LawnBoy UTLTV aka MULE

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...

i would send a link of a craigslist ad but its in louisiana and so that would be a lot for shiping

Well... I just yanked the sump. There's a whole lotta metallic sludge in there... crap. Lower crank main bearing looks good, but obviously something is seriously wrong. I'm betting its the upper. Ill probably pull the flywheel tomorrow after work.

Meanwhile, I have a lead on a free 12hp, and a 15.5 for $75. Free is better, but I wouldnt mind the power upgrade. Just waiting to hear back...

15 1/2hp it shall be... I never heard back about the freebie 12hp last night, but when I refreshed the ad, it was gone. Not surprising, considering that it was an entire tractor, and it simply wouldn't start this year. That would have been a bonus, because we all know darn good and well it would have simply needed a carb cleaning.so, I emailed the guy with the 15 1/2, and will probably pick it up after work Friday.

Don't know for sure, but I think I will have to rework a few things, as I suspect the new engine is an OHV. I'm just trying to figure out the horsepower rating. Having looked around on the interweebs last night, I think the general specs are the same as a 15hp. So, what's with the extra 1/2hp? Marketing?

It probably has some chrome on it, that's good for 1/2hp at least.

I've gotten 14, and 14.5 briggs that appear identical, and 12/12.5

Only way to get the good free stuff is be online when posted, not doing anything, and close to it.

I couldn't do any better. The ad was only a couple hours old, and no phone number. At the mercy of email...

Wanna hear a funny? About a year ago, I sold a Briggs 15hp OHV vertical in perfect condition about a year ago because I didn't really have a purpose for it... D'oh!

I'm not sure I've ever sold an engine, or transaxle. Need to sell some transaxles that we don't use anymore.

I've got a pile of engines, but they are mostly 10-12 hp briggs flatheads. We have gone to twin opposed and v twin briggs. I only have one spare for them. Need about a 14-18 hp engine for a bolens, so I can mow with it.

Local guy has piles of them, sells for around 125 each, which isn't too bad. I'm just too cheap.

O, on the alternator issue, I found my briggs book. I think you can use the bigger stators underneath the single cylinder engines. 10, 12, and 14 (if I remember right) was the size for the bigger ones on the twins. They all used the same regulator/stator, but magnets in the flywheel were different for each output.

Most people set up a pulley on the flywheel to drive a car alternator.

Or, could drive a compressor with a belt, use an a/c one, with clutch. Then install a hydraulic pump and hydraulic winch!

Thanks for the tips.

Knew about the different sized magnets on the twins because I scored an FSM for those engines after I got the 18hp for my racer. I don't have as much info on the singles.

Okay- If the weather will co-operate with me this weekend, I guess I got some work to do! Got me a 1994 28ci 15hp OHV Briggs single to go in. Ain't gonna be plug and play, though- the exhaust dumps on the right side of the tractor (not the left like the flathead) and thanks to the OHV design, I now have to completely re-do my winch mount, moving it forward 3" or so.

On the plus side? 3hp more, and an OHV... Bring it!

i have the 14.5hp version real nice engines

Yes, they are. Here's the obnoxious part-

About a year ago, I got rid of an identical engine. I just never foresaw using it! It wasn't big enough for my racer, and I had no other tractors... Way to go, stoopid!

Okay- the weather was decent enough today, and I got at 'er!

Reconfigured the winch mount and fairlead, to move them 3" forward. Bolted the engine in, got everything connected, changed the oil, and lit it. The engine started right up, and ran like a champ from the word "go". I did some hacking and welding to relocate the exhaust system to the other side of the tractor. When I went to out the belt back on, I found that the new engine/pulley combination located the pulley an inch or so too far down. After examining things, I grabbed the pulley off the original engine, and that put the belt in the right spot.

Got it all back together, and had a great romp in the mud.

how far did you have to move the winch forward

3". I used the old front mounting holes for the back of the winch, and built up the front platform and new front mounts using some 2" angle and some 3" plate.

Well- the weather totally sucked today. old, windy, wet... Even a bit of s***!

I only spent about an hour outside, long enough to throw together a rear bumper and hitch. I used some 1" thickwall SHS to run from the transaxle brackets back to the bumper, and some 1 1/2" SHS for the bumper itself. I will cap the open tube ends on a nicer day. The hitch platform is 3x4" 1/4" angle, cut and shaped to suit.

do you have any other braces besides the trans axle mounts

Not yet. It was raining and snowing and hailing... There were locusts, the bubonic plague... LOL- the weather sucked, bad. I stopped before I could get that far. I was thinking about secondary bracing.

Some 1 1/2" Sch40 gas pipe, and a coupla bent sections from an old hockey net, and VOILA!

you may want to have something that sticks out the front that you could grab to pull on and to protect the winch

Yes- I struggled with that idea. Well, the winch is safe, it's behins the 2x2x1/4" angle iron, but the fairlead is vulnerable. I have 2 problems-
1)Putting something in front of the fairlead might result in the cable rubbing on whatever's there
2)I'm trying to avoid extending the front overhang any more than I have to.

Thoughts?

bmx bike handle bares fliped upside down and the hadles cut off and u could ajusted the angle

So- a hoop that goes forward of, and above the fairlead?

are u fermilure with fearles fronts videos i was thinking like the front bumper on his murray

I've seen a couple of them. Most recently it was the emergency rope-start mod (which- as you can see- I did).

Hockey net? theres plenty in Canada right? hahaha jk, I really llike the clean front look. what color are you painting it?

The wife wants camo. Plus, she has some waterproof camo fabric we'll use to make a canopy.