Troy Bilt Trailblazer Year Of Manufacture and Governor Linkage Picture Needed

Robert King · Sep 17, 2018

I just bought a Series VII P/N 15003, Serial Number A0001546, 4 H.P. Briggs & Stratton powered Troy Bilt Trailblazer sickle bar mower that is in pretty good condition.

The gas tank had come loose and rubbed against the head, wearing a hole in it that I brazed closed.

I had to remove the carb for brazing and the Governor linkage sort of fell apart. Can anyone post a picture of their B&S 4-horse governor linkage that would help me re-install the linkage rod, spring and copper colored clip? This one has the exposed governor arm, if that helps. It has some sort of bellcrank made of black plastic. Need to know where that bellcrank pivot screw goes as it must have been loose and just fell out of...something.

I'll post a picture this afternoon after I get the carb and tank remounted on the motor.

Motor info:
Briggs & Stratton Engine:
Type: IC 4 Horse Power Cast Iron Bore
Model Number: 114982 / 08401

Also, anyone have any idea what year production this one is?

According to the Troy Bilt website the 5th character in the S/N string is the year of production. As these were supposedly built up to 2001, that would make mine a 2001 or a 1991?

Mods / Admins, Please move or remove this post if I have it in the incorrect sub-forum or if you think I can get more responses in another sub-forum.

Thanks in advance!
Bob King

Robert King · Sep 17, 2018

All I can say is...it's a good thing thing I don't earn my living on Flat Rate!

I spent almost 2 hours figuring out the correct assembly order of the carb to fuel tank, linkage pivot and bracket, governor arm link rod, throttle spring and copper plated wire clip to both linkage pivot and throttle air flapper.

I had the carb on and off the fuel tank at least a half-dozen times and hooked the linkage clip and rod up about that many times trying to get everything properly attached without bending anything or causing and binding when installed.

It's all pretty logical once you get the connecting points sorted out, but I haven't played with a Breaks & Scrap'em motor in several decades.

This is one of those weird B&S's that has both a vertical shaft for the sickle Knife drive and a horizontal shaft to take power to the drive wheels and tires. Both the self-propelled drive and the sickle bar seem to be driven by slip V-belts with the wheels having a roller chain gear reduction for a final drive. That setup is different from anything I've wrenched on.

In addition to still wanting to know the year of production, can anyone tell me the approximate MSRP of these mowers when they were selling brand new? As a kid, all I can remember when it comes to walk-behind sickle bar mowers were the old David Bradley and Gravely brands.

tomplum · Sep 17, 2018

Well, the code # on the Briggs engine will tell you its build date. The first two digits are the year. Welcome to the forum !

Robert King · Sep 18, 2018

Thanks, Tom! I'll look at the B&S fan housing stamping info again. There's 4 or 5 numbers stamped on it. Model number, serial number and some other stuff.I'll see if I can get a date off of it.

The Series VIII was the last of the Trailblazer model and with this one being a Series VII I'm guessing it was near the end of the production run. So...maybe a late 1990's production date. I'm completely unfamiliar with the Trailblazer line. I'm still looking for a used BCS walk behind sickle bar, but those things are insanely over-priced IMHO.

Robert King · Sep 22, 2018

B&S engine Code starts with "89". I also found the copyright date on the sticker that faces the operator and is located on the stamped steel control panel plate between the handlebars. It is also dated 1989.

Thanks, again, Tom!

BTW, I bought a used BCS 710 today and have started the hunt for a used sickle bar to use with it.