Craftsman build.

Put the logo on in white today...

Didnt quite turn out that great, I should have taken off the slag so it layed flat. Thats Ok though, it will work for now.

Purple paint, horned thing... That makes this tractor The Horny Purple... what?  

Lol doc...

Decided the split skull didnt fit this build... or color scheme. Painted the black in the front though.



As you can see, I also experimented with gold paint... dosnt look the part I dont think.



Before its all over, it may be black with purple flames...

TheBeal wrote:

Lol doc...

Decided the split skull didnt fit this build... or color scheme.

Was it somethin' I said???  

No Doc... if it was... well... thats another story!

But any rate... no progress to speak of. Deep down I was hoping to have this thing running by the first significant snow... However, seein as how I flipped the mtd with the briggs twin... and Im too cheap to buy another shroud off the internet or one of the fine members here... Actually, I really dont have an extra $20 or so for it. But thats ok.
I will survive.... I mean, this thing will survive?

Made up a few parts yesterday and today...

What you see are 2 hooks that will be put on the bumper, the plate with the hole will bolt to the leaf spring. If Im thinking right, the U bolt will be on either side of it so it should keep the spring from moving around. The other 2 are going to be for the spindle bracket.



So slow progress better than none.  

those are big hooks. if they let go, there is a serious problem

willis923 wrote:

those are big hooks. if they let go, there is a serious problem

They are 5/8ths roundstock heated and bent around a pipe. Ought to work good... if they do let go at some point, it could only be a weld somewhere. And if thet happens... I should rethink my career choice to be a welder lol

But anyways, more progress today. A NEW SHROUD a the scrap yard. Almost missed it. Got it for free. Not sure if they do that all the time for something that comes out less that a $1 or if it was the lovely receptionist/cashier/whateversheis lol.



You can also see part of the spindle bracket there on the leaf spring. Its not quite right where it is welded, so i think Im going to leave it as is and find a use for it later and make some new ones. But maybe you can kinda get an idea of what is floating through my head...



Also discovered an adult student in the diesel shop has an opposed twin that threw a rod, might see about getting it if it doesnt have internal damage...

Very interesting. What's the leaf spring from?

Regarding the U-bolt plate- I very much doubt that alone will be enough to locate the axle securely, if you're attempting to do what I think you are.

What I think you are doing, is a transverse leaf spring- This is one single lateral spring running parallel to the axle. Generally, the center of the spring pack would get bolted to a frame bracket, and both spring eyes get bracketed to the axle.

Now- with a really stiff (too stiff to be useful) spring, you MIGHT get away without radius arms or another means of locating the axle, and on a low speed tractor at that. If the spring is soft enough to do something beyond look like a spring, it's gonna be all over the place. Lethal on anything over a few MPH.

The spring is from a trailer. Before I actually messed with it I thought about using the whole set! I could NOT flex them at all lol. That was about a joke! Even this single piece is pretty stiff.

What would you suggest doing Doc? I had though about welding a bracket on the spring but I dont think I want to weld on it or drill on it.

No- do NOT ever weld to a spring, the heat will kill the temper of the spring. Proceed with the U-bolt bracket, and use the spring's centering pin (or a bolt) to locate it in the bracket. Keep a close eye on measurements- I occasionally come across a leaf spring where the centering pin is NOT in the exact center from eye to eye. And I do believe you'll have to fab up some radius rods or similar.

I figured it would do something like that. Im pretty sure it is centered, I too have seen some off center. So Ill just get a longer bolt... thats easy.

I was planning on making some sort of trailing arm/radius rods/whatever they are called. I think it will look cool.   
Planing on talking to the shop instructor to see if I can maybe bring the whole thing in sometime to work on. Or atleast build a subframe to build the front suspension on and then bolt to the mower body.



And now, after thinking about ti some more... I have ideas for a hotrod gokart...   
Gona be low and wide... powered by a "bog block" briggs flatty... muwahahah... hahaha...  


{EDIT} Doc, or anyone for that matter... If you have an idea of something that might work better than what Im doing, or even something you think would be cool to see on this build feel free to PM me or post it here.

Dinky little update...


Sterrin wheel!

Hahaha...

And so it begins.........................





Engine swap this week...

I thought........ The day would never come!

An update!    *sniffle*

WOOOO tread revived!! glad to see this project up and going again

bout time man, now hurry up and dont make us wait that long again

and so it RE begins lol

Yeah so soon as I get the stupid pulley off the oppy I can set in on the craftsman... and start figuring out the exhaust and controls and whatnot... woot.

Do you have a flywheel puller?

I do... but its not working for me. lol

But anywho... some pics. Thats how the exhaust will be routed. I will need to extend them so they go below the footboards or whatever they are called.

I like the idea of mounting it backwards, and could you tell me what purple (like company you used) because thats a awesome color.

I figure it would be a bit easier to run the exhaust back, and not have a U in there anywhere.

The paint, my dad brought home. I just slapped some one there to see what It looked like lol.
Valspar Satin Purple. Lable on the can says something about being "product of the year" in 2012.. could be a couple years old... been frozen several times Im sure.

And some more pics...



You can see the bolt holes do not line up... ugg. Solution? Cut out and replace with some 3/8 plate! (cause that what I have lol)



...and here, you can see we have some fitment issues. Clearly I will have to break out the angle grinder... And hopefully, I can cut out the exact same on each side. Gotta be perfect!   



...and here you can see about how far back the engine will be sitting, it will be further yet 2-3in. The stock air filter will not fit there. Also, the vents on the top of the hood are thereabouts... Im thinking hood scoop.


...and here... as you can see, it was pretty darn close to that steering rod. Couldnt even set the engine on the frame with the stock pulley on there.



Hoodscoop anyone?

Cut this area out. Still need to cut a bit more, but this will be replaced with something around 1/4. Then i can position the engine further back aswell.


Thinking Im gona refigure the exhaust.. Gona make some new flanges and have about 6-8in if strait pipe then hopefully find some flexible tubing and run some of that, then exit out the sides in front of the rear tires with some 1 1/2 or so conduit...


Any suggestions for modding the steering any?

And my transaxles... a 3 and 4 speed. Both have a 900 020 tag.

Looks good, and what about steering? Like was it missing before this? Need something to go around the engine?