TMJ's Craftsman LT1000 Conversion Thread

you dont need breaks lol

I dont remember any cubs running 15mph. Speed feels different on a sloppy mower in a tight area. There are some good free speedo apps for smart phones that work off of GPS. sometimes its kinda tough to run top end while trying to steer, shift and hang on to the phone at the same time. A little duct tape might come in handy.
I also have an audio tach for the phone. Its mainly for RC engines but has a setting for a 4 stroke, 2 cylinder engine. I have not checked with a good tach but it seems to be pretty close

i use a old Automotive GPS receiver for the mph

I don't have a phone, let alone a smart phone. Tomorrow, I'll put the two pulleys I got on and we'll see how fast it goes then.

Ok, I'm really having fun now. I now have a larger pulley on the engine and a smaller one on the Tranny. This thing is now flying at about 20mph. I ain't going to make it any faster. I think I have a 2" pulley on the tranny, and a 3" on the engine. Any bigger and the clutch would have to be moved. I'll get some pics here in a little of the dual idler setup I made.

Thats how i did my rear pulley but mine was a little smaller. I really like the way this trator looks those tires/wheels look awesome

I do to. Hopefully I can get the front end tighter. I'm wondering how some of the folks here beefed up theirs. Here is the idler pulleys. No custom fab work needed. All came from the mower deck. It is adjustable in two ways:One idler can be moved away, or closer to the other for different drive pulley or belt sizes, and also, the whole assembly is spring loaded so tension on the belt is constant. Boy, the clutch pulley barely fits.
PS, which horn set do y'all like: Short horn, or LONG horn?

Wow, nice pulley set up! I wish i could do something like that haha. And i like the long horns better, but i'd make them point towards the front.

When you say git the front end tighter you do mean the steering correct. I just finished fixing mine after some bushing and grease and a tie rod off a go kart it barely has any slack in the steering . Here is a website with all kinds of craftsman parts incase you ever need them.
http://www.repairclinic.com/Craftsman-Lawn-Mower-Parts

...Is that a Farmall Cub back behind the car?...

Thanks y'all. Yeah, I'm kinda talking about the the tie rod and the place where the spindles go into the front pivot. The plastic inserts are completely messed up, so the wheels appear to be bent inward. I believe it's called the Camber. And yes, that's actually an IH cub. It's going on 50 years old and still runs like a dream. Just tap the starter button and It's going. Leaks a lot of oil, but ya just can't kill it.

take the cub for a romp lol

It's my dad's. I have done a little romping with it before. Not very forgiving to your butt. We have a 90 HP New Holland diesel 4x4, and when winter rolls around, Is a pain to get going. We rely on this tractor to pull the big mobile chicken coop around in the fields, especially when there is frost or mud. On some occasions, when the diesel wouldn't start, we would use the ole cub to pull the coop around. Not an easy task, especially with frost, snow, or mud, but even in sub-freezing temps, It would start up right on a dime. Course, the choke is completely closed when it gets that cold. We now mostly use it for mowing and occasionally pulling a trailer with feed.

Tractor Man Jeff wrote:

Thanks y'all. Yeah, I'm kinda talking about the the tie rod and the place where the spindles go into the front pivot. The plastic inserts are completely messed up, so the wheels appear to be bent inward. I believe it's called the Camber. And yes, that's actually an IH cub. It's going on 50 years old and still runs like a dream. Just tap the starter button and It's going. Leaks a lot of oil, but ya just can't kill it.

My friend whos getting out of Lawntractors has 7 of those Cubs, He collects them. He used to Collect Cub Cadets, etc. He has 27 Cub Cadets(I Think), I was trying to buy one off of him but he said he would need like $1000 but I think I was looking at one of the Original Cub Cadets he had(Within the First 2 years they started making tractors)

Gotcha. Yeah, they are tough. Back to my tractor. I'm having trouble with the ignition switch I think. The battery always gets drained and when I go to shut the engine off, it will sputter and miss, but stay running. I'd wiggle the key and it would sputter, miss, sputter, then quit. It's still firing when I turn the key off. What is the problem here?

Considering how many lawn tractors I've had to rewire could you maybe draw me a schematic? I could remake it for you.

All I did was ditch the sensors. Otherwise stock. I'll have to look at it good to draw it out. It's a mess of probably worthless wires.

I am on a Farmall forum a lot and there is a guy in ohio that owns 37 cubs and lo boys. I myself own a 1950 Cub

Wow. That's pretty cool. Well guys, I was trail riding in the woods with my mower, scouting out places to hunt. I came across this BIG fallen tree, about 12" in diameter. I tried to drive over it and got the tractor caught in a bind and bent the tie rod again. No, the tranny didn't grenade. I was able to find a tree and bend it back enough to drive home. So she's in the garage so I can get it fixed. Next time I'm at that place, I'll take a pic of it. I'm also fixing my ignition switch. I've got a pull/push switch for the ignition, now I need to find a push button for the starter. Still trying to figure out which color wire does what.

Been a while. Had to take a break from the wiring job. Got it somewhat done. Enough to drive it. Still need to figure out where to wire the alternator wire and meter wire. I did strengthen the tie rod by welding a heavy steel rod onto the side of the tie rod. Also, I decided to give my front tires and hubs to my brother for his go kart, which is what they go to. So, I have the stock wheels on the front. Looks rather stupid, but it's temporary. Any way, thanks to Sandy, I got a taste of mud bogging, courtesy of 4" of continuous rain. Covered the thing in muddy water. It was fun, but I got rather soaked and cold. Might try it in pure mud tomorrow if the rain stops.

could you post a picture of how you have the spindals extended

Sure. Had to make em longer for the ATV hubs.

thanks for the pictures i might have to copy that

One thing I learned is to make a V cut on the axle that your welding on, kinda like a pencil tip. IF you don't, it wont get good penetration and will break, like mine did.

im confused

Instead of just butting the piece of metal flat against the end of the spindle, Make a pencil tip like cut on the end and then but it and weld. This allows more penetration. Hope that helps.