I need an education on riders

Ok so i need help! I am looking to build a rider similar to firemans ride, What i just received is a yard machines MTD. it says shift on the go, it has speed control 1-7. 14.4 42in HP LT. I have a set of 31 in tires that is hoping to end up on this. Now knowing nothing about riders and never owning one before, is this a good platform to begin with? Now i have found a neighbor that has 3 Craftsman mowers and one of his mowers has rear rims that are 5 lug and mine has only a center nut, is there a benefit of one or the other? He has a automatic trans in one and another has a six speed, would there be a benefit to the other trans or just stick with what i have. Mind you this will be a parade cruiser and strickly for pickin' up the ladies! So i am looking for opinions and suggestions, i have been following firemans build and i am thinking that i will have to widen the footprint front and rear so as not to cause any rubbing problems with steering tires. The rims and tires i have are 8 lug 16.5 rims but i have a set of 5 lug 15 in jeep rims to use also if needed. So to all that can help put me on the right path many, many thanks

Welcome to the forums.

For what you want either driveline can be made to work. depends how much you want to put ito it.

If its an MTD chances are it has a variable pulley set up. Not good for serious mudding or working, but OK for just cruising.

Chopperhed wrote:

If its an MTD chances are it has a variable pulley set up. Not good for serious mudding or working, but OK for just cruising.

This.

Fireman actually runs a geared transaxle while yours is a FNR variable. Not good for a parade lift.

Ok crush my dreams . i take it FNR is forward and reverse. Why no good for parades?

redneck999 wrote:

Ok crush my dreams . i take it FNR is forward and reverse. Why no good for parades?

The vari drive isnt the best of belt systems, they have a tendency to slip even stock. Thats my experience anyways.

You could modify it to run off a regular clutch but you would have only 1 speed.

Have you been sent to pry off my smile? This not good news, i danced around all day when i got this mower.

redneck999 wrote:

Have you been sent to pry off my smile? This not good news, i danced around all day when i got this mower.

You can still dance. I mean you can try it, just dont go too crazy with your tire sizes and maybe run stock pulleys and you might be OK. You can upgrade to a Peerless if you can find one, scour Craigslist for freebie mowers. Craftsmans usually run geared transaxles.

Well the dream is too run 30-32 in tires. Now the neighbor down the road has a couple of craftsmans in back, how would i recognize a peerless?

redneck999 wrote:

Well the dream is too run 30-32 in tires. Now the neighbor down the road has a couple of craftsmans in back, how would i recognize a peerless?

Itll usually have PEERLESS or TECUMSEH stamped on top of the case. Itll also have axtual gears you click in and out of. If you arent going to beat on it, I suppose a Foote or a Spicer will work as well.

Ok im back, the wife is crushed that this wont work like we wanted(she wants to drive it) so the neighbors riders are still complete so in a couple of days the rain is supposed to stop and i will take a look and tip them on the side and look for a peerless.

redneck999 wrote:

Ok im back, the wife is crushed that this wont work like we wanted(she wants to drive it) so the neighbors riders are still complete so in a couple of days the rain is supposed to stop and i will take a look and tip them on the side and look for a peerless.

FNRs are great for racers since you wanna go fast. Not so much for turning 30's at a crawl though I dont believe.

I believe it was dangeroustoys56 who said that you can replace the vari drive with a regular clutch setup but you would always be riding it.

You would ultimately be happier with a geared drive though.

Ok so i find a peerless and do i need to get any of the pulleys also?

redneck999 wrote:

Ok so i find a peerless and do i need to get any of the pulleys also?

If using the stock MTD body, you dont have to worry about spacing the transaxle if you do a lift like Fireman. However, you will need to make a custom clutch linkage.

Is the MTD a pan frame or a box? Depending on what Craftsman you get (if you get the whole thing), you might want to use the Craftsman frame as it will already have the clutch linkage as well as be stonger (MTD frames arent the strongest in the world).

No i can only remove the rearend.

redneck999 wrote:

No i can only remove the rearend.

Making a clutch isnt too hard, just need a V idler, a flat idler, some 3/16 or thicker steel and some time.