[AT] Bready tractor = Father's Day

[Doug Tallman]

Dave, what you bought is a Bready Pow-R-Flo. They made them with 3 
different engines. The Briggs engine should have been a model 14 which 
was only 5 HP. If you can get the engine numbers I could date it. They 
also used a Kohler that was rated at 6 1/2 HP and a Clinton that was 
rated at 3.5 or 4. I've got some factory literature on the models and an 
exploded view of  the trans. The model TC does stand for torque 
converter. Does yours have the hood? Although they show a hood in some 
ads, they also advertised them without the hood. We've never seen one 
with the hood. The good news is this is a fairly rare tractor. The bad 
news is they were junk from the get go! A buddy has been researching the 
Bready company and has located and talked to the son of the man that 
designed it. They had so many problems they were coming back faster than 
they could fix them. The son claims his father had a mental breakdown 
over it and spent several months in a mental hospital and never fully 
recovered. I've got one with the Briggs that only pulls itself part time 
and one with a Kohler that I've never had running. The original color 
was green and yellow. Doug Tallman



Dave Merchant wrote:
> I just bought a Bready walk-behind unlike any other Bready I've found on 
> the web.
> Designated as my Father's Day gift, $100 even.
>
> Came with a 1 seat sulky from some other tractor, but looks like it belongs.
> Real beefy beast, looks like a nice butt buggy.
> Nice big chevron tires in pretty good shape, on cast spoke wheels like 
> Gravely, but bigger.
>
> For some reason, it's painted John Deere colors (well, OK, we all know the 
> reason!).
> ...but P.O. thinks the colors might be original???
>
> Built 1960, 14 hp B+S, rope start, built in Solon Ohio.
>
> Good compression, guy says it runs with persuasion, but only at idle.
> Carb is buggered (main jet screw stripped), may need to get a new carb (I 
> assume they're pretty available).
>
> Has a big 4' push blade with angle, seller said it was used as a snow plow 
> at the local fire station.
>
> Has a huge hydrostatic transmission/transaxle of some kind, with a 
> horizontal control lever on top.
> Tranny has a Bready data plate with patent numbers.
> Engine is bolted directly to the front of the tranny via a ~6" torque tube 
> neck.
>
> Tranny case shape looks like there might be a torque converter in there.
> Seller says it really torques up if you put it against a tree, so it might 
> have one.
>
> Has the ratchet wheel hubs that are apparently standard with all Bready 
> tractors.
>
> As far as I can figure, this must have been about the end of the Bready line,
> we all know that many tractor builders came up with really good innovative
> designs just before they went under.
>
> Anybody know anything about it, especially the transmission?
>
> Who is good for old B+S carbs + ignition parts?
>
> Dave
>
>