New Guy From Wisconsin

Hey guys, I'm Austin, I'm 19 Years old, I go to college to become a welder, And im going to working at a place that rebuilds and rehabs small engines, And i have taken a class at my HS that delt with re building small engines. I ran across this site a few days ago and i have been creepin the fourms and i'm gunna build a wicked A/T mower in the future. But i first need to know what kind of mower is best, what parts to use, and what are the common up grades. Im not new to fourms at all by any means. I'm on GMT400.com ('88-'98 For Fullsize Chevy and GMC), GreenTractorTalk.com ( for the '46 JD Model B I Have), And 3WheelerWorld.com For the '82 Honda 185S i have. Any info on what to get, what to do for mods would be nice. I have a welder at home, a metal bandsaw, ect so i can build anything really. I know for a fact imma do the 4 bolt hub mod, Custom Bumpers, Skid Plates, Weld Posi in the rear, K&N Filter thats a Snorkel, And Re-Locating electronics up higher for mudding and going through water. I cant wait to hear back and cant wait to get a mower and start building!!!

Welcome to the fourm, where in wi are u like the town? Im In sparta

I recommend the older squarish craftsmans. They are really rugged and easy to mod.

xxXMowerdudeXxx wrote:

Welcome to the fourm, where in wi are u like the town? Im In sparta

I'm over in Wisconsin Rapids, But i go through Sparta to ge to LAX quite a bit.

TheRainbowBoxer wrote:

I recommend the older squarish craftsmans. They are really rugged and easy to mod.

Okay, Thanks, We have one of those at my house for mowing my huge hilly backyard, And we got a '06 24 Horse Chraftsman for the front. Now what are some good mods to do? I got a list going in one of my notebooks right now. im on my hour off period at my college, i got my metals science class next so im killin time before that haha

#1 - Pulley swap (more speed and use of the power the engine is capable of)
#2 - Lock the rear end
#3 - Tighten up the steering if going somewhat fast
#4 - Reinforcing stress points on the frame (around the front axle is particularly bad)
#5 + - Use your imagination

TheRainbowBoxer wrote:

#1 - Pulley swap (more speed and use of the power the engine is capable of)
#2 - Lock the rear end
#3 - Tighten up the steering if going somewhat fast
#4 - Reinforcing stress points on the frame (around the front axle is particularly bad)
#5 + - Use your imagination

Thanks man! I was also thinking about running some offroad lights, making a foot throttle, ect.

Foot throttle! Yes... that should be about #2b

TheRainbowBoxer wrote:

Foot throttle! Yes... that should be about #2b

yeah. I really wanna mount all electronics up high, and make a water proof box on the back of the dash to put them in, so i dont need to move switches ect. then all wires will be run through heat shrink to keep moisture out also. Any other suggestions?

When i get home I'll make a video of the mowers i got right now, might use the old one for the build or may buy a whole new one.

Any Craftsman/ Murray will just about do, they make rugged frames unlike MTD who prefers stamped steel thats 1/16" thick. Youll want a geared transaxle though, a hydro wont do it.

Youre a GM guy, huh? Youll fit right in, I love my 90s Sierras.

When you say electronics, are you adding anything? Stock, there isn't anything that minds getting wet. Maybe the starter soloniod will die after too many soakings.

Take a glance through the links in my sig, maybe get some ideas there. Plenty of other builds here to look at also.

Doug Fackler wrote:

Any Craftsman/ Murray will just about do, they make rugged frames unlike MTD who prefers stamped steel thats 1/16" thick. Youll want a geared transaxle though, a hydro wont do it.

Youre a GM guy, huh? Youll fit right in, I love my 90s Sierras.

Okay, Thanks! And yep, Whole family is GM. Got a Trans Am and a Grand Prix in the garage, And the Sierra and the Blazer that's out in the driveway.

Stretch44875 wrote:

When you say electronics, are you adding anything? Stock, there isn't anything that minds getting wet. Maybe the starter solenoid will die after too many soakings.

Take a glance through the links in my sig, maybe get some ideas there. Plenty of other builds here to look at also.

Just some lights maybe, and ill relocate the solenoid up higher.

1993-Sierra-Z71 wrote:

Doug Fackler wrote:

Any Craftsman/ Murray will just about do, they make rugged frames unlike MTD who prefers stamped steel thats 1/16" thick. Youll want a geared transaxle though, a hydro wont do it.

Youre a GM guy, huh? Youll fit right in, I love my 90s Sierras.

Okay, Thanks! And yep, Whole family is GM. Got a Trans Am and a Grand Prix in the garage, And the Sierra and the Blazer that's out in the driveway.

We like our two Chevys for driving around town or long trips but the Ford is the one for towing, the one dodge is just sitting doing nothing because we have a Ford.

Well today was a day where we didn't have any rain and went to start the 24 horse '06 Craftsman, And the battery's dead. Same goes for the old '96 or so 14 horse Craftsman... stupid. At least i got 2 battery chargers, and they are parked by an outlet.

I'll get a pic of em up.

I took some pictures of the Mowers and of my backyard. My house is built on the side of a hill, which used to be the bank of a pre-historic river bed, so my backyard is really hilly, so it makes an excellent place to go wheeling in the Sierra, and on the 3 wheeler, and i cant wait to do some climbs on a modded mower, i get stuck in a small sand pit all the time mowing haha. I'll post them later, i got some racking and some thatching to do in my front yard yet before the sun goes down.

Getting them off my camrea as i type this!

Now to upload them on Flikr...

Heres some pics! http://www.flickr.com/photos/61910056@N05/sets/72157633488818394/

Welcome to the forum, I am also from Rapids.

Really? sweet!