Craftsman GT3000 "MUTT" Part I

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Just use a pnematic hand drill. Thats what I do and it works great! Unless you need the hole to be, y'know, straight. Hahaha

PNEUMATIC HAND H'WHAT? THAT'S SORCERY! I'll stick to my angry wall pixie operated wrist breaker, thanks!

Oh ok, hahaha fair enough.

I have one of those. "angry wall pixie operated wrist breaker".  I like the cordless, but when all out of battery I get it out.  I've had the thing rip out of my hand and go twirling stopped by the cord a few times.

Steering box looks really good man! Really beefy setup now.

MatthewD wrote:

Steering box looks really good man! Really beefy setup now.

Thanks! Hopefully this one won't skip or break, lol

No real updates. I cut the mounting face for the motor off to ease fitment of the box. Didn't need it anyways. I got the other drill press going. The two wires going to the cap were stripped clean in a spot. Electrical taped them and it runs sweet now. Did have a little accident with the variator, the snapring holding a big spring popped off, sending the spring right into the metal ceiling, where it made a perfect indentation of the washer that was on top of it, and a huge BANG i almost died laughing!

Glad you got it going! Glad that spring didn't put a perfect washer indentation on you.

Got the box mounted! Used a piece of the channel steel I used for the front axle mount and bumper. Had a kinda tab on the end that I bet so it was the perfect angle. I made the arm out of two pieces of 1/4" flatstock and the driveshaft adapter. Should hold up.

Pic of box mounted



Have to modify the linkage some. Gotta kinda bend it down so it clears the tie rod, might shorten it too, there's a lot of room for the steering arm to move forward. Hopefully I can shorten it enough so it won't hit the rod that holds the skidplate...

Look good Rich! Hows the ratio with the new setup?

A bit under two turns lock to lock. Could add some more turns by drilling some more holes in the arm and have to fight the linkage even more, lol. Maybe I will.

Good job Rich!

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

A bit under two turns lock to lock. Could add some more turns by drilling some more holes in the arm and have to fight the linkage even more, lol. Maybe I will.

Yeah thats what I did to the steering arm on the MTD, its nice do have some adjustability.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

A bit under two turns lock to lock. Could add some more turns by drilling some more holes in the arm and have to fight the linkage even more, lol. Maybe I will.

Yeah thats what I did to the steering arm on the MTD, its nice do have some adjustability.

Yeah it is. I have 3 holes on the axle side to choose from, and two on the steering arm. I woulda done some more on the arm but the drill press threw the spring again. I actually got clobbered by the washer when it came back down this time lol I actually have a cross vice on this drill press, so I can line up and space the holes perfectly. The two holes on it are 7 turns apart, lol

Ouch! Hope you were not hurt bad. Careful there.

mightyraze wrote:

Ouch!  Hope you were not hurt bad.  Careful there.  

I was just drilling a hole and all of the sudden POP BANG DOIIINNNGGG and the washer kinda bounced off my head lol, all my hair tucked up in my hat kinda softened it lol. Scared me more than it hurt I actually manages to finish the hole without the spring in there.

Your having such bad luck with springs it's probably a good thing your not doing suspension haha. Now you gotta go ram your front wheels up against some stuff and see if the steering box takes it well!

Finished welding up the front axle mount. I think all chances of suspension are gone with this one. Maybe on a future build...

Pulled a Mowron trick, used some 3/4" Hex stuff to strengthen the frame. One side on.



Both sides done inside and out.. My stick welding skills have increased greatly in the past year or so.



If I break this...well I'm not sure what I'd do...

Nice, hopefully that'll do the trick Rich. Were you really doing this at 5:00 am?

I bet he was!  I was up at 6 working on Red.  Just too hot otherwise.  Where Rich lives, he has like 100% humidity to boot.  YIKES!

Rich, I'm not a welder, and only access to a arc welder too. I think you did well. Keep it up and it will only get better!

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Nice, hopefully that'll do the trick Rich. Were you really doing this at 5:00 am?

Yep. I usually stay up all night. I went to bed at about 6, I just got up at 1 lol

mightyraze wrote:

I bet he was!  I was up at 6 working on Red.  Just too hot otherwise.  Where Rich lives, he has like 100% humidity to boot.  YIKES!

Rich, I'm not a welder, and only access to a arc welder too.  I think you did well.  Keep it up and it will only get better!

Thanks Mighty! I don't think it's 100%. It did rain a day or two ago and it's still cool from it, maybe I'm just not feeling it

Those are some great stick welds. Way better then my method of gobs and gobs of melted metal.

Flaunting some dollar-can black-







Who needs running boards?



Threw her back together!



She started right up, mean sounding as ever. Took her for a rip around the yard, tried flexing up against a tree. Snap crackle pop, first gear all the way back to the shop, had to kick the tire to get her to turn lol. Front wheels autocenter quite well with the caster. Damn sintered metal couldn't take the stress, I'm genuinely not surprised. I have a few ideas to fix this but nothing solid yet.

ya broke it, but i know you will make it better! Black looks nice!

Yeah lol, I was scared to death I had tore the box up but I peeked at it and saw the adapter cracked open and was pretty relieved. My dad has all these ideas for welding half a split lock collar on but I'm thinking just get a chunk of round stock and have the 3/4" hole machined in the center and a keyway broached in, and the holes drilled and tapped at either side. Although I don't exactly have access to a machine shop(yet???) so that may be a bit hard...might just go with a pulley hub if I can find one I deem skookum enough. And the paint is meh, it looks like I painted chicken sh*t on all of my welds but it should keep the rust away!

You guys remember my fender and running board issue? Well I solved it! Picked up some fenders and running boards from my dealer(same guy I got the front and rear rims from, plus my Snapper crawler)





Note, yard pro sticker will be removed and I'll repaint the lettering that I had before on there



This fender must've been on a tractor with a 633. Didn't have the shifter hole so I cut my own. Somehow got the size and placement just right. I like this one a lot better than the one I had before, a lot less mud will come through. Also this one doesn't have the cupholder hole so no mud will come through there!



Other cuts I had to make to get the execs to fit again





Cut for brake linkage



I definitely got lucky with these fenders! They pretty much match the hood! Woohoo! Now soon I'll deal with the rims, they're gonna be black(finally lol)

Wow those look real sharp on there Rich, you gonna paint 'em or just leave the natural look on? I think they actually look pretty good as is myself.

Gonna keep what I have for now. I like the dull look this red has.