MatthewD's Westwood S1200 Build [2016 Build-Off Entry]

Entering a Westwood again this year! This time its an S1200.
Starting with a rusty Westwood S1200 frame, dash and mudguards that I got for a tenner back in the summer.
I'm building this for my sister (she's 9), so I'm going for a basic tractor for her to go rides with me on.

Aim is to create something that starts, runs and drives while paying next to nothing. This means that everything I use will either have been used on another mower or have to be made up. I have been hunting in my scrap piles recently, trying to find bits that I need.

Engine: 1980 8hp Briggs and Stratton, maybe a few mods but we'll see. Originally from a Turf-master that my Granda bought in the early 80's.
Transmission: Peerless MST 205, will be pulley swapped. Probably not locked. Originally from a Rally.
Tyres: Fronts, New 13" 'tri-ribs' on 6" rims. Rears, used 18" turfs on 8" rims.

I got the body of the tractor from the same boy that I got my 1986 Westwood T1200 from. Had been laying outside for years. Everything was seized.  Shifter, clutch, steering etc. Got the shifter and clutch unseized and am working on the steering.

Will be getting a whole new paint job, yellow, black and white. Maybe some bumpers in the works but I'm not sure. I don't have the hood for it but I might be able to make one with some parts I have from various mowers.

Dude you photo aint working for me! Wanna see!

Yeah I know. I can't get servimg to work. I contacted Doug about it. Here's the links:
https://www.dropbox.com/home?preview=IMG_20160201_174217918%5B1%5D.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/home?preview=IMG_20160201_174408641%5B1%5D.jpg

I cant see them on your link either? I don't have drop box account. Tried photobucket?

Have a look here- https://www.atltf.com/t1525-image-posting-for-new-members

There we go. Hopefully they work now

Got the rusting body nearly stripped right down and started wire brushing the paint and rust off. Will get her primed soon.

Good thing your dealing with rust first. If i were you, id pull off all the panels so you can get at any rust between panels that you may have missed. Which can come back and haunt you later on.

I like how you are removing as much rust as possible. I will be keeping as much as possible! I'm looking forward to seeing this take shape. It's a shame you aren't closer as I could have helped you out with bits possibly. Your Dad doesn't happen to be a lorry driver between NI and Norfolk does he?!

@Rockinator, I have removed all the panels right down to the bare frame. I thought I had added some more of the updated pics of the tear down. Will get them up soon.
@Jonnya, the reason I'm trying to remove the rust is because I'm trying to preserve the frame. Some places are really bad, you could peal the layers of steel off with a screwdriver! Actually, my uncle runs an egg producing business and runs lorries all over England. Not sure if they go anywhere near you though. The first mower I got was delivered with one of their lorries.

Would I gain much if I added a 12hp carb to the 8hp?

Adding a bigger carburetor to a smaller engine doesn't always increase power like you'd think it would. It in most cases will decrease power if it is an otherwise stock motor. You can usually get away with a slightly bigger carb like maybe one off a 10hp depending on the size difference, but most of the power gains that you will see on a flat head engine is in the valvetrain and airflow area. So performance cam, improving head flow, porting and polishing, increasing compression, etc.

Yes that's what I thought. I was just wondering because I have a spare carb from a 12hp Briggs & Stratton laying around. I might do some porting and shaving the head but not sure yet.

Anyway, got my sandblaster going. I got a 25 Litre (I think) compressor for free because it had a leak. It was easily fixed though. In the process of getting the rims done. Will get some pics up soon.

Well, since you have it, it wouldn't hurt to try it. But if you didn't have it already I'd say not to go out and buy one, because you may not be able to get it to run right. So since you got it on hand, if the flanges are the same slap it on and test it out. You'll have to adjust it to get it to run right, if it will want to at all.

As for shaving the head, you need to make sure you have ample clearance for the valves and the piston away from the head. Idk if it would be the same for your motor, but I know that for the flat head Kohler K-series you're supposed to leave .030" of clearance between the valves and the head; but again I'd do your research on that first. Hope it all goes well!

Yeah I will try it. Only thing is the governor linkage which I don't have. Could just attach a spring to the butterfly to test it out.

If the carbs are similar you should be able to use the one from the 8hp. If it's too short, you could try using an old coat hanger and cutting and bending a new one from that.

No the butterfly on the 8hp is on the side of the carb, but on the 12hp it is on the top. It's the newer version of the carbs used on Briggs. From a powerbuilt. I might have the wee linkage laying around. Will try and find it.

definately an odd looking mowchine, gonna be a great build, good luck!

Thanks everyone!
Bare Westwood frame. Still in the process of stripping the paint and rust off it. I'm having major problems uploading photos at the minute so bear with me.

Current state of the build is the front rims have been sandblasted. Need to do a little more though. Will be starting to mod a front axle to fit this as well.
The one thing about Westwood's that I don't like is the clutch being on the left hand side of the tractor. So in this build I'm going to try and modify it using a clutch pedal and rod from my build off tractor last year.

I will try and get the rest of the pics up soon hopefully.

does the clutch not feel 'right' for you on the left hand side matt?

is she a single pedal setup?

Where are you going to put the throttle if the clutch is on the right? The left?! That'd be quite a challenge for most people used to it the other way round! Are you having a hand throttle?

i agree, in full size tractors, (not flat floor type), the clutch is on the left, brake on the right and throttle either also on the right or on the dash/hand, the i was building the little b i debated about whether to set the pedals up like a shifter kart, ( hand clutch, throttle right, brake left), but in the end went for the tractor setup. i didn't want to confuse myself when i got back onto my big tractor

making the setup any different from the norm may give you problems when you go on to drive a machine with a more standard setup.

Sorry, apologies. I meant to say right. That is why I'm moving it over, all Westwood's had it on the right. You do get used to it quick enough but since I'm doing a foot throttle and have it all stripped down I thought I'd swap the clutch pedals over. And yes Jon, she is a single pedal setup.

ah, was it a dual clutch and brake thing?

Nope. The pedal you see there in that picture is the clutch/brake pedal. They are combined. I'm gonna keep them combined, for simplicities sake, just move it over to the left hand side.