MTD off-road build (Mobile Terrain Dominator) "1"

So the MTD is driving again, but I just gotta finesse a couple of things to call it perfect. The belt slips a bit so I have to add another idler just ahead of the transaxle pulley, but that should be fairly simple. I also have to remove a bracket that used to hold the spring loaded idler for the Vari-Drive because it's blocking the shifter from going into reverse, which isn't very convenient hahaha. My cousin and I should be going on for a romp tomorrow if we don't get rained out, might make a video as well. I'll finally get to see what the latest upgrades will do!

Sweet. I'll be looking for the video.

Well I only got 'er stuck once today!





It took me and my brother to lift it out because it was being held down by suction hahaha! I'm loving the way this thing is performing so far though. Still have some minor belt slippage but that's nothing I haven't had to fix before so hopefully I'll have that cured soon.

Looks like a fun time! I think it needs a locked diff! You wouldn't have gotten stuck there then, I guarantee it!

Oh yeah, tons of fun! Yeah a locked differential would've saved me there haha, but I'll probably leave it open I think.

Good to see the MTD out driving again. That's cool that your cousin has a mower too

Thanks! Yeah he definitely loves it!

Obviously had some fun today...







I cured my belt slippage and I can can now bomb a mud hole in 3rd gear, that's why she's so muddy hahaha. I'm gonna call the transaxle swap DONE at this point, so we'll see what I wanna do next I guess. Let me know what ya think!

I believe I heard something about new front tires in your video...?

SWEET!  I need to sling some mud myself sometime.  Video is awesome.  Looks like you had loads of fun!  I'm a little envious!  I agree with Rich, maybe a locked diff?  LOL  Awesome job!

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

I believe I heard something about new front tires in your video...?

Haha yeah I need some new ones, current turf tires don't steer so good in the muck.

mightyraze wrote:

SWEET!  I need to sling some mud myself sometime.  Video is awesome.  Looks like you had loads of fun!  I'm a little envious!  I agree with Rich, maybe a locked diff?  LOL  Awesome job!

Thanks mighty! We definitely had tons of fun! A locked diff would help a lot, but the amount of sharp turns I need to make I would crash it in five minutes hahaha.

I gotcha, you do pull the trailer around some it appears and if you had a heavy load on it, a locked diff might twist itself.

Yeah I usually have quite a bit of weight on it.

Put away for the week...



And not put away clean either hahaha!

Looks like they were Rode Hard And Put Away Wet

Oh yes, thats for sure hahaha. Carter's was cleaner than mine cuz his doesn't have near as much wheel speed as the MTD. An 820 and a pulley swap would fix that though!

Well I decided to wash this thing down for the first time in a LONG time.





Look there was a tractor under there!!

I would also like to fab up a different exhaust setup soon, but I'm not sure which look would suit this ol' girl the best... Suggestions?

There's a purdy tractor under there.

Haha I'd almost forgotten what it looked like! She should look even better with some new paint!

I rigged up some simple steering stops today. Figured I should before I break something in my steering.





Also I really put 'er to the test today:



Had to pull three gravity wagons out of the barn, it's easier to use something smaller than a tractor. We usually pull them out with the 712, but it currently has the tiller on the back. This wagon was the smallest of the three for sure.



Left some decent ruts hahaha. Definitely don't have belt slippage issues anymore!

Looking good! Saw your video playing in the mud! Looks like fun!

I gotta admit. This may be the sharpest MTD I've ever seen. I pulled a 800lb horse cart around recently with mutt, definitely was interesting with the locked diff and long tongue on the wagon. Never got stuck though!

mightyraze wrote:

Looking good!  Saw your video playing in the mud!  Looks like fun!

Thanks! Haha yeah I had a good time for sure!

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

I gotta admit. This may be the sharpest MTD I've ever seen.    I pulled a 800lb horse cart around recently with mutt, definitely was interesting with the locked diff and long tongue on the wagon. Never got stuck though!

You've obviously never seen Redline's MTD. Hahaha just kidding. Thanks a lot Rich!

Just don't roll it. Keep her shiny side up and it'll stay looking good haha

Hahaha will do!