Hot rod craftsman

I have a 96 craftsman rear engine rider I used as a offroad until the tranny cracked... Had a 10hp craftsman flathead, ran good but I started working on the Deere cuz I had no tranny and just let it sit. Started gettin the idea of makin it a "hot rod" or "muscle mower". Not a racer by any means just like how id rather drive a 69 coop camaro then a 2013 camaro.. I'm putting a opposed twin on it, or a v twin I like the idea of opposed but is there one that's better? More torque/quicker revs? I plan on building the engine pretty damn good like cam, billet flywheel,rods,dual valve springs, maybe some rockers and lifters? But I have a peerless 700 I need to get the input and bevell gear for it and it'll be fine! So that means I'm running a straight axle. Some fat tires on the back and skinny ones in the front. Direct steer, hot foot, chopped steering lowered a little swing arm in back with single shock, and front axle flex with a little shock on each side. What ya guys think ?

Pretty cool, indeed. But the speed parts for the engine will cost you dearly. With such an engine on a RER, build wheelie bars, you'll need them! I am not entirely sure, but I think the high-buck goodies for the oppy will be more expensive and harder to find than for the V. Truth be told, you're probably best to just do some low-buck performance work on whatever engine you choose and call it good there. It'll still have plenty of grunt.

I'm one of those guys that simply cannot understand why someone would dump $500-$1000 into an OPE engine when it's not necessary. Sure- if you're racing in a league that mandates it, okay. But if you want a LOT of bang for a much lower buck, you're better to source a used bike, quad, or sled- swipe the engine and gearbox, and sell the rest to recoup costs. You'll end up with something that cost you less, but would smoke most built OPE engines.

I want a twin lawnmower cuz I want it to still have a mower engine, and ya I would spend tje money to get it goin first do some little engine mods like polishin, but eventually I'd want to dothose engine mods lol just cuz when you think about it.. its badass ! And yes wheelie bars will be nessasary lol

Doc Sprocket wrote:

Pretty cool, indeed. But the speed parts for the engine will cost you dearly. With such an engine on a RER, build wheelie bars, you'll need them! I am not entirely sure, but I think the high-buck goodies for the oppy will be more expensive and harder to find than for the V. Truth be told, you're probably best to just do some low-buck performance work on whatever engine you choose and call it good there. It'll still have plenty of grunt.

I'm one of those guys that simply cannot understand why someone would dump $500-$1000 into an OPE engine when it's not necessary. Sure- if you're racing in a league that mandates it, okay. But if you want a LOT of bang for a much lower buck, you're better to source a used bike, quad, or sled- swipe the engine and gearbox, and sell the rest to recoup costs. You'll end up with something that cost you less, but would smoke most built OPE engines.

Agreed. Who you gunna beat? You could probably buy a bigger engine. I mean I got a 21.5 and I think I'll have my hands full there.

Ya for the mods id wana do mostly just quick revs and stroker mostly just for sound lol

heres some pics of this thing its all tore down to bare frame


chassis

the motor mount i will have to redo when i get the new twin

where the steering assembly goes through the frame

the pile lol

the old 10hp flatty

sneek peak of the deeres new exhuast

the stock "steering box" im going to modify it into direct steer

heres the video on how i made it into a direct steer. keeping the stock mountin holes, and plate. will those 3/16 bolts be tough enough or should i bump it up to 1/4 (if i can i dont know if i have enough room on the coupler....)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q2NZ-Tdiz8&feature=c4-overview&list=UUpwCVwFunAcpRKg4IR_-XPw

The Hot Rod got a engine, not what i had originally planned (being a twin) i couldn't find one around atm so i decided to throw on my old atv engine (Suzuki 160) the frame for that atv was done. im ditching the suspension in the back because i want to eliminate any weaker parts since i have this torqy ass engine now. still might do a inch or so suspension in the front so the aftermath of wheelies isnt very bad... will post pics soon!

I would not rely on those 3/16" bolts. Trouble is, you go much bigger, and you significantly weaken the shaft.

A humble suggestion:

Find a way to rig it so the bolt is not subjected to shear force, but merely keeps the coupler together. In fact, skip the bolts entirely. Picture this: Cutting both ends off a cheap socket extension. Weld the male side to one shaft, the female to the other. Now, you have a joint that is more than capable of transferring the torque without death threats. In a scenario like this, I would stay away from a cross bolt in the joint, but rather do this: Use C-clips to prevent the joint from separating. If you were to file a groove in each shaft inside the box right next to the bushings, and install C-clips, the joint could not separate. The upper half could not move upwards, the lower half could not go down.

Now, I see the point of the coupler- you want to be able to disassemble for service. Thinking ahead like this is never a bad thing. You can maybe expand or improve on my suggestion. Maybe you could use a male socket drive on each shaft, and make a coupler from 2 female drives welded together. C-Clips as above. That way, you yank the C-clips and both shafts will slide out.

got some pics of this thing

widening the front wheel base. not finished braceing it up though

how it looks with the suzuki

the rear motor mounts (will cap them)

the front mount will connect to the seat bracket to strengthen it up some

it all tached up

it welded up solid(without the flat going accross the box steel and over lapping the original axle)

temporaliy bolted on.. (ditchin the front suspenion cuz i dont want anything extra to break lol)

pretty decent weld

side angle

Sweet can't wait to see it driving with that motor on it!

Looks good so far

Wow- you got a lot of weld in that front axle. Looks like it will do the job. I'm surprised you didn't fab up a new one.

Wait till you see what I did this afternoon.... Finished bracein it up with 1/8 flat steel.... Going across the whole extended gap. Don't think it will ever break lol

On the last picture u can see were I ran a quick bead down the very end price. The axle is two pinched pieces of steel so in certain spots all around it I welded a bead to make sure they won't ever separate...

i see stamped frame.. i'd re enforce it with box steel down the sides, maybe angle crossmembers. just my 2 cents

Willis! I am going to run at least two pieces a box longways and three sideways. Underneath so you won't even notice it haha

GenevaCustoms wrote:

Willis! I am going to run at least two pieces a box longways and three sideways. Underneath so you won't even notice it haha

sounds good!

Might have to copy that front axle idea some day!

I also just noticed your exhaust. Under the running board, where the pipe goes into the bull end of the tee... That restriction is not going to do your engine any favours. You might want to re-think that.

Those are 3/4" spindles with bearings i imagine? Thats why i like old rer tires and axles,  my racer if full ball bearing front and rear axles/spindles.

Doc I thought about it and ive been runnin it for while now though... Idles perfect (better actualky) and revs nice no backfirin and actually ts workin great lol

finsiihed up the front end.. Beefed like crazy and the beginning of the seat mount

blends into the night..

front end veiw


88 wag and 76 vett in the backround

theres the beef i was talkin bout doin... 1/4 flat steel solid as a brick now...


watch the youtube vid and tell me what you think about the gas tank idea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxiE63qr2A&feature=youtu.be

this engine was using a gravity fed fuel system like most atvs. i dont really want to mount a gas tank above the engine on this build because it will ruin the look of it. lol. so i was wondering if yall knew if this engine/carb could take a inline electric fuel pump. it is a 160cc with jets of 22.5 and 87.5 (if i member correctly). i was thinkin it would need maybe 1-2 psi?? idk if they even make an inline fuel pump with such low pressure... but the hose size is 3/8 and it would run the fuel UP to the carb, bein as i want to put the tank below my seat.

thanks

here is an expensive 1-3 psi .... any ideas?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Low-Pressure-Electric-Fuel-Pump-gas-1-3-PSI-12-VOLTS-/350931716803?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b5290ac3&vxp=mtr