"Ye Olde Piece -O- Crappe"

I started this over in the new members section and I don't know how to link to it, so apologies in advance.

After a lot of busted knuckles, bad words and lotsa grinding, I realized I was gonna have to lower the steering wheel.

So I made this in preparation for a universal joint.



By this time my fingers & toes was froze so this just a little update.

Please feel free to criticize or recommend as I doubt you can offend me.

More to follow!

MightyRaze: ADMIN Edit-copied from new member section...

So, getting right to it, last year a guy gave me a TroyBilt with a 20 HP Intek he had in his back yard for at least a decade. It wasn't seized up so I took it, got it running and put it on my Craftsman. He fussed about the rest of the mower untill I got it as well. I didn't know what to do with it and in researching possibilities stumbled on you guys. I still don't know what to do with it, but apparently the possibilities are limitless.
There is no plan, no ultimate goal, just throw ideas at it and see what sticks.

I wanted to lower the seat and immediately discovered I'd have to shorten my legs to work the pedals. That not being an option, I guess I gotta stretch the frame. And move the brake pedal to the left. Not necessarily in that order. What could go wrong?





You can never have to many clamps.


And presto:




Now it appears the steering needs adjusting.
And you guys make it look so easy! I shoulda known better. This little bit took me the better part of 2 weeks.

Well, I don't know where this thing is goin(dumpster?) nor do I know where it belongs on your forum. All I know is I got a 24 HP V-twin for it($300 and counting) so I gotta finish it.

More to follow!

Nice steering.

Oh and I guess you were smarter than the button.  

PS: I copied the stuff from the Intro thread to your post.

Glad to see you got a thread made up! From what I can see so far you are definitely not lacking in the fabrication skills department. Looking forward to seeing more work!

“Please feel free to criticize or recommend as I doubt you can offend me.”

Hahaha you definitely aren’t part of my generation! Damn millennials........


Anyway it looks great! Lots of things we do don’t take much skill. Just eyeball it and stick it together lmao. That’s what I do anyway...

looks like you got some
thing good going there cant wait to see where you take it from here !

"Oh and I guess you were smarter than the button."
Well just barely, and thanx for helping out.

"not lacking in the fabrication skills department."
You got either one of your eyes open man? Just kiddin, thanx tho!

"Just eyeball it and stick it together lmao. That’s what I do anyway..."
Home! I've found a home!

"cant wait to see where you take it from here !"
I can't either. I wonder where(or if) it will go.

While I waited on parts, I watched paint dry.



Well, parts arrived and they look like they might work.




But that aint gonna work.


While I didn't get pics of it, (to disgusted) I tried the hood & grill. They probably aint gonna work either.

So here is where criticism, recommendations and a witticism or 3 would be in order. (and greatly appreciated) I need a junkyard next door.

I just realized that looks to be an MTD frame. I'm in the same boat with one of my builds.

You've picked a difficult platform to work with.

@Crazy_Carl wrote:

You've picked a difficult platform to work with.

I see people say this all the time, but really what's the fun in having no challenge? Sure you get a tractor that works fine, throw some ATV tires on it, wheel it, and have a rig that looks like everyone elses. Bleh. Not my thing.

Either way, to each his own. Looking forward to seeing more progress!

"I just realized that looks to be an MTD frame"
It is. The sad part is I was given 2 more MTD's (1 has a 20 HP Briggs opposed twin on it-frozen) and most/part of a Murray.

"You've picked a difficult platform to work with."
I was given a !@#$%^&*()_+ platform to work with. Besides, it was all I had. Still is 'till I can get the others home. Then I'll have 2 1/2 more pcs of junk.

"Looking forward to seeing more progress!"
AARRGGHHHH!

Oh also, just a helpful tip here... If you wanna quote one or multiple posts, you can hit the quote or multi quote buttons at the top of the post and it will allow you to quote someone.

Keep up the good work!

I think the multiquote only does 3 people. Just an FYI.

"you can hit the quote or multi quote buttons"
I don't appear to be smarter than this button.

It’s in the top right of every post

Progress has been made.
Had to raise the seat a bit.


Found a hood/console that will work.


Though it will be a tight fit.


So tight I had to move the fuel pump.


Some body work. Man I hate sheet metal.


And this is where it is now.




Alas the #1 cylinder spits/sputters and backfires. There are no intake leaks, the valves are adjusted to within specs and I put a coil off my neighbors 23 hp intek... still spits/sputters and backfires. I gotta new head coming, hope that's it.

I was going to suggest head gasket because the inteks are notorious for blowing those, but a new head should come with a new gasket.