Li'l Red 1

This is the project I want to do next. I'm sure I can get it free. It's my in-laws in their field. I'm thinking a rat rod build?  It has an engine not seized but missing an intake and carb. I am not sure if it shifts, and I can't move it. It's sunk into the ground and weighs a ton. I also already have a name for it. Pops. LOL

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Looks like a good candidate for a rat. Opposed twin, right?

16 opposed I believe.  It was carbless, I stole the intake off it a year ago for my Sasquatch build. Although I would consider a little of what Doc did and convert it more over to a "gokart" style drive train, but I do like the occasional "Reverse". :-)

Nice Murray GT! If you build it next year we'll be like Murray bros lol.

Should be packing a 2300 in there.

Ah, it's one of those twisted belt tractors. I think you should enter it into the next Build-Off Competition, you got 55 days to get that mower

MatthewD wrote:

Ah, it's one of those twisted belt tractors. I think you should enter it into the next Build-Off Competition, you got 55 days to get that mower

LOL, got to get into the new house first!

Doug, that peerless 2300, I did some research and without seeing the model on the tractor, have determined it to be an 83 Murray GT which has that trans. Does that trans, just simply have a 3/4 keyed shaft for the drive pulley? If so, that would be an EASY pulley swap. Do they have oil drain and fill on them? I haven't gotten that far yet. LOL. Sounds like I need to go ahead with a new thread for it. :-)

That thing would be awesome as a rat rod! Can't wait to see it

mightyraze wrote:

MatthewD wrote:

Ah, it's one of those twisted belt tractors. I think you should enter it into the next Build-Off Competition, you got 55 days to get that mower

LOL, got to get into the new house first!  

Doug, that peerless 2300, I did some research and without seeing the model on the tractor, have determined it to be an 83 Murray GT which has that trans.  Does that trans, just simply have a 3/4 keyed shaft for the drive pulley?  If so, that would be an EASY pulley swap.  Do they have oil drain and fill on them?  I haven't gotten that far yet.  LOL.  Sounds like I need to go ahead with a new thread for it.  :-)

I think they are tapered unfortunately (never looked at mine), but do have a drain and fill.

If it's a tapered shaft that sucks. Although if it's steel you could cut out the center and weld it into a new pulley.

Today, the mud mower Li'l Red paid me back in some great fun for me and the girls.  I even got my wife to take a few laps around the yard on the sled!

Man, does that ever look like fun! Looks like that sled is catching quite a bit of snow hahaha!

Yeah it was HAHA...

Looks like ya had some fun

Cool! Wish we had some snow around here All we got is mud for Christmas haha

It was the first decent snow for Oklahoma we have had in about 3 years! Final total was about 4.5 inches it is pretty average for here, not like those up north! LOL

MatthewD wrote:

Cool! Wish we had some snow around here All we got is mud for Christmas haha

Dashing through the mud, on an offroad lawn trac-tor! Hahaha!

Little update, it's been about 3 months and a lot of speed and playing with Li'l Red and the JBweld on the axle keyway did resolve my leaking issue. YAY!

In other news, I am still thinking about the old Murray build for 2017. I checked it out last week and the transaxle is seized up HARD and the engine is none too happy either now. I am also thinking about redoing the daughter's "purple people eater" too. I have half a mind to combine the two. HAHA..... that would be interesting.

Well I have developed a new issue. My steering tower has 50% broken loose. Of the 4 bolts that hold it down two of the metal tabs the screws go through have busted. Thinking of doing some "L" brackets to reinforce all the way around. Any other's with a Murray widebody or similar have the same issue? What was your fix other than welding it to the fender pan. I think this flexing is also the culprit of cracking my gas tank.

OK, i forgot there are 6 screws that hold it down.  3 are stripped out and one the tab is broken off.  I think I can tackle this without too much work.  Other than tearing it down.

The cracking gas tank is so common that they actually had a recall on them. You can get repops, they are not very cheap, but you can get them. There are cheaper tanks that will fit in the same space, but you may have to make mounting brackets to raise the filler neck to come out the top

I've epoxyed the outside of that tank several times.  So far so good.

So I drilled out all the holes and replaced tap screws with bolts, fender washers and nylon nuts.  Pretty darn solid now!  Also, it was a good thing.  While under the tractor to put on the nuts, I noticed that my battery cable had a worn spot!  Fixed that and tied it back a bit more so the belt would not hit it.  I thought it was out of the way!

Long time no update.  I think it is time to put these front tires on Li'l Red.



They are just stored away on a shelf right now while I am working on the Sasquatch II build.

The ones I have on the front have no traction and are on their last thread, literally.  They are the original "Back" tires mounted on a 8 inch sears "front" rim.  :-)



I still need to button up the engine for sasquatch, but I'll get a pic as soon as I get those tires on.  Maybe show you how REALLY bad the ones on there are.  I'll be using the spacers too for those tires.  Rim hits the spindle otherwise.

On a better note today after busting my sump on sasquatch.  I got my torque wrench fixed as well.  It was stiff from non-use.  I busted it free and is consistent.  

Got Sasquatch old tires on as well as the bearing 4 on 4 hubs. Only issue I found is as max flex the tire rubs the foot rest.  It is avoidable.  

Here are the OLD tires.




Did some playing in the empty back lot after installing the tires.

Looks good mighty! It's nice to see ol' Red again, ya gonna paint the front rims black?

I actually thinking of putting the back ones back White? I like the Red/White contrast. I was also thinking of finally getting around and getting some 4 on 4 hubs for the back and finally trimming the axle. That would require new rims in the back.

Another update while I'm currently out of commission on the Sasquatch build.

Finally got around to reattaching the exhaust.  Made a new screw on pipe.



Also made a little video for your viewing enjoyment.