60's springfeild mini tractor speed mower.

Ive been crating some buzz bout it. Ever sence the mtd build I told myself I wanted to make a speed mower. Well after catching my eye in the junkyard in summer it stayed around enough for me to get.
When I found it:


What I left with today. I pulled the stock engine, it was seized and I shure as h*** wasn't going to use it. (twin coming soon)


What I left with was a john deere r72 rear chain driven axle + hubs, and a peerless 700 series transmission.

When I got home I took some over view pictures.

Big brother in the back round



Tearing into it.

Then it decided to do the chevy.


Seized steering.

Heres the way the belt went. im going to reuse the stock clutch arm, add springs linkages and get a new flat pully.


Every thing is kinda rusty some pitting but there isn't much on here that im keeping.
-New motor
-New rear axle
-New front axle
-New seat
-New tires
ect.

reinforce the frame with tube steel

@motorizedeverything wrote:

reinforce the frame with tube steel

I got 1/8" angle iron

Cool tractor

Red- Neat ride. Now:

While the diff will allow good road manners, it will be a constant source of amusement for you, and I don't mean "fun". I have a Peerless 100 series in the kart I built for my kids. Here's what you face-

First- those things really do need 2 bearings PER shaft (total of 4) for proper support. The axleshafts are usually 3/4" and the housing offers no structural integrity of it's own. As you can see, the short side is quite short, and you have to work 2 bearing in there somewhere.

Second- assuming you keep the diff unlocked, you have to figure out how to brake it. Option 1: You CAN use the stock brake on the 700, but it's about as good as any other factory brake. In addition, if you lose the chain, you lose your brakes. Option 2: A brake caliper over the axle sprocket. Great for low speed, but braking the carrier on an open diff can make for some FREAKY results at speed. Trust me. Option 3: Mount a rotor on the OPPOSITE side of the carrier as the sprocket. First, see "freaky" comment above, and second- the bore and bolt pattern are special and it will take some skill to mount a rotor there. Option 4: brakes on axleshafts. You don't want to brake one side. Freaky. And you'll have a tough time fitting brakes on the short side with both bearings there. You COULD lock the axle and solve most of the brake issues, but that pretty much negates having it- might just as well go get a kart axle.

Third- thanks to above notes regarding sprocket bore and bolt pattern, you're going to HOPE you can work with that axle sprocket. You don't want to have to replace it, but I can tell you how I did it if you need to.

Good luck!

Or should I say cool little tractor lol

There is one of those mini mowers out in the woods in a shed buy my house, I really wanna get it but some old guy owns it. I'll try to get pictures of it one day.

@Doc Sprocket wrote:

Red- Neat ride. Now:

While the diff will allow good road manners, it will be a constant source of amusement for you, and I don't mean "fun". I have a Peerless 100 series in the kart I built for my kids. Here's what you face-

First- those things really do need 2 bearings PER shaft (total of 4) for proper support. The axleshafts are usually 3/4" and the housing offers no structural integrity of it's own. As you can see, the short side is quite short, and you have to work 2 bearing in there somewhere.

Second- assuming you keep the diff unlocked, you have to figure out how to brake it. Option 1: You CAN use the stock brake on the 700, but it's about as good as any other factory brake. In addition, if you lose the chain, you lose your brakes. Option 2: A brake caliper over the axle sprocket. Great for low speed, but braking the carrier on an open diff can make for some FREAKY results at speed. Trust me. Option 3: Mount a rotor on the OPPOSITE side of the carrier as the sprocket. First, see "freaky" comment above, and second- the bore and bolt pattern are special and it will take some skill to mount a rotor there. Option 4: brakes on axleshafts. You don't want to brake one side. Freaky. And you'll have a tough time fitting brakes on the short side with both bearings there. You COULD lock the axle and solve most of the brake issues, but that pretty much negates having it- might just as well go get a kart axle.

Third- thanks to above notes regarding sprocket bore and bolt pattern, you're going to HOPE you can work with that axle sprocket. You don't want to have to replace it, but I can tell you how I did it if you need to.

Good luck!

WOOF! alright, I guess theres a few ways of doing it, but what about getting a stock rotor, and centering/welding a rotor to that and a mechanical caliper? Maybe friction brakes?

More progress.
Holesaw'd the pully to pull the tranny. Its for sale.


Switching sprocket sides


One bolt was already broken, two broke when I took them out, and one came out good. im in seach of new bolts now lol.
Speaking of axles, I pulled the old one. One word, rusty.

nice i would get some new grade 8 bolts

@motorizedeverything wrote:

nice i would get some new grade 8 bolts

There a special length. if I can find some in grade 8 I will.

@redlinemotorsportts wrote:

More progress.
Holesaw'd the pully to pull the tranny. Its for sale.


Switching sprocket sides


One bolt was already broken, two broke when I took them out, and one came out good. im in seach of new bolts now lol.
Speaking of axles, I pulled the old one. One word, rusty.

How does that transmission work? Is it got high and low or something? How much are you look to get out of it?

If they are a certain length you could always cut then down

@crazykid1994 wrote:

If they are a certain length you could always cut then down

Cut what down?

The bolts. Cut the bolts to the length you need

Forgot to post this, but this is the current state of the mower. Plans are to mock up the motor and trans when I get the engine.

There sure isn't a hole lot to mowers when you strip them down. I hope your not running those solid rubber tires in the front lol that wouldn't turn out so good.

@cumminsbayou wrote:

There sure isn't a hole lot to mowers when you strip them down. I hope your not running those solid rubber tires in the front lol that wouldn't turn out so good.

I'm most likely running 12's rear 10's front. New front axle too.

Playing with steering wheel ideas and footboards (imagination lol) and finding a good ride hight. I think the front will be as low as the rear so the frames level.

I spent most the day cleaning. Heres my pulley hoard

hey red, what is that motorcycle in the back in that last pic? im curious

@richie thomas wrote:

hey red, what is that motorcycle in the back in that last pic? :Dim curious

Good eye riche! I believe its a Honda c70 or something along the lines

nice, can you get some pics of it? i like the honda motorcycles lol

@richie thomas wrote:

nice, can you get some pics of it? i like the honda motorcycles lol

Its just a moped, I guess. just a lot of stuff round it.

this is a cool idea

what size engine do you plan on running

@mudmonkey06 wrote:

this is a cool idea

what size engine do you plan on running

16.5 opposed