John Deere Work Horse

I am entering my 1984 John Deere 180. I am swapping in a GT rear end instead of the LT, which means I need to rework everything. Using a peerless 700 to make it go from vertical to horizontal, and I am gonna need to rework the clutch, brakes, shifter, and all. I also want to do smaller things, like install a stereo, front drum brakes (which in turns means high speed bearings), and probably new paint. I can also add more things in as I think of them, but that is the basic idea for now, Thanks!

Good luck and happy building!

Thanks Doc! I hope to have an update as soon as tomorrow!

Nice build. Later this year I'll be building an 80 model up for a friend. By putting in a peerless 700, are you keeping the original rear end too? That would mean you'll have around 15 forward gears, is that right?

I am having a GT rear end in it with Hi and LO, so that means 3 speed with HI/LO and a 5 speed gearbox means 30 speeds! I did the math and with the pulleys I have it will run about 50 mph. I used to have it at 40 but I am upgrading the front wheels so I should be fine.

Hmm. 50 is pretty fast if you have stock steering as such, i mean I wouldn't chance stuff.

Sounds cool, can't break a 633 axle. Not sure how well you can short shift a gt trans to get it to speed.

I think I am just gonna leave the GT rear end in 3rd HI and shift the 5 speed to get speed, and the other gears will be for work obviously. But John Deere has no slack in their steering. They are the strongest built tractor I have ever seen. My John Deere is 31 years old and the only thing with slack is the bushing for the steering and it is only like a 1/2". I have the bearing actually I just have to replace it. Plus I already run around at 40 on remote trails so its no big deal to be running on flat roads at 50.

The motor is pretty capable, if I had something holding me back I could smoke the tires at full throttle in 5th gear (which was 40 mph). but this is the only recent video I have of it before I broke it again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E7f9QvzoOk

Got the GT rear end all mounted up. After hours of thrashing my hands feel like I got in a fight with a cheese grater, but I feel accomplished    

Nice. As for shifting the 633 in motion it will just grind horribly. They don't have shift keys, you physically move the gears inside the axle so they mesh with eachother when you shift. And a word on JD steering, it's very beefy. My 111 has maybe a inch or two of play to each side and the drag link is about 1 inch thick.

802 Customs wrote:

Nice. As for shifting the 633 in motion it will just grind horribly. They don't have shift keys, you physically move the gears inside the axle so they mesh with eachother when you shift. And a word on JD steering, it's very beefy. My 111 has maybe a inch or two of play to each side and the drag link is about 1 inch thick.

Again, I plan to use the peerless 700 to shift while I am moving. Thanks for the advice though

Yup. No syncromesh, no shift-on-the-fly.

There is a way, it's called speed shifting. Drag racers with manuals do it. Don't even need the clutch.

prancstaman wrote:

There is a way, it's called speed shifting. Drag racers with manuals do it. Don't even need the clutch.

Yes but those drag racers have gear synchros in the transmission, the 633 does not.

Sure do got syncros, but they only work with the clutch pressed. Speed shifting is done without the clutch. When done right it sucks the gear in. Even easier with these strait gear gearboxes on these riding mowers. It's all about the gas pedal and how to press it and let go. I done many a times.

I kinda forgot you mentioned no clutch, just thought you meant shifting really fast lol. Semi truck drivers shift w/o a clutch sometimes as well.

I can shift gears on my hot rod mower whilst moving. If I remember correctly, it has a peerless 700. I could be wrong. It's defo a peerless 7 something! It's a bit crunchy and I dare say it probably doesn't do the box any favours, but it works!