Getting Started on the Murray

I am not sure what year this mower is. I do know that it has a 16h B&S with a 42 inch cutting deck that is currently not attached, it also came with a snow blower attachment. The transaxle is a peerless 2348 which I will probably keep for now.

What I plan on doing to it this spring.
Pulley Swap
Lock Transaxle
4 inch lift to accommodate larger tires
replace steering rag with steering u-joint
custom glass pack exhaust
custom gas peddle
relocate brake peddle
lay some new paint

This winter I plan of ripping it down and doing the following.
Replace transaxle
Leaf spring suspension on the front end.

nice!

looks like you are off to a good start.....i like the bumper mockup!

Yah I still have to finish the bumper, figured I would lay it out and get a few pictures of progress. I work in a metal shop and operate lasers and waterjets so I have easy access to metal. The bolt hole plates to mount the tires that I made last week took a matter of minutes to draw up and cut on my machine.

Are there any suggestions or ideas that you guys think I should do or would be a better option than what I currently am thinking of doing.

For now this is what I was thinking of for a tire set up, basically what I had lying around in my basement. The rear tires that were originally on the lawnmower will be moved to the front and a set of quad tires will be put on the back. Both will require custom mounting plates to mount to the lawnmower without having to weld them on. I want to be able to change them with ease.

looks good, what pulley ratio were you gonna use

Not sure yet, any suggestions I am looking to get as much speed out of it as possible, so I can just blast through the mud. Any suggestions at all will be welcomed because this is my first build.

Maybe put a double pulley clutch is with a adjustable tensional pulley if belt streches and a 5 1/2 pulley in front and 3 in the back thats what u run and it rips *****. I only have a 16 single to and u have a twin so that probably work well
   

Hmmm that might just work to be honest it sounds better than what I was thinking. lol thanks

Metal shop sounds very handy. Nice murray, has a good trans in it, oil filled, bearings, iron case.

working in a metal shop has been very helpful not only in planning this project but others that I have worked on, and the trans does seem to be in pretty good shape, going to rip it down and go through it to make sure everything is in proper working order before I take it out on the trail and beat the ever living snot out of it.

Well I started to take her apart to see what all needed to be worked on, took off the seat to get the gas tank out so that I can properly flush it and make sure all the cork from the float is cleaned from the bottom of tank, will be replacing fuel lines and filter, and probably rebuild the carb once I get a rebuild kit. Took the hood and grill off to see about the exhaust and plan how I want to make a new one, got a pretty neat idea I think but I will make you guys wait to see what I come up with. With the grill I have a few ideas but nothing set in stone. Will keep you all posted as things happen.

not bad its looking good i like tires are they agressive

I have a murray just like that but mine doesn't have that belt driven thing by the shifter what is that?

Well to my understanding that pulley is attached to an alternator that feeds a voltage regulator and charges the battery while the motor is running. But I could be wrong.

the thing by he battery is a ragb, it allows the vertical shaft engine to run the horizontal shaft tranny with out twisting the belt

oh ok. mine just had a twisted belt.

hahah thanks that makes more sense then what I was told. Thanks Richie

oh I think I figured out how I am going to route the brake, I am going to mount it on the right fender and use a custom parking brake lever that way I can lock the brake when need be.

Well this coming up weekend I will be welding up the front bumper, building luggage rack to mount on the rear, installing gas peddle, figure out where I am going to relocate brake lever, and weld up rims and plates so that I can put my tires on.

Sounds good, can't wait to see it runnin and driving.

Well here is what I was able to accomplish this weekend started tearing her down a little more, got the bumper welded up and clamped on so I could see what it would look like and welded plates onto the inside of the rear rims so that they can be mounted. From the measurements that I have taken I will have to lift the Murray at a minimum 4 inches so that the tires clear and the clutch does not hit the front tires since they are about the same size as the rear just not as wide.

Pics look like crap because I used the ipad to take them. I will get better pics sometime this week.