Craftsman GT3000 "MUTT" Part I

I feel that, but here I am stuck in a condo in Florida lol

I like how you say "stuck" haha. I wouldn't mind florida right now. Be cool to take mutt out in the sand, plus itd be warm, plus theres lotsa chicks there. Or that's what I'm told lol

1) sand kills bearings
2)not really, it’s like 65. Kinda chilly tbh
3)I already got a chick haha

I just need something to work on and I’d be fine lol. Saw a lot of mowers down here that look like they’ve been sitting awhile though. All mtd’s Or heavy GTs. Nothing I’m interested in unless it’s parts

Gt's?????? Like craftsman and Murray???

Probably. A lot of Murray GTs and such down south. Sooo, 820s and such

Ah ! I'm really needing about 10 of those lol

Upgrades are looking good.  I like the hinge Idea as well.

No a lot of cubs and JDs. The HEAVY GTs lol

Got the rack done for now.



Passed the most important test, me standing on it lol.


Cut a chunk out to fit the shifter, Plugs are the feet from the chair I used for the front skidplate.


I think the rack is done. Just gotta paint it. Pretty decent. Hood rack next?

Nah, I don’t think a hood rack fits this build. Back rack looks awesome though!

I still kinda think it's too wide and kinda ugly, might get tore off if i roll it too bad or something. But that probably won't happen

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

A lot of Murray GTs and such down south.

I'm proud of my Dixie! 
But I think the rack looks good, I need one myself.

Nice job on the chair feet to help keep you from cutting your knuckles.   I don't think it is too wide, but it is your ride. 

That would be a bad time for a weld to break while your standing on that rack doing a load test lol.  I'm with the other guys I think the rack looks great.  Maybe deep down you're not a big rack guy Rich.  

When you going to pull the tranny and rebuild it?

Eh I think it looks alright. I'll get to the trans eventually.

More pics from yesterday lol

What do you think of those mud lites? Look fairly worn...

Looks nice Rich. Hey, now your rims match the ones on the MTD! Hahaha

I'll probably paint them when I do the rack haha.

Ah, good idea, haha.

Painted the rack and hinges the other day but forgot to get pictures lol.

Found a piece of aluminum stock in the machine shop to make an snorkel adapter out of, will get started on it monday.

Working on getting the steering shaft in.

Cut it a bit oversize lol


Tried it out in my spare steering box. Pretty decent.


Found the little piece under the dash was flexing a lot when i turned the wheel. I had already braced the steering shaft support to it, guess it wasn't strong enough. Started on a brace for it. 1/4" thick C channel enough?

Nice that there's a grease fitting for the housing the steering shaft drops into. I bet that 1/4" C-channel will get the job done, haha.

Eh, accidentally hit the send button on that last post (using the app lol)

So i made this brace thing. Center hole holds the steering shaft on, outer ones are tapped to hold it on. Turned out good I think.


Got it installed. No flex now!


Next I gotta grind the steering shaft down to fit the hub and then drill and tap a hole to hold it all together. Really wishing i had a lathe and mill right now lol

Ground a tang on with the bench grinder. Ended up being a press fit, pretty much what I wanted.




Painted and installed. Steering wheel sits an inch or so higher, i like it.




So I'm really liking this...