I finally had some spare time to rewire the 210 this afternoon and it looks like all the odd ball electrical issues are fixed.
I purchased this tractor new in 1975-210 serial numbers started with 30001 and this is 30647. It was one of the first in Iowa and the very first to be delivered to the Deere dealer with whom I've done business with since. I was there waiting for it, and when it was unloaded from the truck it was uncrated, assembled and I took it home about 2 hours after it arrived at the dealer. I also have a mower deck that's not currently on it, a front dozer blade, and I had a snow blower that I've since sold.
It was parked in 1991 when I decided I needed a larger mower. I normally don't keep things that I'm not using, but for some reason I just didn't want to get rid of it. I put it in the corner of a shed, and when we built our home in 1995 I left it sit in a corner of my shop. I hadn't started it since I parked it in 1991.
I thought about selling it several times, but it wasn't taking up any needed space, and I just let it sit, covered by a furniture pad.
In late August of 2010 I decided to dig it out and see if I could get it to run. I wanted a garden type tractor to do the small things that my zero turn wasn't suited for, and the old 210 would fit the need quite nicely. I replaced the carb (the original was beyond repair), the starter, belts, and I freed up the variator (it was pretty well gummed up). I also cobbled together some wiring fixes with the idea that if I kept it I'd rewire it soon. I also changed the fluids and what little fuel was left-the gas had been sitting for almost 20 years.
To my surprise, after I primed the new carb and tested to make sure I had electrical continuity all the way through, it fired right up (I posted a video of the first start back somewhere around September of 2010).
I've been chasing some electrical gremlins, which isn't surprising with 38 year old wiring, components, switches, etc. Today I completely rewired it with all new electrical components, and all the electrical issues are gone. The motor has just a touch of smoke at startup, but still has good power and doesn't smoke after it starts. The 210's never had an hour meter, but I wouldn't be surprised if this one had close to 2000 hours on it; not only did it mow a couple acres a week for it's first 17 years, it also kept the driveway cleared of snow in the winter. It never failed to start, never gave me any problems, and only required occasional tune ups and basic maintenance.
And it's sort of fun to putter around on a garden tractor that's nearly 40 years old, especially since it's all original and never been owned by anyone else.
I purchased this tractor new in 1975-210 serial numbers started with 30001 and this is 30647. It was one of the first in Iowa and the very first to be delivered to the Deere dealer with whom I've done business with since. I was there waiting for it, and when it was unloaded from the truck it was uncrated, assembled and I took it home about 2 hours after it arrived at the dealer. I also have a mower deck that's not currently on it, a front dozer blade, and I had a snow blower that I've since sold.
It was parked in 1991 when I decided I needed a larger mower. I normally don't keep things that I'm not using, but for some reason I just didn't want to get rid of it. I put it in the corner of a shed, and when we built our home in 1995 I left it sit in a corner of my shop. I hadn't started it since I parked it in 1991.
I thought about selling it several times, but it wasn't taking up any needed space, and I just let it sit, covered by a furniture pad.
In late August of 2010 I decided to dig it out and see if I could get it to run. I wanted a garden type tractor to do the small things that my zero turn wasn't suited for, and the old 210 would fit the need quite nicely. I replaced the carb (the original was beyond repair), the starter, belts, and I freed up the variator (it was pretty well gummed up). I also cobbled together some wiring fixes with the idea that if I kept it I'd rewire it soon. I also changed the fluids and what little fuel was left-the gas had been sitting for almost 20 years.
To my surprise, after I primed the new carb and tested to make sure I had electrical continuity all the way through, it fired right up (I posted a video of the first start back somewhere around September of 2010).
I've been chasing some electrical gremlins, which isn't surprising with 38 year old wiring, components, switches, etc. Today I completely rewired it with all new electrical components, and all the electrical issues are gone. The motor has just a touch of smoke at startup, but still has good power and doesn't smoke after it starts. The 210's never had an hour meter, but I wouldn't be surprised if this one had close to 2000 hours on it; not only did it mow a couple acres a week for it's first 17 years, it also kept the driveway cleared of snow in the winter. It never failed to start, never gave me any problems, and only required occasional tune ups and basic maintenance.
And it's sort of fun to putter around on a garden tractor that's nearly 40 years old, especially since it's all original and never been owned by anyone else.
