Pics of the first one I built as an adult. Paid 35.00 for it and mowed with it for a couple years. These are pictures of a extra one I have, that has not been modified. Engine and deck were scrapped off it, and bits and pieces have been removed. 8hp, 30 in cut, 3 speed peerless transaxle.
It has a couple of advantages, stout frame, strong frontend, separate clutch and brake, and easy to work on. Disadvantage is rear engine, which make handling odd.
At first we just speed it up with a pulley change, and removed the deck. Over the years it got a locked rear end, reinforced steering box, reinforced spindles, belt guides, battery holddowns, removed deck, and widened the rear end. Went through a couple engines in that time, and transmission got worked on a couple of times.
Last year it underwent major surgery, lowered the seat to the frame, lowered the steering wheel, rewired, battery relocated, moved clutch pedal, and new front axle. This year I redid the front axle to the new design, and went through the steering box. It handles much better now.
It still has old school brakes on the transmission, which require constant maintenance. They tend to eat through brake pads.
Here's some pics, this is the one my son rides. (he's 14)
It used to have the original tall seat, and was called the wheelie machine. Now it is more go-kart like. It's hard to stay on when turning tight. I added foot rests and a rubber seat covering, and that helps. When the rear end drifts in a corner, it feels different than a front-engine machine.
Here's a video of a wheelie on it with the old setup.
I "think" the chains are left over from the mower deck hardware. Just one of those things that wasn't removed. It's been many years since it had a deck.
Mower is getting another modification. Going to a 6 speed peerless transaxle. Transmission has been locked, reverse chain upgraded, bearings added, gear oil, seals, breather, and welded in a higher speed gearset.
Finally got the transaxle done and installed. Had to move clutch and install a shifter with linkage. Welded in new mounts.
Engine hasn't been running right, It was spitting gas out the carburetor. I thought the carburetor was shot, but a different one did the same thing. Pull the head and the intake valve wasn't closing all the way during the compression stroke, pushing air and gas back out the carb. I pulled the intake valve and ground the end to get the clearance for the lifter, it runs much better now.
Now the pulley for the transmission took a crap, so off to fix that.
Some pics of the update. Ended up modifing the gears in the transaxle so it had some speed. Still need to speed it up a little, top speed is around 25mph. Built a nice side shifter, but no pics at the moment. Lot of fun to shift through 6 gears.
Welding them straight is not too bad. But they have to be extra clean, and heavily welded.I have lost more than one transmission because the weld broke, sent chunks through the transmission, and busted the case/gears.
Actually, it started out as a Hahn. Kind of a odd mower, but uses all the standard stuff.
Time for another UPGRADE!!!!
The 12hp was giving us fits at haspin, it got parked. So it's time to slap an opposed twin Briggs on this bad boy, and get in some POWER...
This is the 4th engine I think... Turns out the 12hp is fine, the carb bolts were loose is all. Too late! It's off, and the opposed is on.
New engine is a mix of three opposed twins. One had low compression, and was already a mix of a couple engines. Another had a bad rod. So crank and rods were swapped over to the bad rod engine. Not sure how long it's going to run, had some metal in the oil after test run. It may just be the left overs from the rod failure.
Needed to drill new mounts, weld a new bumper on to protect the engine and new gas tank location. Still need to fab up tank mount. Thankfully this engine has a fuel pump, so tank can be mounted lower. Also need to install a larger pulley on engine, and redo belt, belt guides, and clutch, for the new engine location, which is centered. Old engine we offset to one side.
Here's a video of the new engine being test run for the first time.
Crankenstein! Meanness in the making! Damn, man... That think looks like it could go all the way to Haspin AND back, without the front wheels ever touching the ground... Git' R Done!
Regarding the governor thing... I have MORE faith in an oppy living a happy life without a governor, than many other engines. Since there is no stupid counterweight system swinging around in there by an aluminum thread. THOSE are what scare me as far as potential engine damages go. I generally keep all my SB-equipped engines to 4000 because of it.
Flywheel will be fine. Rods... perhaps. Don't free-spin the pee out of it, and it should be fine.
Crankenstein! Meanness in the making! Damn, man... That think looks like it could go all the way to Haspin AND back, without the front wheels ever touching the ground... Git' R Done!
Regarding the governor thing... I have MORE faith in an oppy living a happy life without a governor, than many other engines. Since there is no stupid counterweight system swinging around in there by an aluminum thread. THOSE are what scare me as far as potential engine damages go. I generally keep all my SB-equipped engines to 4000 because of it.
Flywheel will be fine. Rods... perhaps. Don't free-spin the pee out of it, and it should be fine.
COOL RIDE!
you hit the nail on the head again, doc.I ruined my 14.5 briggs in 5 minuts without the govener, and my opposed has run for the last 5 months without it, plus the previous owner's at least 6 years of it, and it still has no metal flakes in the oil.
Stretch44875 Administrator
500+ Posts
500+ Posts
Age : 49 Join date : 2012-04-05 Points : 5701 Posts : 959 Location : Mansfield, Ohio
Wow, what a lot of work. Had a couple of hiccups along the way, the biggest being clutch and belt work. Engine is close to transmission, and doesn't leave much room for the clutch and pulleys. I finally got it working right, no belt drops, no slip when engaged, and fully disengaged when pedal is pushed.
Looks mean as heck, and goes like heck too!
Unfortunately, the transaxle popped something inside. So that gets looked at tonight, shouldn't be a big deal, I have lots of parts, and a spare tranny.
Here's a video, with all the mod's, and some drive time!
Dynamite! That thing is just a redneck rocket! I liked the comment in the video regarding the flywheel, and the miracle it would take to fail... THANK YOU!!!
Subject: 
April 24th 2012, 10:22 am
