Murray Widebody

So in the past few months I've acquired a Jeep cherokee and an ATV, so that pretty much takes all the uses of my all-terrain mower. So I thought for awhile about what I could use all the parts I have on. Nothing strange and unique came to mind, other than a tracked tractor, so I settled on a race mower. I won't be going for legal since there's no racing around here. Just a mower looking gokart really.

Anyway, here's the parts available and a general plan. First, this is the AT mower I was messing around with.


Parts:
- 17hp opposed twin (with in-op ex. valve, gotta fix)
- peerless 5-speed
- centrifugal belt clutch
- 1" gokart solid axle, hubs, etc.
- junk kawasaki bayou (might use front knuckles for brakes and bearings, maybe even slap the carb on the briggs twin)
- murray c-channel frame and body (actually I have 2 widebody bodies, narrow hood and the wider hood)

I've never really looked into the faster side of mowers, so I may not have what I need, and don't really want to put much money in to it. Not sure about tires, I have the stock 20's off the mower for the rear but see everyone going with shorter. For the front, no clue if I use the atv hubs, it runs a 9" wheel. I also have some murray deck spindles which I've read are good for cheap jackshafts in order to raise the transaxle. If I didn't mention, I want it as low and as stable as possible. I'm not interested in killing myself on this thing.

1:Are you gonna lock the transaxle
2:what size/kind of rear tires are you running
3:whats your plans for a throttle are you gonna do a foot or hand throttle

your mower is really clean and nice i hope you get that opposed twin on there and get some vids of it hitting some deep mud and trails

More questions I don't know the answers too, haha.

1) The 5-speed is currently locked, but I have shafts/gears to make an open diff again. If I run the kart axle is doesn't matter since it's solid. Should I run the 1" kart axle or straight off the transaxle? The transaxle would be much easier and take up less space. Which is better, locked or open diff? If I wan the kart axle I's run it by chain off the 5-speed, which would reguire a longer wheelbase.

2) I'd like to save money and use what I have, namely the 20" turf tires on the front in that pic, actually 2 that match the tire on the left front. They're stock mower tires for an 8" rim, which would make bolting to the transaxle easier than running the kart axle.

3) I can do either for throttle. I had a bike brake cable/handle for a throttle on the offroad mower I could re-use.

That brings another string of thoughts up. Should I run a steering wheel or handlebars? I plan direct steering for safety, but handlebars might be easier for working the controls, maybe even use the atv thumb throttle.

if i was you i would run direct steering setup with handle bars atv thumb throttle that would be a good off road setup