LT4000 Craftsman Mudding/Racing 250 mile trip build

Looks like it should work pretty good. Do you think you'll have much issue with belt stretch on such a long continuous run? I guess probably not as bad as off roading. Even though things might eventually heat up more on a long run, at least your not dumping the clutch and getting stuck on logs ect.

Great progress. but you may want to slow down the wire feed speed a little bit.

802 Customs wrote:

Great progress. but you may want to slow down the wire feed speed a little bit.

My wire speed is on 3 lol

mr.modified wrote:

Looks like it should work pretty good. Do you think you'll have much issue with belt stretch on such a long continuous run? I guess probably not as bad as off roading. Even though things might eventually heat up more on a long run, at least your not dumping the clutch and getting stuck on logs ect.

Im sure the belt will heat up and stretch and there isn't anything i can really do about it besides bring a few spare belts lol. Only time will tell though.

And i upgraded my engine its got more hp and more cylinders lol. Ill post some pics tomorrow its too dark to get pictures. Its a 17 hp opposed twin and i think it needs a new starter because it cant really turn over the engine. So if anyone knows where to get a starter for it let me know. And i had to do alot of work to get it running because it was outside for awhile and it had water in the cylinders. so i need to drain the oil asap. but i cleaned the water out of the cylinders and put some oil in the cylinder just to fire it up. And the motor came out of a murray widebody. And ill have to do something with the hood because the engines to big. I was thinking of cutting a hole in the hood and adding A scoop so the hood will fit and it will make it look coller but idk havnt thought about it much. Might even build my own hood. sort of like mudkings.

I think overall, everything will probably hold up pretty good. Pavement running should be relatively easy on things. It's mostly flat lands out there anyway right?

mr.modified wrote:

I think overall, everything will probably hold up pretty good. Pavement running should be relatively easy on things. It's mostly flat lands out there anyway right?

For the most part it is flat, for most of the trip but there are hills at the start and near the end.

I cleaned the outside of the carb i just haven't cleaned the inside yet. It Definitely needs it.

hey if you want I can end out the 3-screw I have for that if you want if I can get your carb off that motor.

Ariens YT11 wrote:

hey if you want I can end out the 3-screw I have for that if you want if I can get your carb off that motor.

I think im going to leave the carb thats on it. Thanks for the offer

Cleaned the carb and got it running better

Made the spindles a little stronger


And i had to pull my transmission apart Again because the ball bearing for the shifter fell in to the case so i had to fish it out.

Started working on the muffler it sounds good.
And i welded up a 9in pulley for the front and i have a 3 1/2 in the back so this things going to fly. And i need a 96in belt. So now i need to do some work on the steering then i can test drive it.

Found some of the parts ill need to do my steering. And yes the shaft is 1in. i would like something thinner but at least it won't bend if it rolls over.

Heres my 9in front pulley its not the straightest thing but for testing purposes it will do.

Made 2 of these one for the top which i boxed in and one for the bottom which i haven't boxed in yet.


Heres what the top one looks like. Dem welds tho

And i did have more progress than this but it got too dark and i couldn't take pictures. So more updates tomorrow.

im liking the steering mod looking good!

Nice to see some progress on other peoples builds, I haven't done anything on my tractor because of weather problems, there was a tornado warning and a tornado this week on Oklahoma that killed one person.

Whats better for high speeds Disc brakes or band brakes?

Started making foot boards out of pipe today finished one and half of another but ran out of wire.


Lowered the seat and fenders 3in for a lower center of gravity.
There not mounted yet which is why there resting on the tire. they wont when its done.

I would think disk brakes would be better, but probably not too big of a deal either way if your not going to be riding them all the time. Steering setup is looking pretty beefy. What are you planning on using for running boards under the pipe. Solid or some kind of screen?

I'm liking the foot boards and the lower stance in the back. Are you going to do the same in the front?

prancstaman wrote:

I'm liking the foot boards and the lower stance in the back. Are you going to do the same in the front?

Thanks im going to try and keep the front end low. and i might make my own fender because i don't like these fenders.

mr.modified wrote:

I would think disk brakes would be better, but probably not too big of a deal either way if your not going to be riding them all the time. Steering setup is looking pretty beefy. What are you planning on using for running boards under the pipe. Solid or some kind of screen?

You remember that diamond plate tool box i have im going to use some of that. And i did some more work on the foot boards today but didnt take any pictures so ill do it monday. And i got a belt for it and i started it and watched the tires turn really fast so once i do the steering i can test drive it.

Added a pulley to pull the belt away from the shifter
I think im going to fabricate my own fenders

And i welded n a temporary steering wheel ant stole the axle off my sisters tractor and took my tractor for a rid and wow its fast. but found out 2 things my engine pulley isnt all that straight and i need better belt retainers. now im going to cut out where the axle mounts and tilt it a few degrees then re weld it because im using a different front axle.

I need to get cracking on this build again