LawnBoy UTLTV aka MULE

i like the compressor idea i would have never of thought of doing that

With the winch and air compressor, are you thinking of a bigger alternator? I think the stock one is 3 or 5 amps. Our batteries don't charge well, and we are running just headlights and starting. Part of the problem is mowers run for hours at high rpm, and we run much lower rpms for shorter times.

I would recommend locking the axle. We have no problems turning with locked axles, and it performs more predicable off road, and better traction.

Any plans to go faster than stock?

Any other mower projects?

In no particular order...

Is there a bigger factory alternator available? I know the twins have some good charging options. Might go to a car battery too, at some point.

I was playing with the winch yesterday while keeping any eye on the voltmeter. As you would expect, I got the best results winching with the throttle (governor) maxed. I am planning a foot throttle, but am considering leaving some sort ov override on the dash to keep it pegged while using the accessories.

I will probably swap pullies for a top speed increase, but not by very much. My purpose is not speed. But it would be nice to get from A to B in less than an hour...

Speaking of speed- yes, I am building a racer. I'm probably about 60% done. The body is a 1980 Sears LT11-36. It now sports an 18hp Briggs Oppy twin, Peerless 700, 1 1/4" hollow chromoly axle, etc.

I have 21" tires rear, and running 3 1/2" front 4 rear, and gained 4-5 mph. But I did swap out the fnr axle so I guess a setup like yours would be different. I really like this tractor.

Onboard air good idea.
I might do an air system on mine too.

Thanks fellas... Yeah- the air is a neat option. No sooner did I install it, I got to use it. My younger son wanted to ride his minibike, and as he went down the driveway (1000ft long) I saw that his rear tire was really mushy. So, I drove down and met him, and 10 seconds later, all was good...

you could put a dc-ac power inverter on it

Funny you mention that. I have a couple inverters and was thinking about it. Weather and temperature might be an issue. I can mount one in a weatherproof ammo can, but that does not solve extreme temperatures.

you could put it on the inside of the hood and have a few small battery operated fans cool it down

Heat is only half the problem. I live in Canada... LOL

[quote="Doc Sprocket"]Heat is only half the problem. I live in Canada... LOL[/quote\

ok whell the hood should keep it dry and the heat from the engine should keep it worm but tape a pice of paper under the hood and use that to see if there is any water getting up under the hood

Water? Probably... to test the winch, I backed it into the pond yesterday....lol

Will put some thought into it, but I have to decide if it's worth the aggravation. The 400 watt wont run much, the 1000 watt is likely too much electrical load. I gotta check the specs, I don't remember how many amps it draws at full load.

[quote="motorizedeverything"]

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Heat is only half the problem. I live in Canada... LOL[/quote\

ok whell the hood should keep it dry and the heat from the engine should keep it worm but tape a pice of paper under the hood and use that to see if there is any water getting up under the hood

So do I, hit 28C here today.

or you could use the amo can and put a little computer fan on the top to remove the heat

Fan cooled ammo can? Neat idea!

Yeah, it was pretty damned toasty in Toronto today. I was working in the sun all day, and am pretty much toasted. Didn't help that I burnt myself yesterday working on this.

what i would do is have the inverter plug in to were you have the jumper cables plug in

Very good idea. Then, it only travels when I need it to.

Yea I live the fingerlakes of newyork and it is very nice these past days!

I'm going to make you guys jelous its 80+ the last few days here in Western Washington

Ariens YT11 wrote:

I'm going to make you guys jelous its 80+ the last few days here in Western Washington

It hast been in the 80s here yet but it has a couple times but here lately it been in the 60-75s the last coulpe weeks.

truckin42 wrote:

Ariens YT11 wrote:

I'm going to make you guys jelous its 80+ the last few days here in Western Washington

It hast been in the 80s here yet but it has a couple times but here lately it been in the 60-75s the last coulpe weeks.

its been really nice in south louisiana mid 80s

Yeah... it's nice until you're stuck working outside for 3 days with no clouds and no shade. I am absolutely baked...
Back on topic, I think the engine ate a bearing the other evening. I'm pissed. Plain bearing engine too, so if a bearing bore is done, so is the block. Dammitall. I'm gonna rip into it this weekend and see. All of a sudden it started running really hot and shutting down. Oil appeared broken down and glimmered in the catch pan. No big metal particles, but kind of resembled a pan of metallic paint.

Ouch! Hope its just the bearing and not the block.

not good not good

Might be a scar on the crank tho.

Well... like I said- it's a plain bearing block so if the bearing is done, the block is done. Whatever is wrong is wrong, so I have already put an ad out looking for a parts engine.

Another option might be a basket case 16hp oppy twin I bought for parts for my racer. It's missing a couple things like the governor, and I've never run it but it might be an idea. Be a shame to have to redo the winch and the exhaust after I just finished it...