#TheGreenMachineI was hoping to put it in the build-off next year, but I just don't see that happening. I will go ahead and put all these parts together and build the tractor. This would have been the 3rd time I have rebuilt this tractor for the build-off
First time was a speed/hotrod build:
Sasquatch II Hotrod CraftsmanSecond was a utility build:
Project PatriotThis time was for an Rally/Mud build:
The Green Machine.This one takes me WAY BACK!
Back when I was a kid in the early 1980's I use to take things apart and put them back together, sometimes take things from one toy and mod it to another. For instance I use to take STOMPER engines and put them on other toys or models. One time I took a stomper engine and put it on a model airplane so I could display it with the prop spinning. There use to be a dump site near where my Grandmother lived that had many toys, car parts, bikes, you name it... One day I found a radio flyer wagon. The back wheel supports were pulled through the bottom of the wagon, but I still wanted to drag it home. At home, my dad had a 2x12 by about 5 ft long left over from my dad building on an extension to our home. I mounted those wheels on one side of that board and the wagon bed to the top side. I had enough room in front of that bed for me to sit and ride the wagon machine. I found some hunter green paint and painted the whole thing. I called it the Green Machine! I later found some wide power wheel wheels that I put on the back so it looked like a hot-rod to me. I'd say I was about 8-10 years old at the time. Many times, I would pick the Green Machine over my bike as it was pretty fun. I could just about keep up with my friends on it with a one leg peel going down the road. That thing lasted for a while with no fixes. When I was about 12 we moved. The green machine was used by my dad a bother to move our large doghouse. It was a good 300-500lbs. The green machine handled it like a champ loading up the doghouse. Unfortunately met it's demise later unloading the doghouse when it was dropped on it. At that time, I had started using it less due to the fact I had grown almost a foot taller since I built it. I think I was able to fix it enough to use it as a trailer for the Sears ST/16 tractor. Not sure what exactly happened to it, as I do not remember it going to where my parents live now. I think it got repurposed by someone else. So this brings me to today. I am planning to turn what was once patriot, into the new Green Machine!
The green machine will be a
Rally/Mud mower build. It is a
1989 Craftsman II GT18.
- I will be using an 18hp Briggs and Stratton Opposed twin running 90' clockwise from the factory location. This will give a non-twist belt configuration for the tractor.
- The Roper 122419X (craftsman ver 633a) will be locked.
- The front axle will be moved forward 8-10 inches.
- New rack and pinion steering.
- Repainted
- Finish rear bumper?
- Add toolbox
- New tires
- New LED light upgrades
- New exhaust (since old was was taken for kal then chopped up)
- Brake lights? Again?
- Completely rewired.
- 4 on 4 hubs on front axle
Things re-used:
- Front bumper and winch
- Rear hitch mount created for patriot
Now for the things already done:
New rear tires:
Engine repainted: Fixed bad vibration in the engine. Turned out the magnets came loose under the flywheel.
Welded a tip of the correct size and splines to a gopowersports rack and pinion so I can reuse my extendable with universals steering shaft.
Up next locking the transaxle and adding gopowersports 4 on 4 hubs to the front axle.