Part out or keep whole?

I'd like everyone's opinion on this. Someone gave me an old reel mower with a Briggs 5S. I put a few $$$ into it and got it running, and it runs well. The mower itself works, but will probably need some TLC...a good cleaning, sharpening, etc. I've been trying to sell it because I'm running out of room, and want to buy a FMZ this summer. No one seems to want the mower, and I've had several offers for just the motor. I'd like to keep the mower whole, as I think it's a nice historic piece of machinery, although I'm sure it's not all that rare (a Stearns "99"). What are eveyone's thoughts on keeping the mower whole and possibly not being able to sell it for some time vs. parting it out for a quick sale.

Thanks...

Chris

Chris, I like your statement "I want to keep it whole". While not rare today, I am doing the same thing with a Reo mower, and I intend to keep it all together. Johnny in NC

Well I can understand why there is little or no interest in the mower. The little "5s" motor is not exactly a "hot ticket item" but they have an excellent reputation for longevity. (sp?) Their pretty hard to kill. I was over East of here last Sunday and bought one interesting little engine along with a reel mower that has a "5s" engine on it. Truth is that I bought the entire reel mower coz I just wanted the engine. After getting it home, I think I will fix the unit up. I also bought a Stearns reel mower last summer with a Briggs "WI" on it, interesting mower. The point I'm trying to get at is that the fella I bought the little engine off of tried to unload several reel mowers on me of which I had no interest. Their like a dime a dozen out there and you can at any time go to the scrapyards and find them. Their simply "too" common to be of much interest unless their really old or unusual. Too, "Stearns" is a fairly common name. Personally I would not seperate engine & mower but then you & I are not one in the same.

It would be neet if you could find the ridding attachment for it...

Why, oh Why didn't my old man come up with that riding attachment idea 50 years ago? I'd be 2 inches taller today if he had.

I also "rescued" a Reo Runabout reel mower circa 1954 and I have no lawn at all.

I looked on eBay for Reo mowers and was suprised to see Reo mowers, no better than mine, sell for $50-$250+.

Hey Chris, My vote is to keep it together. I see lots of things that are being parted out all the time. Things are disappearing quicker than we think. If we keep parting out everything, well, you know the rest of the sentence. Thanks, Greg

Let's see, if you seperate the motor from the mower, the only extra space you created is on top of mower . And, more then likely, the only way you're going to get rid of the mower w/o the motor is to send it to the scrap man

I have the same thing with my Moto-mower with the same engine. Everyone is of the opinion it ain't worth much. So I'm keeping my eye open for some young'un who might show some interest, and then I will give it to him. Maybe help him get started. I've seen plenty of fathers have to tell their kid no at shows 'cause it just ain't in their budget, even though you can see in their eyes they would like to. David.

HOORAY for you David. A pat on the back and a tilt of my hat goes to a guy that will get another young boy started. That boy will treat it as a treasure, and never forget where he got his first engine. How many of you remember the moment or event that sentenced you to have grease under your fingernails forever? Al

Chris: It's easy to find a motor if you want to pay the price, but it is increasingly difficult to find the implements that the engines used to drive. This has become very apparent in the case of open flywheel engines, and will soon apply to the smaller engines. If you have a vintage implement that is complete, please keep it that way for the sake of posterity!!! A future buyer will always have the option of dismantling the machine. In my opinion there is nothing more boring or pointless than to have a bunch of engines sitting on shelves or pallets with no connection to their original purpose. An engine running its original implement is far more interesting than some lifeless chunk of cast iron/aluminum idling on an artificial base. Consider that the driveline arrangements; the clutches, couplings, throttle controls, pulleys/belts etc often get discarded when stripping an old machine, and that these components imported character to the original machine. The rope starter that never worked, the belt that always slipped, the chain that always jumped, were part of the machine's character. Nowadays everybody is looking for the Reo engines that were used on the reel mowers, but how many of you guys remember that the damn things never ran? And your Father didn't want to hear about it, the lawn had to be mowed. That motor sitting on a pallet means nothing.....but if for a moment an uninitiated person could stroll out into his lawn some morning with his vintage mower and attempt to do the same job he normally does with his John Deere riding mower, the result would be....well....educational. Then maybe he would understand why this stuff was junked in the first place!!!!

Thanks Al, that's sorta how I got started, only in reverse. My dad used to take us to shows when he could, but raising eight kids and working, and farming, owning an engine just as a hobby was out of the question. About five years ago he told me he went to a local show, but his knees were so bad all he could do was walk in and out. So I started looking for an engine to give him he that he could run at home. An old gentleman gave me some parts, I put 'em together, got it running, gave to dad for Father's day. He was pleased, I got hooked, and here I am, you all know the rest of the story. David.

I would always try to keep the machine together with the drive. I believe as the hobby evolves, focus will return to restoring the "whole" piece. And at shows, people always like to see the old machine running, a maytag washer chugging along, corn grinder, buzz saw, ice cream maker, etc, are always an attraction.

I would always try to keep the machine together with the drive. I believe as the hobby evolves, focus will return to restoring the "whole" piece. And at shows, people always like to see the old machine running, a maytag washer chugging along, corn grinder, buzz saw, ice cream maker, etc, are always an attraction.