Honda MTD Build (HMTD)

here are some "final" design drawings.




orry about them being side ways

Those hood struts aren't really shocks I don't think. That is, I don't think they have resistance in both directions. They're more like a spring. It's rediculous how much force you need to push them in. I've replaced a couple that didn't have enough guts to hold up hoods or rear hatches anymore, sometimes you can't even push in the bad ones. Brand new ones are pretty much impossible to push in by hand. If your going to have independent front suspension they might work like springs though. If you have good ones, they might just hold up the weight of the tractor. If you had to, you could double them up. Usually, they have a plastic ball socket on the ends. If you don't want to do anything with that they un-thread leaving a stud sticking out.

As far as gearing, why can't you just use a regular mower transaxle and run a belt directly to it? If your not going to have a rear suspention or anything anyway. Seems like it would be simpler to rig up.

Edit: Forgot your using a horizontal shaft engine. You might be able to find an old transaxle out of a sears or something with horizontal input, like a three speed. Then you'd have a rugged setup.

the hood struts would slow down the front end, but still allow it to "flex" for off-roading, the struts where just an idea, but they might be to stiff like you said. but i could use a regular transaxle and use it for gears,
so its ether
1: get bt-92, use FnR, (Witch i need to lock)
2: or find or buy a actual trans-axle and lock and mount it.
hum.........................

ok so, thinking on the multi-speed trans axle, wouldn't it have to me grease filled? if its oil the oil would quickly settle to the bottom and far from the rest of the transmission. even if it works its way up, it would still take some driving to do it. then, would the axle seals hold all the oil at once? wouldn't it seep out pretty quickly?