Lifted John Deere Monster Mower

My build is using a 1996 John Deere lx176. It came from the factory with a 14hp kawasaki and a big hydro with 1in axles. My grandfather got it new back in 96 and gave it to me when the motor started to knock. I have sense then sold the stock motor and stock hydro. My plan is to lift this thing around 8-10ins, run a foote 3 speed right angle gear box, use a 1in gokart axle, run around 25in rear tires, and for the motor i'm not sure of yet.



Thats kinda how i'd like it to look


I took the fenders off the back today to figure out the mounts of the foote


thats the foote. I got it out of a old murray i found out in the woods. At first i thought it was a peerless 700 but sadly its not . But i've did some research and these things appear to be almost as good as the 700's if geared correctly .

Cool Beans!

Is that a brake kno on the brake lol

make it mean and green good luck!

Never seen a Foote 3 speed.. hmm learn something everyday.

GenevaCustoms wrote:

Is that a brake kno on the brake lol

Yeah lol. It never was hooked to the clutch. For the brake on the pedal was a rubber pad that came against the transmission pulley. Kinda interesting but was totally gone. Another cool thing is it has like copper brake pads that aren't all the way out. I think i'll pull them off it though.

camomanusa wrote:

make it mean and green good luck!

Thanks lol but i plan on painting it either hemi orange or petty blue. May be camo. Haven't decided yet lol.

I got the steel for the lift and the front tires saturday, and today i took the front axle off it and got leaf springs for it off a golf cart. The leafs springs are 27ins long and look to be pretty easy to mount them, I have every thing off the golf cart so all i need to do is weld the mounts and make the frame a little longer.


Thats the leaf. Before i use them i'm gonna strip them down and wire brush them and paint them.


Thats the stock steering arm. Gives you a idea of how heavy duty this mower is.


Thats the tires. Really bald and dry rotted but i think they will do. The lawn mower tire is there because i'm gonna cut away it and weld them to the 4 wheeler rim to make them fit on the mower.

Next step is to pressure wash the frame and paint it.

Me and a friend of mine drew this today lol. She drew the mower its self and stuff I added on the front leafs and lift and stuff. Its very crude but i'm thinking this is about how i want it lol. I should have the front almost sorted out this week end if every thing goes as planned.

Well i haven't been able to work on the much mower yet. Still need to get the golf cart out of the woods to make the front end up on this. But I did figure out whats going on it for power. Monday i went to the scrap yard around my grandparents house and scored a nice 24hp v twin and a wizard (by mtd) with a 20hp opposed on it. Not sure which will go on it yet.

Thats the v twin, It needs some work like the valves need adjusting and the intake is gonna have to be made because the stock one isn't there, but no problem i'll just run a snorkel or something






The opposed needs a coil for sure and may be carb work but it turns over fine with compression. I have a pre epa 3 screw carb for it if the stock carb is no good. From what i can tell is the coil must have went out in it and they got 2 new spark plugs and it still didn't have spark so they scrapped it lol.



and thats the wizard the 20hp was in. I plan on using the f n r for something ,and possibly the hood on this? Not sure yet really but it has lots of good parts on it i can get off it.

I hope to get the front end done soon then i'll work on the rear lift then order the parts i need.

Get my the engine numbers and ill get you some info on that intek/els

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Get my the engine numbers and ill get you some info on that intek/els

In case you don't know they should be on one of the valve covers.

Got a lot done today on the front end. Then i ran out of welding wire lol. Thats a little mock up, but i should shave it done tomorrow.

cumminsbayou wrote:

Got a lot done today on the front end. Then i ran out of welding wire lol. Thats a little mock up, but i should shave it done tomorrow.

sweet, im gettin my springs monday, those will be going on after i get the rear lift done tho

richie thomas wrote:

cumminsbayou wrote:

Got a lot done today on the front end. Then i ran out of welding wire lol. Thats a little mock up, but i should shave it done tomorrow.

sweet, im gettin my springs monday, those will be going on after i get the rear lift done tho

Thanks, i built the front first though to see how high the rear needed to be.

Got a lot done today



No more vice grips lol.





I still need u bolts to hold the axle to the leafs. I may have to order some of them though.




I may try to spice things up on the bumper lol.




A mock up of it. The rear tires won't be ran though i have some 29.5 outlaws for it.




It looks a little goofy lol.

what size bolts u need?

motorizedeverything wrote:

what size bolts u need?

I need some like 1/2in thick and 3 or 4 inches long. Tractor supply didn't have any, i think academy has them though. I'll have to see lol.

cumminsbayou wrote:

richie thomas wrote:

cumminsbayou wrote:

Got a lot done today on the front end. Then i ran out of welding wire lol. Thats a little mock up, but i should shave it done tomorrow.

sweet, im gettin my springs monday, those will be going on after i get the rear lift done tho

Thanks, i built the front first though to see how high the rear needed to be.

ahhh lol i know how high i want my rear lol, ima build the front to match it

cumminsbayou wrote:

motorizedeverything wrote:

what size bolts u need?

I need some like 1/2in thick and 3 or 4 inches long. Tractor supply didn't have any, i think academy has them though. I'll have to see lol.

I have some 1/2" x 4" U bolts. When I was redoing the trailer the sent me double

Your going to need to have bats that come from the chassis to the bottom of the front axle or else the front axle will fold under the tractor. And I think you need to make shackles with two sides

Looks good, but will you pull the hood forward and extend it?

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Your going to need to have bats that come from the chassis to the bottom of the front axle or else the front axle will fold under the tractor. And I think you need to make shackles with two sides

I'm not sure what you mean about bats. Did you do it to yours? And i make the other shackles just don't have them on there.

cumminsbayou wrote:

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Your going to need to have bats that come from the chassis to the bottom of the front axle or else the front axle will fold under the tractor. And I think you need to make shackles with two sides

I'm not sure what you mean about bats. Did you do it to yours? And i make the other shackles just don't have them on there.

I don't think i'm gonna use that hood. I'll probably use the one off the wizard the 20hp opposed came off of. If i end up using that hood i'll make supports under it and then drill holes for hood pins.

motorizedeverything wrote:

cumminsbayou wrote:

motorizedeverything wrote:

what size bolts u need?

I need some like 1/2in thick and 3 or 4 inches long. Tractor supply didn't have any, i think academy has them though. I'll have to see lol.

I have some 1/2" x 4" U bolts. When I was redoing the trailer the sent me double

Are they square at the end? I need some like that but need them pretty soon so probably just be best i buy some.