1990 Craftsman II - Trail Rig

To start this thread, I picked up this mower locally for $100. Super clean machine. It has a 12hp Briggs engine with a Peerless 930-011 transaxle. Ran well, everything worked as should. (Including the headlights.. bonus!)

The next weekend, I was able to buy a locked mst-205 transaxle from a friend of mine for a good deal. has brand new carlisle tires on it as well as a 4.5 inch pulley already on it. the old transaxle was removed and I installed the new one in. installation was easy, no issues at all!
in this image, I was in the process of removing the old transaxle.
in this image, the new transaxle (mst-205) is on the right, while the stock 930-011 transaxle is on the left.


in this image, the shift linkage was a direct fit once the shifter plate was swapped with the old one. no customization needed!

Nice! Glad the trans swap worked out for you!

Real cool looking mower I think I’d throw a 6 inch pulley on the front while your at it

6 might be a bit on the wild side, and will have clutch fitment issues. I think the biggest you can go with the stock clutch is 4.5, but I’ll have to double check on mine

Oh never mind, I must be more tired than I realize. But you actually have a Murray based tractor, not the noma/dynamark based tractor I was thinking.

So I believe your clutch is in the rear right?

Like CC said, a 6" pulley on the front would get this thing moving, as well as an idler to help belt tension. Nice rig.

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Oh never mind, I must be more tired than I realize. But you actually have a Murray based tractor, not the noma/dynamark based tractor I was thinking.

So I believe your clutch is in the rear right?

correct, clutch is in the rear just above the transaxle.

Only issue I had before packing up for the day was clearance for the belt around the shifter. it is super close but I won't know until the new belt is installed.

That's a pretty clean craftsman

Craftstman quad a buddy had a twin to this one, thats why I said it, that was the nice thing about when we would run a murray based tractor, clutches seemed to slip less than the front clutch tractors as well.

UPDATE 10/22/2019

I've had no time yet to get more progress done, however I returned the 4.5 pulley for the motor and i'm going to get a 6 inch instead. New belt is on the way too.

It moves!! added the 6 inch engine pulley and a new 93 inch belt. also finished installing a new flo jet carburetor and a gas pedal. it runs and moves okay... 5th is crazy fast!

That's a nice looking machine you got there.

I may have that intake you need but  I'll have to check some of my spare parts engines to make sure. I'll let you know.

muddstir wrote:

That's a nice looking machine you got there.

I may have that intake you need but  I'll have to check some of my spare parts engines to make sure. I'll let you know.

Sounds good! Let me know.