MTD off-road build (Mobile Terrain Dominator) "2"

Well boys, I gotta say the splash lube model 42 just wasn't doing it for me. After using it for a while I noticed it didn't run as good as I first thought. Had a weird stutter/cough that it did when you punched the throttle, and I couldn't seem to be able to tune that out if it. Also I think it had a bad exhaust valve seat or something on one cylinder... it just wasn't great in general.


As some of you may remember I picked up another pressure lube opposed a little while back. It was actually seized when I got it, and once I got it all cleaned up and spinning over good enough to start it, I ran into what turned out to be carb troubles. So unfortunately the ol' MTD has been sitting for a really long time..... But today I finally went at it and got it starting and running good!



Oh yeah, she lives!!!









Definitely VERY happy, I was starting to think she'd never run and drive again!

Here's the new mill:





18hp model 42. Runs great! I've started it cold and hot a few times while messing with other stuff, and it sure seems to start fine too, so hopefully it'll be pretty reliable. Seems to have lots of power too. It has great low end power just like it should, so I'm thinking it's pretty healthy still.

Super happy to have my main mean machine back, that's for sure, hahaha. Let me know what ya think!!

PM Sent...

MightyRaze wrote:

PM Sent...

Just a message about using my picture for the header, in case anyone was wondering. Haha.


Anyways I didn't have any issues with this engine starting or running for the rest of the day, so I'm thinking it's will be good. The real test will be when I go to start it again in a week or so.

I know I've done it a million times but I figured I'd post an updated tractor shed picture again:



Back where she belongs! Haha.

Oh no we don't get enough group photos in here. I like to see how everyone's projects currently sit.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

MightyRaze wrote:

PM Sent...

Just a message about using my picture for the header, in case anyone was wondering. Haha.

Man... got to keep the mystery!

MightyRaze wrote:

Man... got to keep the mystery!

Didn't want people thinking I was in trouble.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

Oh no we don't get enough group photos in here.  I like to see how everyone's projects currently sit.

Haha, thanks. I definitely have a few projects to share!

Well after a week of sitting, the new oppy fired right up and ran fine! I guess we can pretty much say she's good to go now.

Couple action pictures:







Gotta clean up a few things now that she's running, just a bit of wiring and stuff like that. Good to have 'er back though!!

Some more awesome shots of MTD.

Thanks Mighty!

Had 'er out yesterday as well, went for like an hour or so long ride with some terrain of all sorts. Only got one picture, haha:



She performed great! Lots of cringe moments where I thought "Oh man I had to have just bent or broke something" but fortunately, no issues! Other than loosing one of the clevis' on my front bumper, which you see in the picture. Gonna have to try and find that now.

Little update here, I got some time in to clean up some of my wiring on the MTD. When I put the engine in I just left everything hanging until I knew it'd run.

Before:



After:




Much better!

I also finally got around to replacing the fuel tank, as the previous one had been leaking for some time. Which is probably why I always ran outta fuel on video.



Perfect! No more leaks!

Then after the work comes the play, so I let 'er stretch out on some small dirt piles:





Just a couple minor things, thought I'd update nonetheless.

Let me know what ya think!

Yeah fuel leaks are a no no. It's nice to see some fresh off road pics of the M.T.D.!

Haven't checked on this one in a bit. Looks good!

Guess calling it an "Allis" won't be accurate anymore.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

Yeah fuel leaks are a no no.  It's nice to see some fresh off road pics of the M.T.D.!

Yessir, haha. Thanks Carl!

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Haven't checked on this one in a bit. Looks good!

Thanks guy! Yeah been a while, haha.

MightyRaze wrote:

Guess calling it an "Allis" won't be accurate anymore.  

Dang, my only signature move!

Really like this machine!

Thanks! Glad you like it!

Did a bit of tinkering here today.



The valve spring covers on this oppy were leaking oil like nobody's business, so today I finally got it all tore apart, cleaned, and sealed up. No leaks all day, so it should be good.  No more killing all the fish in the streams.

Then I got looking at my air filter and thought about how I've always wanted to make a custom one, like I did with the original Powerbuilt single. Here's what I came up with!





Didn't turn out too bad, I like it!

Also I managed to sorta get a picture of the throttle setup I have been running on this thing:



Works good!

Oh, and I managed to get this cool picture when the fog was around this morning:



Haha, yepper. Let me know what ya think!

Love it.

Why thanks!

The fog looks pretty sweet!

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Dude... you know what I am thinking. I would like to replace MTD in the header with this one.

Yeah that would be cool, haha.

Looks great, thanks Mighty!

Alrighty, time for an exhaust update on for the MTD.

Since I took the exhaust setup off this rig to go on the Ford, it seems as good a time as any to fab up something new. Haha.

Ended up using some pieces out of my small muffler collection. The plan was to do a 2 into 1 setup with a bolt on collector pipe, here are the main two pieces after I welded and cleaned them up:



Bolted to the engine:





The collector end piece:



Just slips over the two smaller pipes and bolts to a mount on the frame with this bolt I welded on:



All put together:







Not too bad! I ran out of time before I got to paint it, but that will get done soon. The rust is good enough for now, haha.

Sounds great too!! A lot less obnoxious now, and more of a throaty sound that's a bit easier on the ears. Pretty happy with it, let me know what ya think!

Video! Video! Video! Video! Video! Video! Video!