Well im starting to build a lifted mudder tractor i started off with a toro 13/38 hydro tractor i got for $40 i stripped everything down to the frame as basicly thats all i wanted it for, im keeping the 13hp off it and prob going to use that for this build.The body is what i think is a 77 sears. It's going to be both belt and chain drive i got a 3spd&reverse gearbox its a foote just got that all apart/cleaned/regreased/back together. Im looking for a atv/3wheeler rear axle assy to use and im going to prob build my own front axle. Im going to run 22 in front tires and prob 25 in the rear or 25 front and 27 rear lol.
I still got tons todo small list off of the top of my head. -Build body mounts for frnt/rear body -Install /fit gearbox in -Build motor mount/plate as current one is a offset one -Build running boards for my feet -Find/Mod in a rear axle -Build the front and rear axle drop brackets -Make custom front axle or use original? -Seat -Install engine -Build custom exhaust -pulley swap -Build Bumpers -Etc
As you can tell is basic start from scratch build lol Im going to try and get as many pics and videos as i can.
Toro 13hp/38in cut hydro drive getting ready for tare down Stripping it down to bare bones lol 13 HP flathead quite engine im going to reuse in this tractor Down to the frame just the rear peice and hydro trans left to remove My 3spd gearbox im using its a Foote Nast a$$ $hit lol deff getting refreshend Had to clean and service the shift forks Gearbox cleaned and ready for new grease The gearbox all assembled and ready to go The body just sitting on the frame As you can see the rear body fits perfectly on the frame
Last edited by gearheadmike on December 21st 2012, 5:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
truckin42 Veteran Member
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Age : 26 Join date : 2012-10-04 Points : 5429 Posts : 1070
Yea im going to lift it i just dont know how high yet. I dont want it to high where its going to be top heavy but then i want it to be able to clear the tires and have that lifted stance lol
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Small update decided im only using the sears hood/grill/rear fenders and dash the center body i far to rusty. Im going to be using a agway tunnel and foot boards. I decided to go with a 10'' lift as i dont need nothing to huge lol. Im just currently trying to decide if i want the axle to pivot or leave it solid.? The drop support is 1/4'' angle long with support bars that are going to run back to the frame. Im going to run 22'' tires on it all the way around. The front axle was originally in front of the frame but i moved it back 4'' so its more under the front of the engine.
Checking to see where i want to weld it 1/4 should be plentty strong lol testing where about the axle will sit if i got with a solid axle These are the tires i will be using for now As you can see with my axle moved back it looks normal as if i were to keep it forward of the frame
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Worked on the tractor some today after deciding to go with a piviot front axle i redid the design i relized 1/4 is to mush of a pain to work with. So today i picked up some 2in angle 1/8 thick and figured out my front drop i still have to add my support bar that runs to the frame to the axle kinda like a sideways triangle lol Im going to run a basic piviot point in center where i drilled the holes. Im going to use a grade 8 3/4 bolt and in the axle it how its going to have brass bushings so they can be replaced. Im then going to get a set of shocks and mount one on each side. The lift is a 10'' lift to the top of the axle shoud be good enough. Now i have to build a front axle im not sure if i should go with 2x2in box or 2x3in box? Any ideas the spindles are going to be stock new 3/4. As im going to use bearing hubs on them.
Had to cut angle iron to fit frame better marking out where i need to weld it tacked up into place 3/4 hole drilled basic idea how its going to work with the right shocks ill still have some good travle
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Update i gess lol i got to get some pics up here tomarrow , anyways i got the gear box mounted and placed where i want it,got the shifter on it cut and re welded. Aslo got the front grill support brackets welded on and just got the mounds made for the engine just have to drill some more holes and bolt engine down. Also got the body fitted on and clearing everything. Been a little low onf funds $$ lol so i have to wait on the front axle and rear axle. Thinking of going with the 1'' x 36'' solid axle then i can get good brake set up mounted and it will all be adjustable. Also got the clutch set up kinda planted in my head of how i want it. so thats next after engine being mounted. Been tring to thing what a good pullet ratio would be as i got that 3spd gearbox and its both belt and chain drive.
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Just some random pics and ideas of what i want t odo once i get the cash to pay for the new front and rear axle setup
Rear Axle Setup Idea I wanna do for this tractor
This is the front axle with the shocks basic idea how im going to do it
Front axle building it from scratch new steel/bushings/spindles/etc
About as direct as you can get lol off a old atv i junked
Random pic of the gearbox under the body
Pic showin where the shifter is going to be
Body sitting on the frame
Just random pic of one of the body mounts and front lift support
The agway body im using now insted of the sears
The mounts made up for the grill to attach to
Front drop of 10''
random pic of the gear box mounted and the frame work which is all removable
Once i get some money i can start on front axle and rear axle and the steering. Cause with out the front axle i cant mock up the steering with out the steering in place i cant mock up the clutch lol so im at the waiting point lol
Last edited by gearheadmike on December 29th 2012, 3:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
dked41 Member
Age : 60 Join date : 2012-01-31 Points : 4734 Posts : 141 Location : central Wisconsin
Very nice! I would suggest going 3/4 or 1 inch for the front spindles, 5/8 is pretty light duty. I have bent 3/4 inch spindles and wasn't really abusing it much.
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
I used 3/4" bolts for a pair of custom spindles on my mod murray - i might scratch my setup and use hiem joints for ultimate adjustment with the steering setup - i used a MTD front axle as the base ( murray had too many bends in the stock front axle to work for lowering).
Im all set on my GT murray offroad - thing has 1" stock front spindles and 1" rear axles already.
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Yea i was thinking heim joints but theres no point in having them as i dnt need ajustment on a mudder and yea the original front axle to the toro frame sucked full of factory holes and weak looking thats y im going with a solid wall 2x3 box for strength. And its getting a direct steer setup.
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Update on the Mud Mutt i got the front axle done with all holes drilled and bushings instlled and actually sitting on the ground with front tires on it lol, Got the steering all worked out. Its got a direct steering set up with an hight adjustment for the steering shaft. I welded up 2 spots i missed on the front frame and got the steering bearing supports welded in. Now im working on getting the clutch pedel setup along with a new duel clutch insted of the original single. Im still deciding if i want to heat and twist the arm from the spindles or if i want to cut them off and reweld them on an angle to allow more room for my tierod. Well heres some pics of the steering and a video of the update.
Steering setup from and old atv i cut up, i installed a bearing with supports at the bottom of this
Another bearing added on the underside of dash alot better then the stock plastic one
top view u can see the bracket for the handle bars from the atv
Handle bars i found in the junk yard im going to shorten them down some as there a little wide
gearheadmike Member
Age : 34 Join date : 2011-11-18 Points : 5132 Posts : 392 Location : west chazy ny
Got some important rear parts i needed axle/hubs/sprocket/brake/bearings/steel/etc
I got my 2x2- 1/8th in steel and fabed up my rear lift frame,got it all tacked into place to make sure everything is fitting right be4 putting down solid welds lol.
Got clutch set all up in in working order just need to find right tension spring and maybe some little tlc on it, had to fab a custom greasable holder for my clutch pedal got the front steering shaft setup with bearing just need to buy or make my new tie rods. Got some springboxes made up just need to make 2 more for the top. Just ordered a sprocket for the gearbox and just got some #40 chain at local tsc.