I have seen them but don't know the history. This should be interesting.

murphy at the 'other' site is into the IH mowers...

"murphy at the 'other' site is into the IH mowers..."

Are you referring to that other site that is chauked full of advertising, pop ups, spy ware and spam generators?

These mowers were made in the later 60s, about 1967 - ? seems they should be equal to the D600 but I am not sure D600 were made then. Tinkerer would sure know.

There was some sort of tax break afforded lawn equipment companies but they had to have both riding mowers and push mowers. IH did not have a push mower so LB furnished them for a few years. Don't recall if IH then made their own or if the regulations changed.

Walt Conner

I have one of these -- gathering dust under my 3-season room. I bought it new in 1971 when I got out of the USAF.
I think it was running when I put it there several years back. If any one is interested, in this thing let me know, and I will get under the porch and get more info -- Let me know. Also -- I will see if I can get it running.

Those mowers are really cool. Been looking for one for quite some time --- Mark, maybe we can talk? That was the mower my father had when I was a kid. Sure would be neat to have one again.

I'm just up the road from you in Peoria... woudn't mind making a little ride down there...

kcmurphy72 at insightbb dot com

To markmizzou, Where in Missouri are you? I'm in KC area.

Friends, I am in Jefferson City. Since there is interest in this old mower -- I will check it out this weekend, I would'nt want anyone making a wasted trip here without any good reason. Thanks for the interest-- let me get this out from under the porch and see if this little mower has any life left.. This is what I cut the same yard for some time, where I have lived for 32 years. I have only used 2 other lawnboys (one of which I still have), and just this year got a Used Ariens ZTR (FUN).
Thanks again,
Mark!

Mark,

Even if it's in bad shape... It would be a fun project for me to restore. Please don't pitch it!

Thanks
Murph

Hi, guys. I just dragged out my old white and yellow IH LB from the basement and did my lawn trim work with it on Tuesday. Let me offer a little history on this one.
Purchased new by me 5/3/74 from MCM International in New Orleans, LA I still have the original bill of sale and operator's manual. Its a Model 3312 ser. #0330012U008753. I used it for my lawn in New Orleans and for one season at my next house. Both of my sons used it to cut grass for spending money so the numbers of hours on it would be impossible to determine...somewhere between "a lot" and "Oh My God, you're kidding". I had not run it since fall of 1994 when I laid it up in my back yard storage building. There it sat until I moved in Jan. 2006 then it sat in my basement til Tuesday. I changed the fuel hose, put a temp foam air filter in place and wire brushed the spark plug, rinsed out the gas tank with alcohol and added gas. It actually started and ran on the second pull. Since I knew the carb was full of crud, I had to keep using the primer bulb to keep it running, but soon it was doing fine. I did all my trimming around trees, gardens, and actually cut the front yard with it. I am going to do a restore on it this winter. However, I have no idea what the LB number is and the LB website won't take the serial number (too many digits) and the LB tech service person had no idea what the LB crossover would be. I just wanted you all to know that these engines are awesome. I would appreciate any help with LB crossover model numbers.
Thanks.

If this engine has CDI, it will be equivelent to LB D600 series engine. While there will be some minor differences, trim, perhaps cooling shroud mounts, etc., the basic engine parts will be the same as LB.

Walt Conner

Pulled the old boy out this morning-- cleaned out the gas tank, cleaned off some of the crud -- checked the spark -- it has spark. put some fresh gas in it -- attempted to start it -- would not, until I primed it by pouring some gas directly into cylinder-- then it ran -- briefly-- did the same a couple more times -- I suppose it needs a good carb cleaning.
The mod # is 331 and S/N 0330001U009815
I will contact the people who had ideas about what I should do with this little old boy.

If I remember correctly -- the 331 has the rounded "teardrop" shroud, and the 3319 has the angular "tractor grill" shaped shroud. This is one of the rounded ones, correct?

