Made-It-Myself ‘Generic Deere’ Lawn Tractor

Made-It-Myself ‘Generic Deere’ Lawn Tractor Dennis Frisbey, of  Rocheport, Mo., gave a second life to an aging tractor. “That little green tractor is about 37 years old,” he says. “Under the green paint is an old red MTD with an 11-hp Briggs & Stratton engine that I bought in 1988.” Though the original model served Frisbey well for 15 years, he eventually found himself struggling in the search for parts. “I couldn’t find a manufacturer’s replacement spring for the belt-tensioner,” he said. “Thankfully, a slightly different spring got me through the season.” Next, he needed to replace the rusty mowing deck and torn seat. Frisbey found a yellow tractor seat in a hardware store’s discount bin, and a local engine shop sold him a “nearly new” mowing deck complete with spindles and pulleys. But as often happens, a few repairs inspired more. “Whenever I walked past my old, reliable mower, that updated yellow seat and engine overhaul kit cried out from the dust for a complete makeover,” he says. “I told my wife I wasn’t going to buy a new mower, but I was willing to sell all the other ones to use the money for a restoration project during the winter months. If we only got two years out of the machine, it would be worth the money.” Frisbey first cut every bracket off the old deck and welded them onto the newer one. He then put the rebuild kit into the engine and was encouraged to hear it run smoothly. A new battery, along with new front tires and belts, improved the machine further. “While the engine was out, I planned to simply clean the old frame and put it back together,” he says. “But with the extra time before summer, I took out nearly every nut and bolt in preparation for a total makeover.” The aesthetics were equally important. “Being an auto body repair technician and professional painter, I had no trouble getting a close match to the legendary green-and-yellow colors,” Frisbey says. A snowblade completed the project. “The bracket was already in place, and the old blade had some wear. A little welding and a coat of bright yellow paint made it good as new.” The “Generic Deere” was initially used by Frisbey’s grandkids for rides. Now grown, they consider it too slow. “And do they want to use it to mow the grass? Not really!” laughs Frisbey. It’s been 20 years since that initial restoration, and he’s kept up with improvements, including new belts, another battery, and welding fixes for the old bracket and frame. “I wore out my first set of tire chains several winters ago,” he says. “It may look weathered and worn, but our ‘Generic Deere’ is still running and pushing snow in 2025. They don’t build them like this anymore… but I did!” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis Frisbey, 401 N. Roby Farm Rd., Lot 12, Rocheport, Mo. 65279 (ph 816-807-1477).

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