The Rancher

[Newbs]

OK finally I can post a build-up thread of The Rancher. She started life as a 1970's Rover Rancher (a pretty common rideon we have down here in Aus) Most of the pics are a couple of years old but that doesn't matter i think.



In this one you can see the mini-bike I made in the background



I bought her off a mate for $50 and it came complete (no cutting deck) and running. She had a the original 8HP Briggs which ran great but came without tins so I made one out of a paint can - worked a treat.
You can see the homemade shroud in this pic



When i got it one of the bearings in the jackshaft had flogged itself to bits so that was first to be fixed and $30 later a new NTN bearing had it working like new! I also added the racing seat which my neighbour donated to me and the cup holder



Then i decided she needed a new lick of paint so I pulled the whole thing apart, ground the rust back, converted the rust and repainted the whole thing. Chose red to make it look faster lol.
Some poser shots 



And that was pretty much it for about the year, I made a trailer which was useful for yard duties but she stayed pretty much stock. Saw plenty of use on our little home made track though.




I did some experiments with her like trying to supercharge it with a leaf-blower... that was interesting, shame it didn't work lol.

Then there was the day of wisdom when I decided to hook up a foot throttle which bypassed the governor (straight to the butterfly valve) OH HOW WRONG I WAS TO DO THAT

[money89tractors]

The Rancher, i like it!!  Going by some of the pics there, you'll want to bolt that front axle solid to stay inside ATLMA rules. Right now (if the governor is still working) its a limited class mower. Im sure you dont have a teather installed, which is something youll wanna do. Overall, shes nice

I did some experiments with her like trying to supercharge it with a leaf-blower... that was interesting, shame it didn't work lol.

Haha, bet that was fun...

Then there was the day of wisdom when I decided to hook up a foot throttle which bypassed the governor (straight to the butterfly valve) OH HOW WRONG I WAS TO DO THAT

Please, share this story with us.

-Phil

[Newbs]

OK so in my wisdom I bypassed the governor - not a good thing to do on an old engine. Basically I over reved the poorthing one day and BANG... I threw a rod out the block, well into the valve-spring cavity to be precise.
Pics of the carnage - you should of seen the shrapnel I pulled out of it







You can see that the conrod was wedged in the valve-spring cavity, compressing the intake valve spring partly. I still have the piston - I use it as a paperweight on my desk now and it is a consant reminder of what not to do

So the poor Rancher sat idle for months, waiting for me to find a new engine, which was difficult considering my budget (nothing lol)
Posted on: 25-08-2007, 21:40:08With the leaf-blower I basically took the big plastic thing that directs the air off and replaced it with an old vacuum hose - I then started both the Rancher and the leaf-blower and put the hose over the intake for the carby, like a blow-through system. It sorta worked, if I had adjusted the mixture I'm sure it would have worked much better, it still ran but I couldn't run the blower much above idle otherwise the Rancher would stall. I was basically bored and looking for something to do lol.
Posted on: 25-08-2007, 21:45:04

The Rancher, i like it!!  Going by some of the pics there, you'll want to bolt that front axle solid to stay inside ATLMA rules. Right now (if the governor is still working) its a limited class mower. Im sure you dont have a teather installed, which is something youll wanna do. Overall, shes nice

-Phil

Cheers mate, she's a bit different now (better lol). If you check out my thread in the Newbie Cage you will see that I am not building her for comp as there are no such things down here in Australia - it's all explainded there

[money89tractors]

I would still like to see you put 2 big safety items on the mower. (if its not much to ask) 1: Being an auto-return throttle 2: Being a safety teather.

talk about damage!! i would say you could fix that hole in the block, but that valve guide damage sucks!

-Phil

[Newbs]

So after much persuasion, I convinced my mate who had an old ride-on to trade it to me for parts. Yes that's right FREEEEEEE (well not really I traded him my little 2.5HP, one wheel drive gokart that I built)
Here it was when he delivered it.



I planned on using the engine and the rear axel/trans setup and eventually the fuel tank in The Rancher. The engine is a 16HP (i think) Briggs Twin. It came with no shrouds, magneto or air cleaner so there was work to be done.
Here they are ready for the transplant, it's a bit like an organ transplant lol



While searching for a replacement magneto and tins I got the engine running by using the single cylinder magneto from the old engine used on the right hand cylinder - I was surprised and it ran well considering it had not been run for a few years, and it was on one cylinder lol. The starter motor struggled to turn it over with one cylinder of compression and forget about both cylinders. I pulled the starter and found that one of the magnets was cracked but still in place but i didn't have the time to fix it so i bolted it back on to fix later - and i still haven't fixed it. More about how I now start it later when i get pictures.

