[Finalist] [24] RROD’s Sears Custom 6

@RichieRichOverdrive I'm interested LOL keep us updated. I wonder if the newer 633a would be as brittle

The newer 633 axle shafts are much softer than the older ones. A file will nick anywhere on the new shafts. The 4 pinions are pretty hard all the way down, file just skates off.

@RichieRichOverdrive that's really cool I guess they both have there pros and cons Lol

Tore this junker apart


Pressed the shaft out of the steering gear


You can see there’s an undercut at the end of the hex, so they didn’t have to cut it all the way to the shoulder. This turned down section is where the shaft broke.

Just a reminder @RichieRichOverdrive. I have you unofficially marked complete. When you want it to be official, please post it and I'll tag the post.

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Older one. I’m designing plate lockers for both 4 and 6 pinions as well, and a locker to use splined 6 pinion GT axles in the older 4 pinion.

I'd be interested in your plate locker. I have an older SS16 I don't know what I'm doing with yet, but for sure it will get locked.

torgo wrote:

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Older one. I’m designing plate lockers for both 4 and 6 pinions as well, and a locker to use splined 6 pinion GT axles in the older 4 pinion.

I'd be interested in your plate locker.  I have an older SS16 I don't know what I'm doing with yet, but for sure it will get locked.

You will have to pull it apart and see if it’s a 4 or 6 pinion. I’d think 6 being on a SS16 but who knows. Feel free to PM me about it.


Set a piece of 5/8” 1045 up in the spindexer in the mill


Gave it a super heavy press fit. About .002” worth. Had to beat it in with a 5lb hammer.


Once that was done i peened the end of the shaft over so the gear doesnt come off. The original had this done a bit more nicely but I’m alright with this.

Borrowed a woodruff keyseat cutter from work. Moved the key and the steering arm as far forward as possible so the tie rods would have a better angle with more leverage against the spindle at full lock.


Threw her back together and went ripping up the woods in the middle of the night! Like she never skipped a beat!


Also weighed the tractor. Interestingly the tractor is about 100lbs at every corner and 415lbs total. Pretty light with even weight distribution!

You can call this one finished @MightyRaze

#Complete24 - MR

The sears has now been in an abandoned mine, for those of you that may find that interesting

That's sick! I really want to play with straight pipes in thare Lol

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

You can call this one finished @MightyRaze

Plans for a walk around video?  ...or use what you have?

I’ll get a video thrown together here soon.

This is a real funny looking fun little tractor

I'd love to play with one, but can't find them down here.  Back when my wife's grandmother was still alive, she lived in north central Ohio.  There was a yard sale across the street from her.  They were selling one for $35 bucks.  Man I wish we had the pickup back then.  We were in my car we use to have that trip.

I sure did want it.

Had a great time up at  @Creepycrawlers on the sears. Gave no problems whatsoever. Great on tight trails, a little tippy though, i think i might find some 1” spacers for the back.

@Creepycrawler's is a bucket list place to ride, but logistics will keep me from it.  I live it vicariously though the video's people share.   Seems like an awesome place.

It’s 100% worth it if you ever get the chance. Hell, i would have made the trip just to hang out on shop night. You ever seen three guys with a torch, hammer, and sawzall trying to remove a stuck wheel hub all at the same time? I havent laughed that hard in years

Completion video soon i hope! Hard to film anything when it gets dark an hour after i get home from work.

Here’s the completion video!

Great looking and performing machine.

The sears does great in deep water. Belt does slip a little in higher gears but pretty good really.




Up to my usual rock hopping nonsense. This is an awesome little spot i found with a double step up.


You really have to wheelie into it to have enough momentum to make the first step. Try to crawl it and you just spin out, ride straight into it and it will pop your front end up in the air and flip you backwards. It’s a great spot to show how wheelies can be used practically.


Gotta take a break and lean it against a tree once in a while

@RichieRichOverdrive it's like read dead redemption when you're horse runs out of stamina and you have to take a break Lol

For your viewing pleasure:

This is a classic build and you have the skill to ride it.  Makes me think of they guys who ride trials bikes.

Incredible throttle, clutch and brake control.

Thanks, i take lot of inspiration from trials and hard enduro riders. I think i found most of my inspiration when i stumbled upon Rich Larsen’s hard enduro lesson videos on instagram. After watching i realized a lot of those techniques could be adapted to mowers and I’ve been working in that direction ever since.

I watched a couple of his videos last night.  Great stuff.  

My next build is a Wheel Horse Raider 10 with a mild built up Honda GX270.  

Hope to take it to TTC.

Keep up the good work.

Sounds like a good plan for a build. I’ve actually got something similar coming up with a short frame wheel horse and a GX390. No TTC next year, sean and tom are going to be reorganizing that event a bit for 2026.

Looking around for a set of 1” wheelspacers, will bump my rear width out to 35” and not affect my ability to fit in places too much. 33” wide is just a bit too narrow for the height of the tractor, have to do a lot of weight shifting to keep it from tipping.