Dirty Rat - Sears

Good call.  I may have a smaller idler on the wall.  I'll check later when it cools a bit and can get some air flow.   Then when the belt stretches I can go back to the original. I fear I will have to go up a belt size though.

No smaller idler...

Great news! The 96" belt is going to work perfect! I had a "durh" moment and forgot my idler was also adjustable. It was adjusted all the way out. I slid it back in and it was a perfect fit. Ran it around the 'hood and it worked great. Belt stops as expected for shifting. I did have to do a minor modifications for my belt guides.

The Tach/Houmeter is going coo-coo. It's counting up 0.1.2.3...8.9 Blank over and over. Works fine when engine is running. Backlight no longer lights up. Grr...

Hourmeter/Tach is working right again?  Go figure.

@RichieRichOverdrive got me curious what the dimensions of TDR is.  I don't know if I had them.

This is with the offroad tire set:

RR - 176.4
LR - 182.0
LF - 148.4
RF - 148.4
TW = 655.2 lbs

Shocked the front is perfectly balanced.  Took the weight 2 times.  Not shocked the rear is off the 5.6 lbs.  Not surprised due to the trans being installed a little left.

Front width = 40"
Rear width = 40"
Wheelbase = 58"

Needed a little help figuring length.

Length - 80" (with the toolbox, but that only added 0.5")
Height:
Hood - 36.5"
Steering Wheel - 40.5"

The tires are truly on each corner of the tractor. Exactly what I was going for.

Thanks for the ideas Rich!

So the gap above my exhaust pipes on my hood where stock muffler goes has bothered me. Tonight I fixed that. Took some sheet metal I had lying around and bent me up a spacer for it mimicking the muffler look.





I’m about 60/40 leaving it as is or painting it black.

Now that I am awake, I was still 60% keeping it natural, balances the fan cover.  40% painting it grill/flat black so I don't have sun glare.  Looks like the exhaust pipes need a new coat of paint themselves.  Sheesh..

But now that I photoshopped the image.  I am leaning more towards the black.

NOW:


Photoshopped:


Thoughts?

My vote is for black, blends in much nicer in my opinion.

Brianator wrote:

My vote is for black, blends in much nicer in my opinion.

I agree.... just need to get a can of black. LOL

Black was a good call.  I thought I had some etching primer, but I didn't.  Paint may flake over time on it.

Good! Then it will develop some patina and fit in even better! Lol.

Already gave it some help. LOL

Really interesting seeing the stats on this thing! You can really see the typical garden tractor rear weight bias that Mutt doesn't have. That wheelbase is crazy! I bet you don't have any trouble with it coming back over on you on hills! It's also interesting to note that Mutt and TDR are right about the same height at the steering wheel, despite the fact that Mutt essentially has a chopped steering shaft that's probably 4-6" lower than stock.

Very cool! I actually got the ideas for tractor stats from @Crazy_Carl, he had all the stats written down for Red Stag and I thought that was a great idea.