Craftsman LT1000 Mudder

I started with a prime LT1000 I got for Free. Previous owner had a plow on it and fryed 2 hydo transaxles and was done with it. I welded up a 6 speed spicer I had from another sears mower and slapped it together. Put some 22x11 knobbies on the rear.

Put a 4" pully on the motor and a 4" on the transaxle. Used a eye bolt from a plow and extended the clutch spring so it wouldnt slip as much. Then started on a front bumper.


I used old sears deck hanging brackets for the mounts a piece of 2x3 1/8 wall square tubing.

Added a cut down handle bar from a jet ski for a brush gaurd/ grab bar.

Added some D-Rings.

And some Paint.

Installed.

Next project is 18x9.5 front tires. Waiting to find a set of 8" front wheels with bushings though.

Front View


First Romp!!! No action pics sorry. Stalled it out hitting a 2ft. mudd hole in 6th gear, brand new air filter was packed full of mud and had to empty some water out of the engine. Need to rework the clutch system, belts spin if I go above 3rd gear. Thinking about lifting the transaxle an inch and setting up a dual belt system with an adjustable tensioner so if the belts stretch I can compensate for it. More updates as soon as I get some time off from work and life.

Thas a really nice tractor cant wait to see more.

Thats one sexy mower haha! I freakin love that bumper too lol.

THanks for the compliments guys no new updates yet. My to do list has grown though the locked trans axle unlocked its self. I used fearless method and the only thing I can think of is the welds on the center pin broke. The case is fine and it still drives just tires will spin opposite like an open diff would. So before anything else its gettin an 820 with a solid chromoly axle and a lock up kit. While im doing this Im gonna see if I can rig up dual belts.

Alrighty some updates after alot of nonsence switching jobs and finding free time i worked on the mower.  I fixed the the broken locker, fixed the slipping clutch, made my exhaust for it and a winch mount.  hope yall like it

After tearing the transaxle apart I found that the welds on the center pin for the side gears in the differential had broke making it an open diff again.  I fixed that

Before re assembly i found some rubber and cut new axle seals and also installed a metal tire valve stem. I removed the core and drilled it a little bigger so I can use it to fill the case with gear oil as well as greese.

greased er up rtv and ready to go

Well soon after fixing the clutch setup I broke something else.  I should have known if the tractor could launch wide open in fourth gear and not slip the belt at all somethin else was gonna give.  It sheered the key way out of my trans pully so ill need to get a new one of those and a new woodruf key.  Anywhoo ill post pics of the clutch set up tommorow or the day after.  Today I got new exhaust on the mower.

It consists of a 1" you-weld-it header kit and an RLV silencer from BMI karts and some 2 1/4 exhaust tubing


Came out pretty good I put one support on the exhaust going to the frame right behind the muffler need to add another so it dont get ripped off




Also finally installed my winch thats been sitting in my basement for almost a year still need to wire it up but the mount is solid.  It will rip the frame inhalf before the winch and front bumper come off.



I had to cut a whole lot of plastic off the hood to get it to fit back on. also had to rework the standard sears pivot and remove dealy on it.  Also more pics to come wen it quits raining

Next plans for the mower include a front skid plate. I need to get one more piece of flat steel for that. And some new rubber. The fronts are a little on the small side and look ***** comparred to the 22" rears. Im gonna get a set of 7x5 3/4 front rims with 3/4" high speed bearings from bmi karts. Then ima mount a set of kenda K530 pathfinders on the front size 18x7x7. For the rear ill be puttin on 3/4" hubs with a 4 on 4" bolt pattern with some 2" offset 10x8 ITP wheels wrapped in 22x12x10 Kenda k299 bear claws. Mind you this isnt gonna happen tommorow I need to get a little money together but the front wheels and tires will happen first. I have lots of other little things to get done to the mower between now and then and ill try to keep yall updated nothin major just little things that will help it function better for me.

I like a few things, the locker, exhaust, and front bumper. Great multi purpose trail rig, has all the key essentials and more.

Like that tractor man, just wondering how much the silencer was off bmi?

I have a set of 8" with needle bearings (heavy duty) and a set with the metal bushings... perhaps we can work out some kind of trade?

This is the link for the silencer. there a little expensive but they work awsome for getting rid of the nasty raspy sound and backfiring you normally get with straight piping.

http://www.bmikarts.com/RLV-Muffler--1-or-1-516-_p_885.html

Cool build and I like the exhaust on your tractor looks beast.

No new tires yet bud did a few other things. Got my new pulley on the transaxle and it was a little smaller than the previous one. This caused my belt to slip like before so the only reasonable thing I could think to do was put on a bigger engine pulley. I got a hub and a 5" pulley from tractor supply and the belt is banjo string tight again. Still need to test it out and put the gps on it to see the new top speed. Also picked up a set of walmart special led lights I plan to use to replace the stock sears ones. And one other thing made a wheelie bar from scrap angle iron to help avoid from doing backflips anymore. Pics here in the next day or two

I like this tractor, it seems like a good all around build. I espicially like the front bumper and i dont think your axle will unlock again anytime soon!

it should be pretty fast, those spicers are geared higher then there peerless counterparts. this is a very neat build, good job.