Been lurking awhile, first post with new project. Lifted Craftsman!

Hey All,
I've been checking this site out for a while. I normally restore 50's and 60's garden tractors for my kids and I to show and drive at shows and parades. I saw a lifted tractor at a show last year and I was hooked. I knew I wanted to build one but wanted to do my research first before I jumped right into it. I decided on a Craftsman to lift. Found this one a few niles from home. It was owned by and old guy who had a little 1/8 acre lot and washed it after every use and stored it in his garage. The tractor is mint and has no rust or corrosion. The original black frame paint is perfect. I set off to find out how most guys lifted them. I found anywhere from mild to wild. I didn't want to put a ton of money into this so I decided to just go for the easiest but tough set up. The attached pictures show my progression so far. I am using a set of 12 inch 5 lug aluminum rims for the finished setup. I plan on running 23x8.50-12. I have a used set I am using for the mock up and will decide for sure when the lift is finished before I buy the final set. I am going to machine my own set of hubs for the rear. The front end will use trailer spindles bored out and welded over the the existing ones with trailer hubs added.

Here's where I'm at so far:

looks cool, are you using new tires all the way around?

Near mint for sure, looks like it just rolled out of the showroom!

Be sure to use some diagonal supports for your rear lift, I would hate to see your extension get bent backwards.

Keep us updated though, shes looking great already! Nice lift by the way, I need one of those.

I ran out of 1" square tubing to do the diagonal bracing (Tractor Supply only had one 4' piece in stock.). Hopefully Home Depot will have some when I stop there tonight. I do plan on getting new tires all the way around for it. The lift is a must have in the shop. Saves on the back. I found this one on Craig's List last year. I totally stripped, primed, and painted it. Works with an electric winch. Ramps are adjustable to compensate for different width tractors. Paid $300 for it but I consider it priceless!

[quote="fireman"]Hey All,
I've been checking this site out for a while. I normally restore 50's and 60's garden tractors for my kids and I to show and drive at shows and parades. I saw a lifted tractor at a show last year and I was hooked. I knew I wanted to build one but wanted to do my research first before I jumped right into it. I decided on a Craftsman to lift. Found this one a few niles from home. It was owned by and old guy who had a little 1/8 acre lot and washed it after every use and stored it in his garage. The tractor is mint and has no rust or corrosion. The original black frame paint is perfect. I set off to find out how most guys lifted them. I found anywhere from mild to wild. I didn't want to put a ton of money into this so I decided to just go for the easiest but tough set up. The attached pictures show my progression so far. I am using a set of 12 inch 5 lug aluminum rims for the finished setup. I plan on running 23x8.50-12. I have a used set I am using for the mock up and will decide for sure when the lift is finished before I buy the final set. I am going to machine my own set of hubs for the rear. The front end will use trailer spindles bored out and welded over the the existing ones with trailer hubs added.

Here's where I'm at so far:





















what are u going to do when ur done? take her muddin or to shows. or both

Looks pretty nice so far.

If I had to guess, this will be a show/drive for fun deal? Looking at the garage and other projects, I'd guess this is not a beat on it, get stuck in the mud build.

[url=http:www.flickr.com/photos/avrappy/ My Craftsman]My Craftsman[/url]

I have one with a 8hp. B&S in it.

Wow, only $300? Those are like $800 i think in Northern Tool. You got some lucky. I just drag my body across the concrete floor.

Strictly show and parade vehicle. I did all my romping and thrashing 25 years ago. All my tractors stay in my heated workshop.

It looks good.
I like how you did the lift

So after spending a few hours this morning in the shop I got the rear lift done. I put the mock up tires on and got the front end up on jack stands. Next I'll pull the front end apart and start laying out the lift for that. I think I may scrap the factory front axle and spindles and just make my own.

You got a dang good start cant wait too see more of this build. Im actually going to fix my driveshaft on my lifted craftsman in a couple hours so i can go on a ride today

OOH, you put a diesel in that older tractor?? That's to cool. I imagine its got some torque. And nice start. I can't wait to see the bigger wheels on it.

So today was a marathon down in the shop. Started at 8:30 this morning and just came up for air at 3:00pm. I got the front end lift figured out, fabricated and tacked into place. Decided to use the existing set up. Cut the welds attaching it to the frame then cleaned it all up with a grinder in preparation to lower it. still have to add some lateral support to stiffen it up. The front and rear axles are now sitting at the same height off of the ground which is what I needed to run the same size tires all around. Probably going to add two small go-cart shocks to slow down the rocking motion up front.

PS: and yes I put a real Yanmar L70 into that little Wheel Horse Tractor. Gave it a foot throttle to. If you want to see a thread about the build check it out here, there's some videos too:

My Diesel Lawn Ranger Tractor

Very nice fab work sir!

Yes very nice work. I love that diesel project. Nice job. Funny we have the same names. What I wouldn't give to have a diesel in my tractor.

Ok I told myself that I wasn't going back in the shop today but I was just so motivated that I went back down. Got the lateral supports done. I used some of the stock brackets. The belt tension assembly was blocking me from mounting the tubing to the inside of the frame rail on one side so I just used the oem brackets. They actually worked out perfect.

Wow, this is looking great. Youre too good at this lol.

I didn't work on this project for the last two days. Had Boy Scout stuff to do for one of the boys all day yesterday and spent the day at a friends house helping him with his enclosed trailer today. Got home from my friends and had to do some painting that was on my chore list. Afterwards went into the shop to wash out the paint tray and brush and was staring at this on the lift. I wanted to see if my measurements actually worked out and if it would sit level when the front tires were on. Jacked up the rear on one side and removed the tire. Then leveled it out in the rear. Slid the tire on the front spindle. It went on tight against the ramp so it's were it is supposed to be. Man when I stepped back it looked perfectly level. Can't believe all the numbers worked out. Now I'm going to being working like mad so I can get this at least road worthy so I can get it outside and take it for a spin!!!

Once youre done that one you gotta make one for mud.

Only problem is we got no mud around here!

Hey is the bottom pulley level with the transaxle pulley? That would be cool if it did.

this is just me looing and guessing, but it looks like you have about 25 to 27 inches from the floor to the foot board, lol this is a really clean build man good job, im getting started on mine soon i hope, i have almost everything i need to build it

The bottom pulley was for the deck belt. It is larger than the drive pulley which you can't see.

Actually I had layed this out so that the bottom edge of the frame, which is level with the bottom of the foot boards is 24" off the ground with 23X9.50-12 tires and that's what it turned out to be. Now that I see the stance of the tractor, I'm thinking about going with a little bigger diameter tire.

Yeah mine had the same thing. I'm saying is if the bottom pulley was level with the trans pulley than you wouldn't have to do a extended shaft at the rear. Plus get a more speed.