Off road MTD

@Sirironduke wrote:

Here's the winch mounted and fully operational.  The winch and control box are mounted to the frame and fairlead mounted to the bagger bracket.  

And you can still use a rear bagger

Are you gonna cover those holes with taillights?

I'm thinking of tail lights. I do have the lenses/reflectors that went over them. As for headlights I'm most likely going to do a L.E.D bar.

And those that ask how the tires perform? Well so far all I've driven it on is grass. But today I put it in 6th, mashed the throttle and dumped the clutch. The tires grabbed soo much my belt was slipping. Where as before I could spin the tires on grass.

Nice! I did a set last year but I took the whole row out instead of leaving the center.
Is the frame going to fit on the front suspension fairly easily? And are you planning on using the front atv brakes too?

not to jack the thread or anything bu thow did you guys do them? when i do it it takes forever and isnt really a smooth cut ive been using a hot chisel

I cut mine with a multifunction tool with a trimmed down veneer blade.
As for the atv frame a cut and widened it and will be welding a mtd front suspension bracket to my frame section so it bolts on. And I am going to try and use the front brakes. They are drum brakes so they wont be nice as disks.

@yeethaw wrote:

not to jack the thread or anything bu thow did you guys do them? when i do it it takes forever and isnt really a smooth cut ive been using a hot chisel

I use an oscillating saw. Here's a video on how to do it...

Same tool. Though I used the blade ended one vs the saw blade

@yeethaw wrote:

not to jack the thread or anything bu thow did you guys do them? when i do it it takes forever and isnt really a smooth cut ive been using a hot chisel

iv'e done it years ago for pulling tractors with a air hammer with a good sharp chisel went pretty quick !

Wow I bet it did.

Took my mtd for a spin today. Tested out the winch, pulled a 200+lbs tree. Winched it from the woods then up a long hill. Then went for a romp in the woods. No mud but plenty of hills rocks and downed trees. Mainly used 4th and 7th gear. My cut turf tires did real well. I did find I need more traction in the front and I need to stiffen the frame. Both of which are planned. But the drive train held up well. I may hold off on locking the diff.

Did a pully swap today. Only did the front for now. Was planning on doing the transaxle as well but will hold off for now. Changing the front pully realy woke this thing up. Who says you cant make a varidrive fast.
I put on a 6" weld up pully from tractor supply.  I couldnt find a longer wide belt so I went with a thinner automotive belt. Takes a 56"

Did a speed test today. Topped out at 18mph with an average of 15. Might be able to do 20 with the correct thickness belt. Did manage to throw the rear belt downshifting and hit a pot hole as speed. Think I bent something because the belt wont stay on now.

Fixed the belt, wired up a override switch for my winch, tossed some paint on it. I was tired of looking at rust.
Here is the current status. Next up is the deck lever to brake lever, then it's what everyone is waiting for, the front suspension.

Yes that's a nascar inspired boom tube.

Gonna paint the grille and floorboards?

Yes, I'm gona paint them. Paint is normaly the last thing I do. I had half a can of black and was tired of the rusted hood.

Aand since  my ears didnt like the boom tube, or the neighbors,  I decided to change to a muffler. Got some free harley stock exhaust and swapped it out. Here's what I took out.

And here's what's on it now.

Looks pretty high tech now. Is it a lot quieter?

Very much quieter now. I can hear squeaks now lol.

@yeethaw wrote:

not to jack the thread or anything bu thow did you guys do them? when i do it it takes forever and isnt really a smooth cut ive been using a hot chisel

I heated up a chisel type thing. Like a scraper with a long handle. Heated by holding it in a propane torch and then carefully cutting the tread. It wasn't the easiest, I had to try hard to not go too deep or shallow. Got it close.

The green pulleys are a nice touch.

I've been off for a while. But I have done more work on my mower. At this point I have the front suspension almost fully welded together.  I went with making my own frame. It's going to extend my wheelbase by a few inches but I'll gain area to mount a bumper and maybe a winch.

Looking forward to seeing it installed! Welcome to the front suspension club.