hi guys im new on here need some ideas

I have a yard machine idk wat year but it has a 17 hp briggs and straton motor on it and odly enough it has no gears just foward,neutral and reverese and it has a pedal that tightens the belt to make it got so I realy don't kno. Any ideas?

Welcome to ATLTF. You have the infamous "Vari-Drive" setup. Folks seem to either love them or hate them, with no middle ground. Most hate them. It can make pulley sways (for speed increases) a more fiddley job.

What you do to your tractor largely depends on skill, budget, and tools. Most folks start with a tire change. What do you envision for your ride?

I just want somethin fast and somethin I wont get stuck in mud

Well I would ditch the Veri-drive for mud but that's just me also you can't have something to fast and still be good in mud ya sure it can be faster than stock but don't expect 35 out of it and be cheap or perform in mud look for a starting speed of 15 then just go from there

Your gonna want to put in some sort of peerless/ spicer in it then. If you just wanted to go fast you could keep the stock set up. I've herd of people making them go over 20mph, but if your gonna drive it in the mud it will slip and burn up belts.

I think I'm gonna leave the veri-dive on and put some 25 inch atv tires on it and a gas pedal and maby a cooler on the back

Because I have limited funds and equipment

bud vari drive with 25" tires i dont think a belt might get destroyed if i was u just go on craigslist look for a foote/spicer/peerless because vari drive are not good in mud at all if you wanna do this swap look at redlinemotorsports build he had vari drive as well

Well- nothing wrong with starting off light and easy. Do whatever you're going to do, and as time, money, and skill permit then upgrade. Gotta start somewhere!

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Well- nothing wrong with starting off light and easy. Do whatever you're going to do, and as time, money, and skill permit then upgrade. Gotta start somewhere!

Yea as much as I encourage people to do vari drive swapps It took me roughly two months just working off and on with it, kinda a big undertaking. paid off tho.

Ok so some of us know is your tractor gonna be a rally mower?

Well I spent 5 hours taking everything off my mower I swapped the pullies put belt tentioners on and a gas pedal and got it all back together and I missed a wire somewere so now I gotta take it all apart and find the wire

What's the issue? Perhaps we can help you sort it out?