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 CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!

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PostSubject: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 7:08 pm

What do Y'all think? What should I do? Believe me I'm all ears! Any suggestions WILL help!


Here's The CraftsMan!

It's CraftsMan DieHard II Twin Cylinder 18HP (Let me know if you guys need anyother details!)

Thanks
CraftsManLover
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 7:11 pm

CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Img_0312

CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Img_0313
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dangeroustoys56
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 8:53 pm

Its got potential- specially with the opposed twin ( plenty of power) - i own 7 craftsman tractors.

So whats the plan for it? Offroad or hot rod? I hot rodded my 85 LT12 - had some issues ( 6" engine pulley contacted the clutch pulley and eventually the stock trans locked up from not properly prepping it and no brakes either) - so its going back to stock.

Itd be easy to mod for offroad- a few other members already have theirs set up - check out the project section.

Reguardless what the plans are- you should pull the trans, clean it and put fresh grease/oil in it - old stuff just wont cut it.
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 8:58 pm

I want to Off Road But with LOTS of speed!
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dangeroustoys56
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 9:21 pm

Speed and offroad dont mix that well - specially for crawling or rough terrain. Stock steering should be upgraded ( reinforce spindles ) as as well as decent brakes . Id also suggest a helmit . Also depends if you want it lifted or not . The 18HP will be plenty powerful - id use a foot throttle for more control . I put a 4" engine pulley and 6" trans pulley on my 3 speed agway tractor ( have yet to see how it runs) - i wanted a tad more speed ( was slow as molasses) - i also added rear tires on the front ( welded bolts on the ends of the stock spindles) and larger rear tires for a wider stance/stability. I was thinking of a 14.5HP motor or 11HP motor- its taken a back burner due to other projects and no shed time.
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 19th 2010, 9:27 pm

Yea I wouldn't be going Off Road to bad (Probably hardly any mud)

But ya I would LOVE the speed!! How fast do you think I could get this Bad Boy to go??

Whats your Suggestions on Foot Throttle??

I really Appreciate ALL of your help! Very Happy

CraftsManLover!
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 20th 2010, 7:51 am

The taller the tractor is off the ground- more unstable itll be (top heavy) at high speeds - ditch the stock steering if youre aiming for anything over 20mph - stock craftsman steering has way too much slop for anything over stock speeds - when i had my LT12 opened up - it wandered all over.

The MTD in my av pic ( to the left<<<<<) is a inital mild mod going to full bore hot rod as a prequel to my future build of a 69 wheelhorse sheetmetal on a 2003 MTD bolens chassis - which will be lowered ( 4" off the ground) , wide and real fast, but built to handle that extreme ( direct steer, brakes).

The MTD sits about 2" lower then stock , due to raising the front axle to top of chassis, lower profile rear tires and lowered seating position- just those simple mods makes it handle tons better . Actually feels like im driving a big wheel .

The MTD is my 3rd modified build ( speed wise) - first was the LT12- then came my 94 murray then the MTD.

The LT12 ( in its fast days) had a 14.5HP OHV briggs, 6" motor pulley and 3" trans pulley on the stock 5 speed trans. Top end was maybe 30mph - too fast for stock steering and no brakes. The motor pulley contacted the clutch pulley every time i engaged it with a screech.

The murray originally had a 14.5HP OHV as well ( stock) - that got the pulleys off the craftsman- basically stock at first ( tires n everything) , it ran around 30mph with a 6 speed shift on the fly. So i picked up a tractor with a 18.5HP opposed twin that found its way on the murray, i upgraded the front wheels to golf kart rims and tapered berings, and larger rear wheels and a steering wheel throttle ( still no brakes and stock steering) . 1st and second were mainly stockish speeds- after 3rd ( i never went over 4th gear) were frighteningly fast - well over 40mph and i wasnt even near wot and 6th gear for a stock tractor sitting too high and loose steering and no brakes - it scared me too much to drive it, even with a helmit on so i took it apart.