Murph

peoriamurph,
Correct, it has the rounded (as you call it) type of shroud.
Also, I sent you a e-mail.

markmizzou, nice to see someone else from JC

jccardinalfan,
Nice to hear from you are you local to this area -- know anybody who wants a old collector item like the IH/lawnboy?
HEY!!! the Cards beat Houston tonight -- GREEEAT

Walt or any other L/B fans, I am trying to locate a carburetor or a carb kit for my old IH Lawn Boy. I contacted my local L/B dealer and told him about the IH thing but that this engine was a L/B model D600. He did some checking and called me with the news that parts are no longer available for that engine. Do you know how long this engine was made, what model years did it cover and are there any comps out there for the carb or a carb rebuild kit? Not much in the carb and I only need 2 parts that I can ascertain, one is the float valve....the rubber tip is not a true cone, but is worn, and the other is the float bowl drain plug which leaks gas because the float valve won't stop the gas from filling the carb. Any on-line sources that anyone knows about? Any and all help would be most appreciated.

"Not much in the carb and I only need 2 parts that I can ascertain, one is the float valve....the rubber tip is not a true cone, but is worn, and the other is the float bowl drain plug which leaks gas because the float valve won't stop the gas from filling the carb."

If this is all you are talking about, those parts should be common to several LB carbs. I doubt I have anything left, I sold most of my surplus parts last fall. Will check if I can remember it. The float valve needle and SEAT may even be available from/thru your local NAPA Auto Parts Dealer except they likely will not have an IH cross reference. The D600 used at least 2 different carbs and maybe three, have forgotten.

Does yours have a metal body or all plastic body? I sure hope it isn't the one with the itty-bitty spring UNDER the float with the float needle being on top of and part of the float its' self.

Walt Conner

Good Morning Horsepen,

Mine had that little spring loaded thingy
at the bottom of the carb bowl and it too
leaked. The only purpose I saw for it was
to drain the bowl when putting the machine
up for the winter. I took it out and put
a screw in the hole. As far as the needle
and seat leaking, I took Walt's advice and
put a valve in the gas line, which I often
forget to open when starting, (but it's amazing
how long she will run on the fuel in the bowl).

markmizzou, I have some Lawn Boys, don't know much about IH mowers, though they're probably the same as Lawn Boys, in a different color. Need someone to "store" it for you, let me know. I think the National League is the junior division, just lost for about the tenth time in a row! Might be something to that DH.

Anybody here still looking for an IH-Lawnboy? Have one that has the tractor type cover. I understand that the carb is messed up, but probably can be repaired/replaced. The owner told me that the governor vane broke off. I don't know much more than that...

Brad

"The owner told me that the governor vane broke off. "

Well it wouldn't have a "Governor Vane" as the governor would be mechanical "flyball" under the flywheel.

Walt Conner

Brad --

I might be interested in such a project...

Murph

Murph--We've corresponded before. I am up here by Ladd. I have not looked at the carb so I don't know what is up with that problem.

Ok. I just walked out and looked. It has a plastic bowl and has the mechanical speed adjustment on it. I also have an R7266 that has some problems with the carb. These 2 machines look very similar under the shroud. I think that the cork float on the 7266 is saturated with oil and puts too much gas in the engine. It will go thru a tank in about 1/2 hr. Just not much power and lots of smoke, except when it gets low on fuel, then runs pretty good. Are you interested in a restoration on the IH?

Brad

I still have the above mentioned "IH Lawnboy" . I sent some emails out but no one returned any. Sorry I do not want to give it away. I am at "my nickmame here" at hotmail.com. Let's talk

Hey Mark, I am deffinately interested in your IH Lawnboy. Send me an email with your terms.

I've found a wonderful site that I think everyone might be intrested in that sells parts for small engines.

http://www.smallenginepartswarehouse.com , or http://www.sepw.com

The second (a sister site to the first) is the one that most will use.