Craftsman II Mudder Project

I got this craftsman II a bit ago and been tinkering with it here and there.
Its got a 12 hp B&S I/C it was a hydro drive but ive switched transaxle to a 3spd with high & low range.
I made my own side dump exhaust
Added a push button ignition
I took front axle off and made it pivit more but i didnt get around to adding support arms and when i tested it it broke haha but im going to build a whole new set up for the front suspension.
Also im running 22x11x8 rear tires ther carsile trail pro i think?
I also took the lever for the deck and converted it to switch my rear end from hight to low.

Current mods are better lighting/front pulley swap/fender flares/rear box or rack/bumpers and etc you's know theres all ways more things to add or mod lol.

Pics soon

first got it pulling hydro out
hydro out need to make new brackets for the 3spd
drop brackets welded these bigger nuts on for a spacer
trans in new pulley on
cut out for shifter
exhaust





push button igniton

Decent fab work. Same tractor we are using, but ours are staying low for high speed handling. Ours came with a 5 speed transaxle, swapped those out for a 820 peerless.

Yea wish i had a 5 or 6 spd but the 3spd was all i had but do like the low range for heavy pulling. Dis like the front axle set up so its all coming off and all new front end going in with 2 shocks up front

Quick video i took of it yesterday https://youtu.be/m_Am62Gu9Oc

I think I'm gonna puke... that wave effect is painful! Nice tractor from what I could see, though.

*note: I am biased as that is the same body/frame mine started out as

HAHA wow my bad it wasnt like that when down loaded it on youtbube it said videos was shaky and asked if i wanted to fix it. Idk y its like that now? lol

But i fixed it still shaky tho shitty cam lol

Well as in the video you can see my front end was F#@%ed i quickly built it and it was level with the stock front tires but i want to put bigger ones on the front so it will sit to high. Also it wasnt rigid and was weak as i didnt get around to putting support arms. But i've been messing with it some got the front hood/grill off the hood mounts off and front axle off. I cut the factory c-channel that the axle pivited in due to being bent and cracked. well i decided to use a axle off a diff tractor of mine im going to weld the seams solid and add grease fittings.

Heres some pics


As u can see its shot lol



stuff all off working on taking out the old c channel





got it cut out what a pain in the a$$



decided to use the old woods truck as a lift to work on the tractor works perfect lol redneck



welded up the stress cracks in the frame then grinded smooth afterwards




fitting square stock then welding in




adding frame strength need to pull starter&exhaust to finish fully welding it



should be alot more beefy then stock


all for today ill post more when i get around to it again

how do you like the trail pro tires i got them on my tractor to same size and everything only diffrence is i put mine on stock 9.5 width rims

i like them theydo all right i wish they were on wider rims so thers more serface area to grab but then they wouldnt fit on my tractor as i have 1'' from the side of tractor to sidewall lol if they stick out like on mine dont plan on going through the mud then go down the road or anything fast cause they throw the mud lol over all good tires in my eyes

Nice job on reinforcing the axle location. It's an area that gets beat up for sure.

ya mine on stock rims are like 22 or 23x9.50x8s lol

well i gess a long do update on the craftsman its now gone to a new home lol i sold it the other day to a kid who wanted it.
I had some fun times on it and was one of my first more modded tractor. It'll be missed lol but new better things are to come plus i got 5 more tractors to mess with lol.