I have been a member of thesearsgardentractorgroup on Yahoo for a while. I see you have agreed to be a Moderator on this group. I was given a probably 1983 GTV16 and have been trying to find information on it. I wonder if you would have anything, it is model 917.253725 with the Briggs and Stratton horizontal shaft twin.

In the late 70's (model year was 1978 if I remember correctly) Sears began to produce a "Vari-Drive" model.

This and other similar bodied tractors were intended as a general replacement for the Custom series.

Your tractor, I believe, is a descendant of the the Vari-drive model.

The almost infinite selection of ground speeds made this tractor particularly suited to mowing. Sort of a poor man's hydro in a way, because you could change your ground speed on the fly without shifting or changing engine speed.

It is kind of an interesting machine, I was hoping someone had an owner's manual I could get a copy of. Sears has discontinued it and Mark Rideout doesn't have one.

Sorry, no owners manual here. I'll keep my eyes open though and will pick one up if I see it.

I have some decent pics of the older Varible speed machines (70's). If I ever get a chance to scan them in.....

I have a ton of info from 1976 Sears merchandising literature. One day I will get to scanning that in also. It starts out with 5hp riders and goes up to the "Sears Best" tractors.

i've been looking for a manual for a gtv 16 and came across something almost identical. my model # is 917.253720, i found an owners manual for model 917.253724. it is downloadable at hammerwall.com.

Thanks, the 917.253724 and 917.253725 are very similar, different years from what I remember.