The MTD is actually pretty slow at the moment - was an experement using the stock transaxle, and variable pulley a 6" engine pulley and 4" trans pulley - so its getting the opposed twin off the murray , fixed center pulley to match the stock transaxle and ill see what that does - if its still not fast enough, its getting a spare 6 speed shift on the fly trans setup off another 94 murray i have. If i go that route, itll get a full lowering with drop spindles up front and chassis notch in the back for the 4" ride hieght.

For a foot throttle, on the twin, i removed the throttle cage assembly and hooked a bicycle derailer cable directly to the throttle plate link - i left my governer intact ( i DONT suggest moding a governer/deleting it unless it has been properly modifed to handle the extra revs ( all new internals, billet flywheel, ect) - over revving a stock motor will 1. blow it up, 2. possibly make the flywheel explode .

My murray went that fast with its governer intact and functional.

id suggest the foot throttle- as its easier to control then a steering wheel one - you run the cable to a pedal setup ( i used an old pedal off my wheelhorse on the MTD - i posted pics of it under the projects section.

Agway :
CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! File0042

foot throttle:
CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Foot_t10

mod murray before i took it apart:
CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Mod_mu10

governer/throttle setup on carb:
CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Thrott10

Pic that inspired me to build my modifed wheelhorse ( found this online - mine will look similar to it):
CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Modded10





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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 20th 2010, 9:46 am

How exactly do you make it go faster? Like what exactly do you modify to do so??

I'm new to this whole thing :\

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dangeroustoys56
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 20th 2010, 3:25 pm

All i did was change pullies on the motor and trans - you can go to TSC and get weld in center type steel pullies - dont use aluminum.

Youll need to change the steering ( look under direct steering thread under chassis modifications ) and add some sort of aftermarket brakes - stock brakes wont do anything, theyre designed for 5mph- not 20 plus.
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 22nd 2010, 8:37 am

Make Them smaller?
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Trcustoms
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 22nd 2010, 12:25 pm

CraftsManLover wrote:
Make Them smaller?
Welcome to the forum!

Smaller back pulley or bigger front, either one or both = more speed.
I like to do a 1:1 gearing for off roading, 5" front pulley 5" back, the clutch grips great too with that combo and does around 20mph.
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PostSubject: Re: CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas!   CraftsMan Build? Need Ideas! Icon_minitimeNovember 22nd 2010, 5:26 pm

As TR mentioned - stock tractors use a small pulley in front and large rear pulley- engine spins faster, but trans actually goes slower. keeps the tractor at a 'sane' mowing speed of 5-8mph . I had this parts dynamark with a 14" rear pulley! Thing only had a 8HP motor tho.

The plus about a larger front pulley is the motor is actually slower , but the larger pulley makes the pulley travel twice as fast- also makes the motor not work as hard either becuase its doing less work. The smaller trans pulley makes the trans do more work , why its important to make sure theres new grease/oil in it before modding - becuase itll spins a WHOLE lot faster .

The 3" pulley on my murray made my trans howl horribly- and that had lucas oil additive in it( best stuff i could think of at the time) - another thing is dont go smaller then a 3" trans pulley - belt will slip horribly . Stock clutches dont work that great either- Fearlessfront made a racing type clutch on his mud tractor- check out his builds.

You might want to research a little more about modifying lawntractors first before building one- i get ideas and pictures from www.heymow.com on stuff im working on. I dont suggest signing up- they dont like stuff we do - i did , mentioned i wasnt racing and they kicked me out - its a racing only forum BUT can still get ideas from other builds there.

Dont just slap the tractor together, they were never ment to go over 5mph - the 2 mods i built were totally unsafe /unstable ( from my experience - if something had broken while at speed - id probably of been looking at some ER time - even with a helmit on. Ive had plenty of slow speed crashes when out mudding ( flipping over, driving up trees) and those hurt - think of crashing at 20 plus mph . It should be built strong and safe ( as possible) .
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