My Craftsman II

Hey, it seems this is a popular chassis. Anyways This is my Craftsman II mower that I got over the summer. It needed work. Came with a garage tecumseh that would never run right (nothing really against tecumseh I just dont perfer them) so I found a Briggs 12.5 flathead from a friend I installed. I started by removing the tecumseh and cleaned alot of the chassis just to pass time (this was over summer break). My freind was working a little ways down the road in a new housing develoment so I would just bring him the parts. I decided to get the transaxle locked up to posi so I can have way more off road capabilities. When I got it back I thought it got wrecked but it happend to be that the person accidently didnt align the shift keys perfect. When I got it back for the second time, I installed it and waited for the motor. When i got the motor it tunred out to be a direct bolt in so that was good. Took a little while to get all the wiring setup properly but I did have to make a kill switch. I rode it around the cabin from augest long till around November and now it is parked. So that part sucks. But I recently got another free older craftsman. Here are some pictures and youtube videos. (Also have dibs on a 25hp v twin 44 CI)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPsL8P34DZU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mILyRThUTP4
WHEN THE TRANNY WAS WRONG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzffr4G6wHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNn-LDm4ss0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2WOjVItrkM[/url]

Cool, I really like that green engine shroud. I like working on these craftsman chassis.... At first I thought they where kinda cheap, but now, after tearing it apart, I think they might be better built then my murray I like the murray the way it is though. It seem to do allright in most situations.

What are you future plans for this machine?

FearlessFront wrote:

Cool, I really like that green engine shroud. I like working on these craftsman chassis.... At first I thought they where kinda cheap, but now, after tearing it apart, I think they might be better built then my murray I like the murray the way it is though. It seem to do allright in most situations.

What are you future plans for this machine?

Uh, well like my post said I have dibs on a 44 C.I briggs v twin. My powermech teacher gave me another older craftsman (this one is red) with im pretty sure a 7hp teccy. This crafstmans steering is loose but i think i will just weld in a new peice of metal at both steering knuckles. Other then that, the other free craftsman from my powermech teacher is smaller. I think a 25 would be to much juice for that so hopefully the 25 on this craftsman and the 12.5 on the free craftsman. If I dont decide to get that 25 from my freind then hopefully the 7hp isnt trash. And I also hope to get some mud tires, something with better grip rather then my stupid slicks

Id like to find a vtwin- put that on one of the tractors..... Id really like to get my 20HP onan going- id use that on my mod wheelhorse or wizard .

Craftsmans ( older ones) are built tougher- altho on my weedeater tractor ( built by craftsman) is the exception- the steering has a large plastic block where the main gear and arm intersect- and of course mine was all worn out- instead of spending a ton of cash for another piece of plastic, i took it apart, bored out the openings with a wood spade bit, cut a copper bushing to fit both the piece and the shafts , greased it all up and works perfect now. ill haveta admit- it took a ton of work to get that tractor back into shape, but its different looking and cool.

At the moment i have like 6 craftsmans in various states ( some run- some dont - yet)

well v twin plans could be on the backburner. I really want to dump some money into my yamaha phazer fx snowmobile. Unless I make enough money to buy upgrades and a v twin, the mower with stick with a great 12.5

12.5HP briggs are fine ( the IC series- i have 2 tractors with those motors)- however the 12.5 powerbuilts arent- ive gotten 3 tractors with the 12.5 powerbuilt motors and all had shattered rods- apparantly the rods were cast weak and have a tendency to break, an upgrade for those motors is a rod from a 14.5HP OHV briggs- a direct better replacement.

dangeroustoys56 wrote:

12.5HP briggs are fine ( the IC series- i have 2 tractors with those motors)- however the 12.5 powerbuilts arent- ive gotten 3 tractors with the 12.5 powerbuilt motors and all had shattered rods- apparantly the rods were cast weak and have a tendency to break, an upgrade for those motors is a rod from a 14.5HP OHV briggs- a direct better replacement.

Well my shroud says I/C so I guess its a I/C. Ive never overrevved my motor anyways

I dont like over revving my stuff either- actually i dont like cranking em way up to mow either (grass never grows that high anyway).

That was a purpose behind my trying to get a bone stock governed 18.5HP opposed twin over 40 mph plus ( which i think is totaly do able). Herd too many ( and seen pics) of a flywheel explode. I had my modifed murray half throttle and 3rd gear and it was hauling.

Well I do hope to find some more off road friendly tires for this machine and I am working on a open exhaust tommorow!