There is an old rider.....

@MatthewD wrote:

you could weld in some braces (esp. at the rear) to help strengthen the frame.

That's the fun part in my opinion! Cheap frames FTW haha.

@MatthewD wrote:

Great tractor to start modding! One thing I will say though, those stamped frames can flex so you could weld in some braces (esp. at the rear) to help strengthen the frame.

I'm not sure I would call that a "stamped frame"....

Oh right. Well it is stamped pieces bolted together

@MatthewD wrote:

Oh right. Well it is stamped pieces bolted together

Hahahahahahahaha I suppose thats true. I call a stamped frame what most of you call a "pan" frame. The CQ is a stamped frame

I need to learn how to weld too, lol!

Would a flux core machine be good to learn with? I don't have a whole lot of money to throw at a hobby right now.

I'd try and find an old Arc welder. But a Flux Core wouldn't be too bad either, either way you could work outside without worrying about shielding gas blowing away.

I took the fuel tank (suprisingly clean) and the carb off (smelled like furniture varnish inside the carb), decided to soak the carb in pb blaster overnight to loosen up all the screw/bolts so I could do a full cleaning. I need to get a new gasket for the space between the carb and the intake tube (not sure what that pipe is called), and I need to rewire the whole thing with a toggle and push button start. I had a decent battery to switch out the bad one with, and I drained the oil (looked like it had never been changed before, but it flowed good), refilled with fresh oil. hopefully by my next "weekend" (mon/tues, I work retail at home depot) I will be able to turn it over. The coil looks like rusted poop, but I will give it a chance before I buy another one (the spacing was non-existent).

I think I will make this a utility tractor, not going to go too much bigger with the tires but definitely want to go up some since there isn't a whole lot of ground clearance. I may also swap the pulleys, but I will have to figure out how to put a gas pedal on it to replace the turtle to rabbit lever.

I know I will be able to find ideas on this forum since y'all have "been there, done that" many times over with your builds!

I did some more clean up on the mower, found out it doesn't have a regulator just two wires coming out of the alternator, below is a video.



Any suggestions as to what to do with them?

Those wires should be coming from the stator, which is under the flywheel. One is used to charge the battery while the engine is running, and the other is usually used to run the headlights. One should be red and one should be black. If I recall correctly, haha.

Yellow one with the bump is your charging wire.  You need that diode (bump) so your battery does not discharge while turned off.  It should go to the battery side on your starter relay (solenoid).  The black one with it is typically your "lights" hot wire.  You can use it, or you can go to battery.  Just be cautious how much draw your lights may pull if you use them.  They could use power faster than the charging. Personally I am running from the battery for lights and have that wire currently terminated on some of my rigs.

Thanks guys, I won't be using the lights (not yet anyway) so I will run it to the positive side of the starter solenoid also. I'll do another video when I get it wired up and attempt to crank it up!

Excellent! Sounds like you got it in hand. We'll be looking for your video! Hope it purrs!