Craftsman GT-18 Utility/Trail Tractor.

My tractor is a Roper made Craftsman GT-18 that my uncle gave to me for free. It has a 18 hp oppy, and the Peerless 633 3 speed with hi/lo so it really has 6 speeds. This thing has always been a piece of crap from the day I got it. I haven't done many mods at all, but I will show them to you guys. It has been completely rewired with brand new connectors and wire, heat shrink tubing on every connection using the key switch. I also replaced the disgusting waterlogged, cracked rotted seat foam with some chair pads from Wal-Mart covered in gorilla tape, I ran out of tape, but you will get the idea. Currently it needs a starter but that has been ordered, so here are a bunch of pictures for you guys.



I sanded off the REALY rough rust and painted the rotted out seat pan.


These are the seat cushions, they were like $7. Way cheaper than a seat.


I took two cushions and covered them in gorilla tape.


I ran out of tape but you get the idea.


Rewired with key switch.


Beefy @ss peerless 633 rear end.


The heart of the beast!


Back when stuff was built to last. Made in USA!   

can never go wrong with the old high lows some sturdy trannys for pulling romping and just having fun good luck with it!

Moose wrote:

can never go wrong with the old high lows some sturdy trannys for pulling romping and just having fun :Dgood luck with it!

You are darn right it is sturdy, i dropped the whole tractor from two feet straight onto the rear end.   I expected to see gear oil and chunks of aluminum, but it was fine!

TokyoDrift99 wrote:

Moose wrote:

can never go wrong with the old high lows some sturdy trannys for pulling romping and just having fun :Dgood luck with it!

You are darn right it is sturdy, i dropped the whole tractor from two feet straight onto the rear end.   I expected to see gear oil and chunks of aluminum, but it was fine!

Lol yeah I did that and I used to get the 18hp kohler on our last tractor going as fast as itd go and pop wheelies in 3rd high when I was younger, when I was at pugs I challenged TRB to a pull off (which ended up being TRB and Stretch) it didnt end well but in first low even with a split diff she dug in and lifted the tractor right up!

Moose wrote:

TokyoDrift99 wrote:

Moose wrote:

can never go wrong with the old high lows some sturdy trannys for pulling romping and just having fun :Dgood luck with it!

You are darn right it is sturdy, i dropped the whole tractor from two feet straight onto the rear end.   I expected to see gear oil and chunks of aluminum, but it was fine!

Lol yeah I did that and I used to get the 18hp kohler on our last tractor going as fast as itd go and pop wheelies in 3rd high when I was younger, when I was at pugs I challenged TRB to a pull off (which ended up being TRB and Stretch) it didnt end well but in first low even with a split diff she dug in and lifted the tractor right up!

Do you have footage Moose???

LAWN MOWER MUDDER wrote:

Moose wrote:

TokyoDrift99 wrote:

Moose wrote:

can never go wrong with the old high lows some sturdy trannys for pulling romping and just having fun :Dgood luck with it!

You are darn right it is sturdy, i dropped the whole tractor from two feet straight onto the rear end.   I expected to see gear oil and chunks of aluminum, but it was fine!

Lol yeah I did that and I used to get the 18hp kohler on our last tractor going as fast as itd go and pop wheelies in 3rd high when I was younger, when I was at pugs I challenged TRB to a pull off (which ended up being TRB and Stretch) it didnt end well but in first low even with a split diff she dug in and lifted the tractor right up!

Do you have footage Moose???

Lol junkstar and 3dmachines do but I was to busy watching my tractor wheelie away to get any :p

Updates! Me and a couple of friends tore the tractor down to the frame, and we have started to paint it. We are going for a canadian flag theme!! Do you guys think the tractor would look better with white fenders and red stripes. Or red fenders and white stripes? Also I am having some engine trouble. It runs great at WOT (2.5 turns out on mixture screw) however it runs real rough and likes to stall at lower RPM's especially right after you put it in gear. Any suggestions? Thanks.

lookin good!

love the red man good job

Thanks guys! Even after wasting a whole can of white on my fenders I am going to paint them red with some white stripes.

paint came out really nice!

Finally done painting, it didnt come out perfect but I am happy with it. After a couple cans of red and whie, a lot of masking tape, a lot of sanding, and many hours me and my friends got it gone. We even went mudding in a field across from the house, and the turf saver tires did surprisingly well in the mud. This tractor is far from done so expect some new tires and a locked diff in the future. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

P.S. sorry it is a little dirty, but I had only hosed it off because the fenders were COVERED in mud   

TokyoDrift99 wrote:

Finally done painting,

You need a leaf.

Yeah I know, I think I am going to put a white leaf on each side panel.

that came out nice! Ya you need that leaf

camomanusa wrote:

that came out nice! Ya you need that leaf

Thanks!

I have the transmission out ready to be locked, and I am actually getting somewhere on with this thing. I got a bike frame for free from school, so I plan to make a front bumper with that. I also have some electrical questions.... I threw away the "diode assembly" thinking it was useless, but for some reason it seems to cook batteries and I need to try to make a new diode thing. I looked in the book and my engine has a "tri circuit" alternator. One wire split in to two, rectified to 5 amps on each side. I'll include a drawing of what I think the whole deal should look like. Are the diodes in proper orientation? What diodes should I get, obviously 5 amps, but what voltage? I think I should try to get 15 volts, because I feel like the alternator outputs more than 12 volts wide open. Thanks.

hay tokyo drift has you done anymore work to it

kawasaki220 wrote:

hay tokyo drift has you done anymore work to it

The Trans is out ready to be locked, but I need to buy a welder.