My 1994 Craftsman Gator Build

This is a Craftsman lawn tractor that I am putting an Onan opposed on and a peerless 1200A 4-speed. I have to make the belt run to horizontal shafts instead of vertical, so I have a lot of work cut out for me. My plan is for a hydraulic winch run off of a power steering pump, and atv racks and tires all around. It is going to have go-cart breaks and 26x12x12 atv tires for the rear. I want to build a bucket for the front that is hydrolic, but that may not happen. I want to build a hood that mimics the older style like fearlessfront has. it will be painted lime green and black.

Sounds like a beast-in-the making! I'll be watching that hydraulic winch.

Thanks Doc!

Up and running.

NICE!!! But what's the red thing on front of tractor? Winch mount?

bumper/winch mount. made from mtd frame.

Heavy duty looking engine. Cool high capacity sump.

Pretty cool. Need more build pics man!

yeah sorry I don't have much time to upload pics.

my new steering made from peerless input shaft gears



Transaxle bolts to stock rear mounts, but needs more, bent them as soon as I let out the clutch

I think this build is nice! Would look great with a 10/12hp Diesel. Love the steering made out of the Peerless input gears.

I don't have enough money to get one right now, I do know where there is a 7 hp diesel, but that is a little small. I need to work on transaxle mounts and clutch linkage before it is actually drivable, but it did move on its own power in reverse, but it took off so fast that it bent the transaxle mounts.

1997 Murray wrote:

I don't have enough money to get one right now, I do know where there is a 7 hp diesel, but that is a little small. I need to work on  transaxle mounts and clutch linkage before it is actually drivable, but it did move on its own power in reverse, but it took off so fast that it bent the transaxle mounts.

Oh okay, the opposed does look good. How are you going to mount a hood when the engine sticks up as far as that?

good question. I have tested it and it does fit, but the mounts are 5" off the frame.

I don't know if I can do this or not but I am now trying to build my version of a john deere gator. two spicer axles and a 15.5hp kohler engine. I am tying to do a two seat setup.

I got the engine mounted, have to get my spicer out of my square body to get ratios right. (using peerless 920 and spicer don't line up well) I drove it and the ratios were not quite the same, so I aired up one set of tires all the way and the others coasted. not the best in any way. so that is today's project: getting the same transaxles.

Did camo paint yesterday. I used some leaves as a pattern. I need to finish the bed now. I got the engine wired up so it starts, runs and stops without me grounding out the kill wire lol. It is a lot of fun, I can put it in 6th and dump the clutch, and it spins all four tires. It has a 3" engine pulley and 6" trans pulleys. I have yet to get it stuck, but I have come close.

How did you hook the axles together? Could we get a picture of the transmission setup sometime? Looks pretty neat.

I used a double pulley on the front transaxle and linked the shifters together with a rod.



I am going to build the bed today.

Looks good. You left both transaxles unlocked I'm guessing? Now if you want to you can easily add tracks at any time. Or extended tire chains that go around both sets of tires. That's what I always wanted to do.

I have been thinking about it, need to find some cheap tracks I guess.

Could make something along these lines or some variation. If you search for 'model T snowmobile' you will find pictures of the same type of idea.

bed built.

New guy here.
That is exactly what I am constructing at home.
I have 2 craftsman that I am combining into 1.
I will be watching yours very carefully and possibly using a couple of your ideas.
I am going to use a bucket from a wheel barrow in place of your flat bed.
Thank you very much for your future help.