You can find out which tank shrouds will fit your 8431 by going to Lawnboy.com and looking at the parts diagrams and part numbers and comparing them with other models that have a tank shroud. Many will interchange. It's even easier to do if you have a parts manual. There are some tank shrouds on e-bay right now that might fit. As far as the flat spots on the wheels, it might be better to replace them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lawn Boy

I'm sure your mentor was excellent to deal with, and I know he was a LB lover! Its hard to find a new dealer (Toro) with his passion. I agree that Lawnboy.com is a great place to start. You can also find parts or cross reference them at www.rcpw.com for your mower. Hope this helps! Also eBay is a great source for used parts.

Thanks to both of you. Lawnboy.com was the first place I looked, but part numbers for shroud with tank and shroud without tank are always different. Partsandservice.com has parts diagrams for all models of Lawnboys but no parts numbers.
I have compared the drawings of shrouds and picked several that might work. Now to find a boneyard. Also check eBay daily.

Hey Whizzer; do you have a Whizzer motorbike?

There is a small engine shop here in town I've been dealing with lately that has one saxman. Looks for the most part complete, not sure when he had it running last.

No Whizzer motorbike but I do remember them from my youth.
The name whizzer comes from my initials, WST, which was corrupted to Whiz Bang (an old vaudeville term) and finally shortened to whizzer. The 75 came from my age when I registered.
If I run across one I'll let you know.

A Whizzer Motor bike is selling at a public auction in our area soon.

Walt Conner

I have a LawnBoy mower, Model 5239, serial 5841035. Can anyone tell me the exact year of manufacture? Web sites say 1970, but I believe that my Father had this mower when I got out if the Army in 1956. Any info appreciated.