new guy

[sven_502]

Hi folks, new to this forum, and I must say dang a bunch of you have some cool looking mowers. I actually just picked up another mower, I have two now.

          My first one is a craftsman cube tractor that came with an 11hp briggs, but it blew a connecting rod out the block, so I just have it sitting on the bench. I managed to get my hands on a 1997 (I think) Kohler CV22S V twin, which is a 22hp v twin, 624cc, with 1800hrs on it roughly (and I didnt mention the best part, it was FREE).  And much to my luck, it bolted right in. The hood doesnt fit on, since the exhaust takes up the mounting brackets space ( it needs to be somewhat quiet because I live on a horse farm) so I need to figure out a solution to that problem. It's a 5 speed, what transaxle I really dont know. The front is I believe a 4.5 inch pulley that was on the mower I stole the engine from, and the rear is a 2.5 inch pulley, I cant remember what belt size, but I think it's between 80-82 inch. Anybody else that is thinking of trying a 2.5 inch rear, don't. They're too small for the belt to get a decent grip and slip under hard throttle application, so I need to change that too. It's got a bunch of things I need to change for my personal preferance and safety, I'm working on it slowly, I've managed to tighten the steering somewhat.

I have a video on youtube, feel free to comment on it if you like, please nothing rude.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=o4-BdM-xZVQ

       The other lawnmower I just picked up is mastercraft, it's an 11hp briggs that doesnt run, I think valve seal problems. It's a 6 speed CVT style drive system, we have another craftsman like this it's quite a hoot, because they do the same speed in reverse as forward, although I wouldnt recommend that idea I hope to get this one running, and possibly keep it as a mower, or maybe make an offroad machine, I havent decided yet.  I have some pictures of it too but I dont know how to post them, and I do know that theres a picky size limit so maybe somebody can point me in the right direction there.

     Anyway happy to finally find a forum where people offroad lawnmowers, most people seem to kind of frown on it. 

[MOWchanic]

Welcome to the ATLMA!

Good video! And sounds like you can have some awsome off-roaders with a little work....

On craftsmens they work Great! You can check out my build  in the project build section. Its titled "MOWchanics Modified Build"

Craftsmens are heavy duty and with a little work can be awsome off-roaders....

If you need any help or have any questions just feel free to ask!

Tyler

[sven_502]

Cool. I looked at your craftsman build, how you're building your foot throttle, nice job. I need to figure out a foot throttle system for mine, I built a crappy hand throttle from a bicycle brake handle and cable, trust me it sucks dont try it lol. My craftsman does 37mph with 18 inch tires, and 42mph with 20 inch tires, as says my friend's gps. Mowers are quite suprisingly fun toys, im surprised i dont know anybody near me thats into making them offroad/go fast.

[MOWchanic]

Heres a gear ratio chart that I came up with-

FINAL GEAR RATIO’S

Take you rear pulley and divide it into your front pulley, multiply that times your engine RPMs, divide that by top gear tranny ratio (12 if its 12:1) save that number. Then tire size (14", 15", 16") X 3.14, take that number X the saved number = inches per min. Multiply that times 60 = inches per hour, divide that by 12 = feet per hour, divide that by 5280 = Miles Per Hour

FOOTE 4010 2 SPEED W/ REVERSE
1st GEAR RATIO~38.67:1
2nd GEAR RATIO~19.92:1

AT 4,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~5.53 MPH
2nd GEAR~10.74 MPH

AT 5,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~6.91 MPH
2nd GEAR~13.43 MPH

6 INCH ON FRONT AND 6 INCH ON BACK!




FOOTE TRANNY WITH 6 ON FRONT AND 3 IN REAR

AT 4,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~11.07 MPH
2nd GEAR~21.49 MPH

AT 4,500 RPM’S

1st GEAR~12.45 MPH
2nd GEAR~24.18 MPH

AT 5,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~13.84 MPH
2nd GEAR~26.86 MPH

FOOTE TRANNY WITH 8 ON FRONT AND 3 IN REAR

AT 4,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~14.76 MPH
2nd GEAR~28.65 MPH

AT 4,500 RPM’S

1st GEAR~16.60 MPH
2nd GEAR~32.24 MPH

AT 5,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~18.45 MPH
2nd GEAR~35.82 MPH


But keep in mind I have a 2 speed W/ Reverse foote transaxle.... These are not the best transaxle in the world thats why I am currently working on finding a 5 speed foote or at leats a peerless.

For my foot throttle here what I did-



I ordered MSC'S (Midwest Super Cub) Gas pedal special for this month....

http://www.midwestsupercub.net
On the front page its there... You get 2 gas pedals for $50 plus $12 dollars shipping... I didnt think it was a bad deal at all....

Tyler

[Chris]

I really hope that you have that thing substantially upgraded to be handling those speeds.

[sven_502]

Yep. I'm trying to figure out how to do brakes, not really sure what way to go about it, but ovbiously the stock one isnt really meant for stopping you at anything over 5mph. I have the steering upgraded by me, it's almost completley tight. Almost, very little play, which is a whole leap ahead of what it used to be. It handles half decent now, but I'm looking at welding the front axle stiff. My problem with welding the front axle though is then theres no articulation for bumps offroad, so I was thinking of maybe a shock idea, something to stiffen it up. I only really use mine to drive around in circles on the 1/2 mile track you see in the video and sometimes through my atv trails in low gears.


Mowchanic, doesn't yours bog alot when you switch into gear 2? I usually shift mine 1, 3, 5 since my shifter is relocated out the side. I have no idea how high my kohler revs, I'd guess 4000-4500 range, maybe 5 but doubt it. I dont hold it there very long, just so it doesnt throw a rod or something(ask me how I know this).

[MOWchanic]

FOOTE 4010 2 SPEED W/ REVERSE
1st GEAR RATIO~38.67:1
2nd GEAR RATIO~19.92:1

AT 4,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~5.53 MPH
2nd GEAR~10.74 MPH

AT 5,000 RPM’S

1st GEAR~6.91 MPH
2nd GEAR~13.43 MPH

6 INCH ON FRONT AND 6 INCH ON BACK!


Second not really.... I am getting more torque out of 2 gear then first.... I am still running a 6 in front and 6 on back and the chart above that I posted shows what my speeds are in diffrent RPMS. Notice I went to 5,000 bont wont actually spin it that high until I get a scatter sheild or ARC Flywheel.  Over all it seems to handle good.... I threw my old 8hp I got running a couple days ago and went for a quick test aride around the back yard and I am over all happy... Cant wait till I get my 12hp Monster in there...!

Tyler

[Chris]

sven, you have read the rules, right? What class will this mowchine be for? Depending on the class you'll have to make that axle solid or you can throw some suspension on it.

[muddydeer]

Really cool video. I use to have a lifted jeep zj and it was SOOOO expensive to repair and to find places to go offroading then I started taking my tractor and building it up to offroad and I really got in to it. Meanwhile the other offroad forum I was a part of really harassed me hard about it and they were geared tward all offroading not just jeeps also. Well those C++KS**KERS  at the offroad club in WNY ended up getting shut down. The club is just gone. I wonder why. Well f**k those people who frown upon it. Really it is a smarter thing to do for 3 reasons
1-NOT EXPENSIVE
2-DONT NEED THAT MUCH ROOM
3-not a million people do it so they are not always knocking your hoopdie (offroad lawn tractor)

[creed]

welcome