10 replies to this topic

[Sevalecan]

Hello. I'm wondering how rare Snapper/MF 1855s are to come by. I've looked a lot on the web about them in the past few days and there's certainly not as much about them as there is say.. about a cub cadet. I have to wonder how many were really made. I just recently brought one home(Snapper 1855A) that had been out at my brother's, but he was too lazy to pull the engine and fix the starter, so I spent about 4 hours taking the engine off, cleaning the bendix drive on the starter and lubricating the bearings and put it back together. Works like a champ and runs pretty good now that the carburetor has been cleaned and tuned. It sure is a monster of a garden tractor though. It's quite a bit bigger than my Cub Cadet 149. Another question I'd have is how much did these things cost new? It's so big that I imagine it would take a small utility tractor to really start comparing with it, and those run $10,000 dollars and up.

[mjodrey]

Sevalecan :welcometogttalk:glad to have you here.

[NUTNDUN]

I don't think actual production numbers were ever posted anywhere. The 1855's are fairly rare because you definitely don't see them every day. It seems the 1655's are around a little more then the 1855's. That is great to hear you spent the time and got it running again. They are a very big garden tractor, some have compared them to the size of the jd 300 series but I think they are bigger then that.

[mjodrey]

I would say physical size wise,they are bigger than the 300 series,wheelbase is the same as the 430 JD. ( 52" )

[olcowhand]

Yes, the 1655 & 1855 make the JD 300 series look small. Here is one compared to a Cub 782 which is almost same size as a JD300 series.

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[DH1]

I think the JD318 would be the closest of the JD300s series to compare to the 1655 or 1855s, even then still might be smaller.

[olcowhand]

I think the JD318 would be the closest of the JD300s series to compare to the 1655 or 1855s, even then still might be smaller.

Yep, the 318's still smaller.

[Sevalecan]

Awesome. Hm, there is one other question I want to ask though. I noticed that when I switch the rear axle into gear and just kind of rock it a few inches forward I can hear some clicking, either in high or low. I haven't gotten an opportunity to drive it yet as I'm still working on fixing the muffler, but I was wondering if that noise was normal or if it would be indicative of a problem in the rear axle?

[jpswift1]

 

The 1655 and 1855 Masseys look big in pictures, but when I first saw mine in person it seemed really, really huge!

Edited by jpswift1, March 22, 2016 - 10:06 PM.

[TAHOE]

The 1855's are more the size of the Sears FF tractors and the JD 400's, all made about the same time.

They are a beast of a garden tractor.

 

only 4 hrs huh? I had to pull the motor on mine cause of the starter, that was 4 YEARS ago and still not running.

[jpswift1]

Here's a JD 445 next to a monster Massey 1855.......the Massey is a little bigger (in height and weight) than the Deere.  These sure are BIG tractors!