Snapper RER: What do I have?

[Big Al]

I just picked up this Snapper RER at an auction on Wednesday for $130. 11hp, electric-start, B&S engine with a 28" deck. Pretty basic as far as riding mowers & lawn tractors go, but should be plenty for my yard. What I'd like to know is where I can find the model # and, more importantly, where I could get an owners manual and/or service manual. I found a book for rebuilding B&S engines on Amazon.com that could be helpful, if nothing else.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

http://scoot.net/gallery/bbs/DCP_0099.JPG

http://scoot.net/gallery/bbs/DCP_0100.JPG

 

[thatguy]

Boy that brings back memories.. A snapper just like that is what I had growing up.. It lasted over +20 yrs i believe before the motor konked out.. My dad then donated the rest of it to a relative who chassis was worn out but the engine was good for a transplant

Sorry I cant help more..

 

[Fordlords]

We had an old handlebar one like that too many years ago. All I recall about it was the belt to the mower deck was this oddball 6 sided thing (called a hex belt) that was not easy to find. Snapper Company (Part of Agco/Simplicity) and Snapper dealers should still have all the data available for the machine. You might have to reference the model number based on age if the tag is missing, my guess is it's a late 1970's/early 1980's model.

-Fordlords-

 

[Big Al]

Thanks for the reply, Fordlords. Late 70s/early 80s? If so, it's in really good shape, as the deck only has some minor surface rust where some paint chipped away.

Did they stamp a VIN anywhere specific, or did they just use a sticker? If the latter, I bet that sticker is long gone...

 

[Fordlords]

I think it was a sticker or adhesive plate somewhere on the downtube. It's really hard to say what exact model it is as Snapper made so many, and they were all so similar looking. Very reliable too, can usually be brought to life with nothing more than basic mechanical fiddling.
-Fordlords-

 

[Molerj]

Here you go Al. Parts all still available.

SNAPPER.com | Search for a Snapper Manual

 

[Big Al]

Thanks, Molerj! I had looked on their website but didn't see that page. Very helpful.

My normal hobby is restoring vintage scooters (1960s Vespas), so I'm very comfortable working on this mower. Like Vespa scooters, I'm especially impressed by the simplicity and durability of the design.

I'll definitely look up my local Snapper dealer for parts.

 

[hudlow]

My grandad bought one of those Snappers in the mid-60s. If I remember correctly the gas tank was metal and it was mounted beside the motor instead of behind the seat. I believe the handle bars were v-shaped with a straight bar to grip instead of like a bicycle.

I put a lot of miles in on that ol' mower. It's still in service. The only major repair that I know of was because grandaddy, who took real good care of that mower, always drained the gas and oil from it when he put it up for the winter, forgot to put oil in it when he cranked it one spring. He had to replace the motor.

But I believe the late 70's early 80's age estimate is correct.

They're great cutters.

hud

 

[Gerald]

The Snapper 28 is a Hi-Vac. It doesn't cut as well as the regular RERs but if you need to bag grass or leafs it does very well.
I have a 28" I use to bag sweetgum ballls in the back yard.
My dad retired from Snapper, so when I was young all we had for a mower was a Snapper. I have 2 now, the 28" RER and a Z2003 ZTR, 60" cut.
Just for the heck of it, the 26", 30", 41", were reg RERs, 25", 28", 33", were HI-vacs.
Gerald

 

[Big Al]

Thanks for the heads-up, Gerald. What's the difference between a regular RER and the Hi-Vac models? Just the deck, I assume? I'm thinking about getting a mulching kit and just going that route. I've never been one to bag my clippings.

 

[Gerald]

The deck is all I remember being different, the way it has a lip all the way around the bottom so the tip of the blade does not cut.
I remember when they were designing the deck, it was made with one strike of a very large punch-press. The bed or jig on the punch-press had to collapse in order to get the deck off it after it was made.
Gerald

 

[nolefan]

I bought a used 33" Hi Vac model in 1990 so I would agree that its probably a 80's model. I paid $300 for it. Used it for approximately 5 years before selling it to a mower shop for $150. I think we both got good deals! I bought a bagging kit for it that worked real well. Included in the kit were angled metal wings that you bolted on to the blade I assume to increase suction or the discharge of the cut grass up the tube into the bag. After a couple of years I switched over to mulching with their "Ninja" bade. It did an excellent job at mulching. Congratulations on getting a mower that should give you great service.

 

[BTDT]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...75-rer-snapper-mower-belt-todays-pics-022.jpg

As you can see in this pic, there is a tag (located near where battery box is), that has model and sn. Mine is a 30" RER, and has a 12.5 horse briggs engine. Very similar to yours.

In this pic the mower is standing up on it's rear end, and the tag is at the top left.

 

[Big Al]

Thanks for the picture, BTDT. I will give that a look next time I head out to the shed.

Well, all the neighbors were mowing their lawns over the last couple days, so I took the Snapper out for a spin to keep up with the Joneses. I was hoping to wait until I treated it to a tuneup and a new blade, but such is life. Considering the deferred maintenance, the mower performed well. Never had any hangups, other than my getting used to the machine.

Two things I noticed:

1. With the engine throttled up, it tends to hop a bit when I put it in gear. Can I adjust the drive discs to make that go away, or is it common to this type of transmission? If it's common, I guess I'll just have to keep the throttle down when putting it into gear or when I'm switching between 1 & reverse.
2. Cutting with the deck set to 5 (highest cut setting) was a little too long, but when I moved it to 4 it seemed waaay too short. Again, any adjustment I can do? I'm not sure if the mower is entirely to blame on this point, as the previous owner of my house never rolled the lawn so it's lumpier than an old mattress. There are all sorts of weird little divots & lumps in the lawn that showed up when I mowed.

On the bright side, when I came back from Lowe's with a cheapo $28 trimmer, my wife gave me a very concerned look and asked why I didn't get a nice trimmer that I would like. Apparantly, since I got a such a good deal on a used mower, I now have a budget to get a nice string trimmer! I think I'll start another thread and get some advice on that front.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I love the Snapper design. Simple, durable and cheap. Easy to get many years of lawncutting done if you can tinker a bit with tools. They just don't turn real sharp if you have lots of trees.

Check the rubber accordian type rear axle protectors, make sure they are not cracked and you can even pull them back and put some grease in them to make sure things are good.