Craftsman Mud/Light speed mower

Figured I would post this beauty on here, I think it is bout finished, just need ideas on how to make the hood look good.

Also I would like to put a bull bar on it, and need ideas on how to do that to.
Thanks

I think the only way to make the hood look good would be to get a complete one or build one out of mesh mad max style.

BairleaFarm wrote:

I think the only way to make the hood look good would be to get a complete one or build one out of mesh mad max style.    

On that note..  

Think something like that would look good? I will see if I have some random steel like that lying around perhaps.

Biggest thing of concern would be the large top overlap. Wonder how much a replacement grill would cost.

Decide to just put a bull bar, I'm more worryed about hitting something and wrecking it than looks.

If you can get your hands on an old tarp shed frame and some grating you could do something like @diddie did and even skin it with the hood. Looks good IMO.

Yes, looks pretty good, maybe I might do that instead of of a bull bar, that would probally protect everything, thanks!

Ok, I have made idea reality, (Thanks @Brianator) and found an old pressure washer stand, cut it up, found a pair of door hinges and welded it on.

Hey that should work! Way to recycle man, I'm a firm believer in reusing anything I can!

Thanks! Hopefully my welds can take any thing that I hit.

Got a tire upgrade, much better than the dirt track tires that were on it. I found a pair of 5 bolt carlsie all trails that someone threw out and welded them on to a pair of old 3/4 rims. Now I need a pair of fronts!

Excuse my crappy welds.




Had to swap this rim out for a different one that I had in the tire pile.

Took this guy mudding, here's the after math.






Need better rear belt guards apparently.
Also a bit of carnage from taking a corner to fast on my tracked go kart.


Tracks didn't break thankfully, just had to reseat them.

How are those seat springs clean?

Hey pizzakitty26 if u don't mind me asking are u running fnrs transaxles.

Hillbilly mowers wrote:

Hey pizzakitty26 if u don't mind me asking are u running fnrs transaxles.

No problem, forgot to tell you'll about this machine , I am running a peerless 6 speed, don't know the model (it's kind of covered in mud right now, can't read it.) It goes probally about 60 kmh, I have a briggs 18 horse oppy with straight pipes on it, on craftsmans you can literally undo 4 bolts and the muffler drops off, leaving the pipes on. Stock steering, 8 inch front pulley, 3 inch back.
@mightyraze I have no humanly idea as to how those seat springs are clean.

Couple more pics of it.

Here's the rear belt guard I made

So... It ate a belt on Saturday, I figured out it is because the transaxle that is in it is not stock, so the rear driven pulley is an inch or two higher than the front, so I need to lift the transaxle.

Lifted the transaxle, that was easier than expected, I just slid the mounts down an inch, there happened to be a second set of holes there Got a new belt, turns out peavy mart doesn't have a belt bigger than 96'', so I bought that and put a smaller pulley on the front, redid the belt guards, and now she should be ready. Also, the steering linkage that connects the two spindles was bent on a 20 degree angle, so it had a lot of tow out so I reinforced that with another piece of metal after bending it straight again. I also put the tires that used to be on the back on the front and it has way less understeer now.

MightyRaze wrote:

How are those seat springs clean?

they are from Toronto, they always stay clean but don't actually do anything

Just a little update, I have decide this is more of a trail mower, it sucks in the mud, just kind of slings it everywere and it would need a locked transaxle, which I don't care to do. Other than that, it works pretty good, I just need to hook up the throttle cable to the gas pedal I fabbed, and some small wiring issues. If anyone can think of a good name for this that would be nice. Even with the smaller front pulley, it still goes about 40. I took it out for a couple rides around the field and took it mudding in a swamp area (I know, that was a pretty terrible idea, it took a come-along, a tie strap, and a 300 pound Bolens tractor to get it out of that) and it still hasn't dropped the belt so I am super happy about that.

Your rear tires are holding you back in the mud for sure but there is all kinds of different mud too! Lol. I find that JUST enough wheel speed to clear the treads gets me through mud better than alot of wheel speed above that point but for sure a locked rear is great in mud! Nothing in regards to a name is jumping out at me yet but I'll let you know if anything does!

TechnoChicken wrote:

MightyRaze wrote:

How are those seat springs clean?

they are from Toronto, they always stay clean but don't actually do anything

Those are about the same seat springs I have on mutt, can confirm that they dont do much In fact this tractor has the same frame as mutt, could nearly be the same tractor with a few years worth of mods

Ya, I am getting there!

Brianator wrote:

Your rear tires are holding you back in the mud for sure but there is all kinds of different mud too! Lol. I find that JUST enough wheel speed to clear the treads gets me through mud better than alot of wheel speed above that point but for sure a locked rear is great in mud! Nothing in regards to a name is jumping out at me yet but I'll let you know if anything does!

Part of the issue is I don't have much in the way of tread in the middle, only on the side which is better for trails anyways.