Also when I did get the engine in The Rancher the exhaust didn't fit!!!



oh well this was a good excuse to get some pipe and make a new one! It is a big engine, I had to mount it slightly to the right so that the break pedal would clear the cylinder head.

So the engine conversion was done but all my drive belts were worn so the thing barely moved with the extra weight and the bonnet didn't fit!! and I was running it out of a 600ml bottle of fuel strapped to the front and it was loud as... we you get the picture lol

So now came the new rear end!!


Posted on: 25-08-2007, 22:38:15

I would still like to see you put 2 big safety items on the mower. (if its not much to ask) 1: Being an auto-return throttle 2: Being a safety teather.

talk about damage!! i would say you could fix that hole in the block, but that valve guide damage sucks!

-Phil

When I iron out the bugs in the drive system and start hitting the tracks I will most likley put on both of those on for safety. I am thinking of putting the throttle on the steering wheel.

[money89tractors]

Posted on: 25-08-2007, 22:38:15When I iron out the bugs in the drive system and start hitting the tracks I will most likley put on both of those on for safety. I am thinking of putting the throttle on the steering wheel.

That would be perfect.

-Phil

[Newbs]

Next on the list was the new rear end. The tyre size and track width is a big improvement over the old rear end.
Here are some comparison shots.



To cut a long story that is full of swearing short, after alot of cutting and shutting i went from something like this


 
To something like this



The pictures are not the best but I got it in there. After i had the wheels sitting in place i put the seat back on only to find that everything looked out of place, the wheels were too far back.



So I had to move the axle assembly forward about 4 inches, basically so it was sitting on the other side of those blue struts you can see that were supporting the old axle.

Then I had it, PERFECT!!



By this time I had the second hand magneto and full set of tins

Thats enough for today. Tomorrow I will go into detail about the drive system, how i mounted the axle, the starter, the shrouds and the bonnet. Might even post up a vid of it running - she sounds like a Harley lol

[Chris]

You've done a bunch of work to that mower, damn! I'd offer to sell you the shrouds off my parts engine, but the shipping to get them down there would be insane!

[Newbs]

You've done a bunch of work to that mower, damn! I'd offer to sell you the shrouds off my parts engine, but the shipping to get them down there would be insane!

Cheers for the offer Chris. Sorry about the lack of update in the story but i have been quite busy lately and haven't got around to taking more precise pictures. Watch this space over the next few days though for more on the story

[Newbs]

OK UPDATE!!!

Sorry all about the large period of time between chapters in the story of The Rancher but I have been quite busy.

Anyway picking up where I left off, I had just installed the rear wheels which had to be moved forward a bit. Here is a pic of the bracket I made (don't laugh at my stick-welding lol)



I then had to build a temporary clutch until I got round to fitting a smaller pulley (it went a bit too slow) which looked like this at the time (currently building a new one with two idler pulleys) sorry about the pic being in a bad position.



Newest thing on The Rancher as of tonight was the smaller drive pulley for the rear. I had an appropriate sized pulley lying around but I also needed the boss off the old pulley to mount the new, smaller one. So I basically cut the 'pulley bit' off the old one and used it as a hub to bolt the new one to. These pictures are just preliminary and when it is finished it will have 6 high tensile 1/4 inch bolts holding the new pulley to the old boss. Some pics - 1. the new pulley test fitting 2. what I cut off the old pulley.



Now for some of the odd jobs that had to be done after the new engine

Firstly, my bonnet didn't fit!! So I raised the mounting points first by bolting the two pieces of flat bar on each side until I got the right look then I welded the new mounts and removed the bolts. It pivots from the top of the blue extension mounts. I also added the piece of alloy check-plate to fill the gap a bit (looks cool too )



After I realised that my starter is dead (haven't fixed it yet) I needed an alternate way of starting my engine. So I decided to make a rope starter. My design involves the rim from a trolley wheel that bolts with 4 high tensile 5/16 bolts to the flywheel. The hub was an absolute perfect fit - didn't have to modify it at all (I seemed to be having some good luck that day lol) and it also works in such a way to keep the fan from flying off. Pictures are worth a thousand words -



Also in these pictures you can see how I had to modify my second hand tins to make them fit the fan (good old tin-snips)

