Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

Hey guys I recently picked up a bunch of junk lawn mowers and this Ingersoll is one of them. I like this one and am hoping to keep it if I can get a starter for it. It is missing a mowing deck so I'll need to figure out how interchangeable the decks are so I can start looking for the needle in a haystack.

anyways I'll be around asking a few questions hopefully someone knows a thing or two about this Kohler 14hp motor.

Looks like an early 3014 with a Kohler engine. Compatible decks are RM38, RM44 and RM48 with the number being the size in inches. You also have part of the deck mule drive bracket installed on the tractor up front. Is the tractor otherwise complete besides the missing starter? Also make sure it's got the travel control valve underneath.

@Travis Welcome to CCIGT

@Travis welcome to CCIGT. it is good to have you here and hope you enjoy your time here and join in. We have a good group of friendly knowledgeable group. There is a handful of great parts suppliers out there too.
Looks like a decent tractor found you, it is definitely worth trying to get going. Where do you call home?
As Matt said, look for a RM deck model, just watch for right hand discharge. You may run into more left hand discharge decks out there. They are for the older three digit tractors and won't work on yours.
Tim

Welcome to the forum @Travis ! Hope you get that nice tractor running!

Thank you for the warm welcome guys. I'm in Maine between Brunswick and Augusta for anyone familiar with the area.
So as you can guess only a few weeks to work on this before getting buried under a couple feet of snow.

I appreciate the tip on the deck.I found one I was gonna buy locally from an older case tractor and sure enough left side discharge.

@ MattA, you're right. 1989 so that may be the first year of the Ingersoll ?

I like how everything is metal on these Ingersoll mowers, not like the plastic stuff you buy today.

off to look for a travel control valve underneath

Travis wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 10:02 am
So as you can guess only a few weeks to work on this before getting buried under a couple feet of snow.

Forget the deck! You need a blade or snowcaster!

I'm a long ways from you but there seems to be a fair amount of Ingersoll in Maine, especially with Eastman building them there for a while. Finding a deck shouldn't be impossible. Your tractor looks like it's in good shape.

Welcome to the site @Travis. I have not had the starter off of a Kolher engine yet so don't know what you are facing in terms of time or difficulty. Be warned that this may not be your first or last Ingersoll. I started with a 446 and then things kind of got out of hand, just saying.

It looks like this is the starter I need, which means I need bracket 2 and bracket 6.

The part number for the starter is C32905 must be obsolete
or C32906 bracket 2 and C32907 bracket 6.

I risked the 40 bucks for a 41 098 04 knock off I'm hoping will work.......A couple bolts missing on the dipstick tube also.

Looks like it had to come off to remove the starter. so I ordered a gasket.

There was also a rear discharge RM44GR? deck.

I think we have a what fits chart around here.

@MattA This is the one. https://manuals.ccigt.com/FAQ/case-inge ... -chart.pdf

Welcome to CCIGT Travis. As you can see already a lot of knowledgeable members willing to help with questions. Good luck with getting your GT up and running. Harry

Travis wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:07 am Hey guys I recently picked up a bunch of junk lawn mowers and this Ingersoll is one of them. I like this one and am hoping to keep it if I can get a starter for it. It is missing a mowing deck so I'll need to figure out how interchangeable the decks are so I can start looking for the needle in a haystack.

anyways I'll be around asking a few questions hopefully someone knows a thing or two about this Kohler 14hp motor.

That M-Series Kohler is awesome. It is a torque monster that never quits going.

I had one that I went through the whole tractor like I do to make them just like new again. I was still messing around with stuff and I needed to get the engine to turnover some. The throttle was at full idle, the choke was off, and I had not even started yet after getting it reassembled. It started on me. It started with no choke, and no throttle, and idled great. I sold that tractor. I sure wish I had not sold that one.

I am going to fix up one of my trade-ins or strays for just snow duty. Since I cannot unsell that 3012 I am going to pick one of my 3-digit tractors. Finding snow casters for them is a lot easier than an SB model. Actually, I already have a nice 48" caster I can use.

Travis wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 6:30 pm Screen Shot 2023-08-13 at 6.10.19 PM.png

It looks like this is the starter I need, which means I need bracket 2 and bracket 6.

The part number for the starter is C32905 must be obsolete
or C32906 bracket 2 and C32907 bracket 6.

I risked the 40 bucks for a 41 098 04 knock off I'm hoping will work.......A couple bolts missing on the dipstick tube also.

Looks like it had to come off to remove the starter. so I ordered a gasket.

It should be just the battery cable and 2 bolts that go through a non-removable mounting bracket. That starter is probably very rebuildable. But, the starters do not usually go bad, unless there is a but. If you crank the engine too much that will wreck a starter. Yours is not old enough to be worn out. There are plenty of used starters that are better than the ones from China.

Unless you have a 3012 Vanguard? Missing bolts on the dipstick sound more like a Vanguard issue.

Here is a picture of how I got the tractor. You can see where the bracket bolts to the motor to support the end of the starter. Kohler 14hp The dipstick tube is missing the bolts because you have to remove the tube to get the starter out and whoever took the starter out didn't put them back. I have come up empty on finding these brackets along with other things, but I think I got it sorted out now. I drilled out the new starter to accept 2 long 1/4 20 bolts it seems pretty strong and seems to work fine. I replaced the gasket and installed some new bolts on the dip stick tube, tight fit.
It cleaned up really nice and I have been doing laps around the house with a couple IPAs, just to make sure I was enjoying the moment.


The throttle doesn't seem to stay wide open while riding, it vibrates down to 3/4 or so and I have to keep adjusting it up.
anyone know a fix for this? Also I need the plastic cap for the throttle cable anyone know where to find one of them?

took me a few minutes to learn the controls almost backed into a vehicle in the driveway (before the IPAs)

Nice job getting it going.
You'll have to look at the throttle pivot point, I think there was some variation in the models. Some have been able to squeeze it with a vice grips to tighten it up. Others have drilled out the rivet and replaced it with a small bolt and nut.
Tim

I have used nylon locking nuts on the bolts when replacing the rivet. Like @Timj says, crushing the rivet a bit also can work.

Nice fix @Travis ! Glad you can enjoy your new tractor now. I had the same issue with the throttle lever not staying up on my now gone 446. The previous owner had cut a side slit up top in the front panel to "hook" the throttle lever in the up position not something I'd recommend. What Tim suggested is the right way to fix it, mind you, getting to the lever pivot axle is pretty hard.

Travis nice job and I will hoist an IPA to you. Harry

I have in the past cut a sliver of 2x4 that's just thick enough to drop into the slot that the lever travels in and just long enough so that when you put the throttle lever all the way up the 2x4 blocks it from sliding back down.

I had the good fortune that my steering wheel was missing the center cap. So my chunk of 2x4 stayed in the steering wheel center cup when I wasn't using it.

Super low tech. Super hooptie. But 100% effective.

Bob