Custom chassis

What are ya`lls opinion of a completely custom chassis usisng Lawn tractor engine /driveline? Would it have to look like a Lawn tractor or would it be considered an ATV/UTV if it does`nt ? Any opinions? Thoughts?

It wouldnt HAVE to look like a lawn tractor, if you were builindg a buggy or something.

If you havent already look at my ALKo build, that has a custom chassis with tractor parts attached. Let me make the machine just how I want it
As long as its roughly tractor based, Im more than happy. Still be awesome however you make it, but if you decide to make it non tractor (which is fine) post it in the off topic build area!

Cant wait to see what you create

I have decided to just complete my Snapper UTV by adding the rear cargo deck and without changing the front axle due to the unique transmission on it. It can`t really be modded or changed to increase speed . I really need to get it done so it can be used around the yard and that is the quickest way..
But I have a Gilson (sic), a Murray and a Montgomery Wards mower that I can use parts from or modify for an ATLT.

The Mont. Wards (Its most likely an MTD dressed up) would make a good doner, as they have decent chassis's. But it depends on whether it was the vari drive.

Chunk wrote:

The Mont. Wards (Its most likely an MTD dressed up) would make a good doner, as they have decent chassis's. But it depends on whether it was the vari drive.

It has the vari-drive. I have other transmissions. I can work something out with one of them.

The variable pulley isnt a bad thing - itll actually make a tractor faster. Its sort of like a centrifical clutch either on a go kart or snowmobile - lower the belt goes, faster it goes. I had a few minor issues with my mild mod MTD was basically a pulley allignment issue . It was screeming fast with the smaller trans pulley, altho it kept eating belts- i put a stock MTD pulley on the trans and it works good now- the custom pulley i made was too tall .


Ive never had an MTD in the mud or water yet- so im not sure how well the vari pulley would perform in those situations .

sorry for being a little stupid but what IS a vari-drive? from what i can gather there soft(break easy)

This is a pic of just the pulley ( theres a flat piece under it that bolts to the chassis) :



Theyre pretty tough actually- the only real issue is neglect- y haveta spray em with wd40 once inna while or the center part ( moves back n forth) will rust in place. Its a pretty cool design actually, it rotates with the belts and moves forward and backward while the center moves up and down when you move the gear shift to create the different gears.

A replacement one cost about $100 - its acutally cheeper to buy a junk MTD and salvage it from that.

Dont get me wrong, I love the varidrive setup, its just the single speed rear ends arent all that tough, plus water could be an issue on the belts.

If you can make a manual trans work with the vari drive in place it will be awesome, lots of choice of speed! Would essentially give you 30 forward gears (6 on the shift on the go, 5 on the tranny!)
Keep us posted

Thats on my list of 'things to do" - setting up a vari drive and a manual trans- ill use one of my old MTD chassis's i have lying around.

dangeroustoys56 wrote:

The variable pulley isnt a bad thing - itll actually make a tractor faster. Its sort of like a centrifical clutch either on a go kart or snowmobile - lower the belt goes, faster it goes. I had a few minor issues with my mild mod MTD was basically a pulley allignment issue . It was screeming fast with the smaller trans pulley, altho it kept eating belts- i put a stock MTD pulley on the trans and it works good now- the custom pulley i made was too tall .


Ive never had an MTD in the mud or water yet- so im not sure how well the vari pulley would perform in those situations .

How ` bout some more info on your use of the vari-drive transmission.Do you have any pics?I am thinking of using the pulley set-up with a standard tranny.

Just the standard setup is all i have- its even on still on my mild mod MTD ( http://atltf.forumotion.com/project-builds-f4/mild-mod-mtd-t37-60.htm )- heres the pic i took of it as it sits now- basically a stock setup:



The vari drive pulley is the one to the far left, under the gear shift knob, an idler pulley is to the right and then the large pulley is the trans pulley- i had a smaller on on there but the belts kept breaking - the lever above ( or to the right - with the notches in the frame ) is the 1-6 speed shifter ( which moves the varible pulley forward/backward as needed) - this is the way MTD built it - nothing is changed.


Instead of the MTD trans, youd put the manual trans in it place- youd also leave the speed selector in there as well and the idler pulley- since the belt needs to move around on the vari drive. Should be able to leave everything else intact - including the clutch - itd be easier to use an MTD for it, since it has the vari drive setup in it.