To start the engine you loosely tie a knot around the rim with some decent rope (one turn around and tuck the end over and under with approximately 3 inches sticking out) and the add 3 - 4 turns around the rim. Give it a slight tug to tighten everything up and then give it a good rip. As you pull the knot undoes itself and the rope comes away freely - I have not had one bad start yet (ie the rope staying attached and re wrapping around the starter) TOUCH WOOD. This does me fine for the time being until I can get around to fixing the starter (not high on the priority list lol)

And here are some pics I took tonight just before packing up to have dinner of my two rides. It's a bit messy but I know where everything is



Tomorrow I will test my new rear pulley after finishing the new clutch and I will hopefully post up some pic of my agricultural long range tank adaption lol. It's been raining here to hopefully there will be some mud to tear up


Posted on: 07-09-2007, 07:11:29I am also looking for ideas for a new air filter - what does everyone else use on their B&S Twins?

[Chris]

I've wanted to do the pull-start idea on my twins for a while! How hard is it to get that thing to start like that? I figured the big twins would be a PITA to pull-start...

As for the air filter, I'm running the stockers on mine also.

[MTDrider1160]

Chris some twins came stock with pull start, if you could find a blown one and jus scrap it.

[Chris]

[Newbs]

She starts fine, you just have to brace yourself against the mower body so you don't pull the thing over from the compression of two cylinders. I prefer the pull start as it means that I don't have to worry about any electrics - less things to go wrong. I use about a 3/8 dia sailing rope (that good stuff) and a welding glove when starting it as I just wrap the rope around my hand - works a treat!

Going out now to finish the clutch and test drive the new pulley!!!

[tntchitwood]

This is a picture of my starting set-up. It is a water pump pulley off of a Chevrolet V-8.Dodge and ford will also fit. I cut a notch in it to hook a knot in the end of my rope. No chance of it staying on. As you unwind the rope(pull it) the knot comes out of the groove (like the old days). The hole in the pulley fit the flywheel bolt perfectly.The depth of the pulley cleared the cooling fins too. Starts within two cranks everytime. One when it is warmed up.

[Newbs]

This morning I finished my new twin pulley clutch. It's a bit agricultural as I made it out of spare parts but it works great! Couldn't take it for a good drive because I live in a residential area and the mower is a bit too loud but I know it works 



In the second one you can see how I used the old pulley as a boss or hub for the new one on the tranny.

Also today I took some photos of my fuel tank setup. It's the fuel tank off the parts mower I have and like most things on The Rancher, it's a bit agricultural Does the job but - and I have a huge range with it.



Basically the tank was enclosed in its own steel box-thing so all I had to do was to mount this on the mower with as minimal amount of modification as possible. When considering where to put it I came to the dilemma that it didn't fit anywhere!! and as I still wanted to be able to tow stuff I couldn't put it on the back. So I had to put it on the guard - not my favourite position as I think it looks horrible up there (makes good arm rest though) but I didn't have a choice as I needed a fuel tank and this was all I had. Plan is to get a different setup but I don't know what yet or where to put whatever I get. I am open to suggestions - I liked how Chris used the radiator overflow bottles and I may be able to fit one or two between the engine and firewall, they would be mounted high enough that they would almost gravity feed the carby so no pump problems as I think Chris had with his bottles.

This ATLM has been built to a very minimal budget as most have probably noticed - I use whatever I can find lying around the garage and try to recycle as many parts as possible and get creative Those alloy SHS pieces that are under the fuel tank are offcuts from a pool fence for example and my parts mower I traded my gokart for (good swap imo, the gokart was a pos lol) I hope I am inspiring people as everyone on here has inspired me!!!

Youtube clips of engine running are coming!!
Posted on: 08-09-2007, 07:33:14OK lets see if this works - Here are a couple of vids of The Rancher running, they were taken just after putting the new exhaust on so I was pretty excited. My neighbour came over after hearing all the commotion and said it sounded like his old Harley I took it as a compliment

   

[kiwimowerracer]

And here are some pics I took tonight just before packing up to have dinner of my two rides.

OK UPDATE!!!

Hey Newbs.

Good to see the Kingswood taking pride of place next to the mowchine? You've done a ship load of work and it looks great.  I had a pile of pictures on my build but for the life of me, I can't find em all (dang thats sad) But I have slapped a link to all I can find currently here.  You will need to use this password   Relic to gain access.

http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa249/nzMoa_photos/

Brew's Matey..

[Chris]

Those are some good ideas, this should be mandatory!

Seriously, there have been SO many times where I had to walk home due to a dead battery! Usually at like 10:00pm in the winter, in the dark, when it's snowing, about 5 miles or more from home, and I don't have a flashlight....

I really hated that mower for like a month straight