest of his stuff. He actually traded for it. Claims he didn't have time to fix it with all the other work he has to do so he put it for sale cheap.

Guy had removed the PTO clutch trying to figure out why the engine wouldn't turn over fast. Don't know why he didn't just take the belt off. The guy he got it from pulled the right side valve cover--broke a bolt off in the process. The 2 of them are convinced there is something wrong with the camshaft/valves. Even though the starter would barely spin it over, you could tell it didn't have a broke rod (both sides appeared to be compressing air). I noticed a bolt out of the starter and the other one appears to have been out recently, seller didn't know anything about that. The grill is cracked at the bottom--he pointed out the side panels are what is holding that on. Tires look good, front axle seems fairly tight, power steering doesn't appear to be leaking. Rear end looks dry. Air filter looked about new. Dash has some cracks. Seat is a mess and safety switch unhooked. Deck needs a little help--loose bearings. I think the key switch is buggered--key fits real loose.

Got home and couldn't stand it, had to hook up the charger. Well, turns out it has a huge battery (for a lawn mower)--over 575 amps. Wouldn't you know it, positive cable is loose and dirty. Rolled out my big charger and it went to spinning a lot better, but not great. Pulled the valve cover removed by the PO and all looked well, other than the bolt I have to drill out. Pulled plugs and have 100lbs compression each side. Seems low, is there a compression release in play here? Maybe valves need setting? It has oil in it so nothing to do but squirt some penetrating oil in carb to see what happens. It tried to make a little noise, sure the lube was good for the cylinders. Decided I needed more bang and used some starting fluid. Got a pop or 2, even seems it tried to kick back on starter. I'm encouraged. I think next we'll pull the starter and check the connections, as well as the rest of the wiring. Then I want to see how strong the fire is. Get it spinning and get fire, it should run--maybe just not well. I'll deal with the fuel system once I know it runs. Probably pull the engine for cleaning, it is quite dirty. I just want to know it runs before I tear it all apart and invest money into it.

By not ever owning one of these, I have generally ignored the threads about this series. Now I'm doing a bunch of research of old threads. Sam and Dirty Steve are now 2 of my favorite authors! I highly doubt this will be as nice as what those guys have done. My goal is to make it mechanically solid and reliable. And then to use the heck out of it.

Now here is the problem--not enough shop time. I've got some MUST do farm projects before I can do much with this one. I'll probably tinker on it a little the next few days while finishing up the 1811 (hopefully). Then it will probably have to go into storage for a while.

Surprisingly, dad didn't pitch a fit about me buying this. All I had to do was to say bring the truck and he was ready to go. This one was built 3-4 years after he retired. He seems enthused about learning something new--at 86 yrs old.