Subject: Re: General mower builds May 21st 2020, 5:29 am
Been working on the murry widebody for Griffin. Has anyone else had issues with putting smaller pulleys on the transaxle? I put a 4" on since it is what was sitting around and the belt dumped into the shifter rod. I am in the process of making a larger pulley to work around it, but I was wondering what others have done. I think there was also a height issue, but I can work around that too with the custom pulley.
MightyRaze Administrator
7500+ Posts
7500+ Posts!
2017 Build-Off Finalist
2017 Build-Off Finalist
2018 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2018 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2019 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2019 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2021 Winner of Winners
2021 Winner of Winners
1st Place 2022
1st Place Winner 2022
Age : 48 Join date : 2016-09-06 Points : 13888 Posts : 9809 Location : Oklahoma
Subject: Re: General mower builds May 21st 2020, 8:59 am
I had to make some new belt guides on mine when I went smaller.
Have a question? Ask me! Type in "@MightyRaze" in your post!
Murraymountain Core Member
1000+ Posts
1000+ Posts!
2019 Build-Off Finalist
2019 Build-Off Finalist
2020 Build-Off Entrant
2020 Build-Off Entrant
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2022 Build-Off Entrant
Join date : 2019-02-04 Points : 3943 Posts : 2111 Location : North Carolina
Subject: Re: General mower builds May 21st 2020, 9:59 am
Yeah changing pulleys on widebodys aren't as easy as Craftsmans. Mine rubs the shifter on the MM, but I plan to do something to fix that on my other widebody.
The rubbing on the shifter isn't THAT big of a problem, but it could still be fixed. When you put your idler in, make sure you have the belt running on the INSIDE of the shifter instead of the outside. The belt will cover more surface area of the pulley that way hence less belt slippage. You may need to build a new clutch that way though.
Subject: Re: General mower builds May 26th 2020, 2:05 pm
Your pic gave me lots of hope, even though it turned out not to work in many ways. Tried an oppy on the mower, no dice, too much hood cutting. Went with a 15.5 Kohler. I did do a similar idler, but its wide, so it pushes on both directions of the belt. I measured with a worn out 1/2 inch belt and got 92.5 inches, turns out a 94inch 5/8 belt is what is needed. Now all I need to do is create a wire harness for power on, start, and stop. Not too worried about aux lights just yet.
I also tried an oppy on the gimphorse, no go w/o lots of hood modifiction there too, so it'll probably get a 15hp Kohler too. Aside from that, tires and an idler pulley, it'll be mostly the same.
Subject: Re: General mower builds May 29th 2020, 12:04 pm
So the Gimphorse now has a 15hp briggs I/C on it. Just need to install the drive pulley and belt. Then wire up the switch and it should be good.
The Widebody is good to go minus the wireharness. Going to be working on that next.
CraftsmanQuad19 Veteran Member
2500+ Posts
2500+ Posts!
2018 Build-Off Entrant
2018 Build-Off Entrant
2019 Build-Off Finalist
2019 Build-Off Finalist
Age : 23 Join date : 2016-04-12 Points : 5535 Posts : 2617 Location : Indiana
Subject: Re: General mower builds May 29th 2020, 12:09 pm
Those OHV briggs singles are decent. Their one weak point is the head gasket. They like to blow between the pushrods and the cylinder. Lot of space between bolts there for a relatively narrow section of gasket. That and the dog bone, but that’s any briggs single
Subject: Re: General mower builds June 4th 2020, 9:04 am
Both the widebody and gimphorse were LOUD with no exhaust system on them. Got the gimphorse done yesterday and will work on the widebody this weekend. Getting a lot checked off the list for Haspin!
mr.modified Veteran Member
2015 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2015 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2016 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2016 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2018 Build-Off Finalist
2018 Build-Off Finalist
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2500+ Posts
2500+ Posts!
1st Place 2014
1st Place Winner 2014
2023 Build-Off Entrant
2023 Build-Off Entrant
Age : 33 Join date : 2013-11-02 Points : 6742 Posts : 2906 Location : New Jersey USA
Subject: Re: General mower builds June 4th 2020, 3:40 pm
Lookin good. Yeah loud pipes are ok for a few minutes, but after that.... it starts to get old. I need to quiet mine down a bit more one of these days.
Subject: Re: General mower builds April 28th 2022, 8:49 pm
Well, the tractors have served well up to this point. I managed to strip the teeth off the pinion on the gimphorse. The lack of brakes on susans craftsman led to its demise. Griffins Murray never shifted right from forward to reverse.
SO...
Susan is getting a newer craftsman with iron front axle and better steering. The v-twin and tires will be transplanted to the new mower. there will be an 820 5speed installed and better pulley ratio installed. Her first tractor couldn't crawl and that was another reason for it's demise.
Griff's tractor will get his mom's old trans that performed well.
Not sure whats happening with mine. I may try to adapt the 820 six speed to the gimphorse, or I may try to graft the steering from the gimphorse to a craftsman.
One thing for sure is they are all getting upgraded brakes. I spoke to stretch and he isn't really fond of his disk setup. What do you all use and would recommend?
I liked the band brake on the gimphorse, but don't think I can adapt a band brake to the input of the 820. I don't think a band brake on the axle would be good as it will probably eat lots of mud and sand.
anyone use hydraulic brakes?
Thanks for helping - offering any insight.
Brianator Moderator
1000+ Posts
1000+ Posts!
2022 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2022 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2023 Build-Off Entrant
2023 Build-Off Entrant
Age : 44 Join date : 2019-07-02 Points : 3590 Posts : 1896 Location : Ontario, Canada
Subject: Re: General mower builds April 28th 2022, 9:10 pm
The best idea I've seen so far and is something I'll be doing also (have the parts but not the time) is front drum brakes from a offshore ATV.
Subject: Re: General mower builds April 28th 2022, 10:21 pm
Seems like that is on just one side, I would think it would pull that way on heavy braking. I might try a wildwood caliper. They're $100, but if it works, I'm ok with it. I will be calling them tomorrow.
Brianator Moderator
1000+ Posts
1000+ Posts!
2022 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2022 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2023 Build-Off Entrant
2023 Build-Off Entrant
Age : 44 Join date : 2019-07-02 Points : 3590 Posts : 1896 Location : Ontario, Canada
Subject: Re: General mower builds April 28th 2022, 10:30 pm
No he did both sides, stated they work really well and highly recommends this mod. I think having front brakes will be brilliant on my woods machine I'm building, lots of hills around here.