1993 Craftsman LT4000 heavy mud build.

This is a build that i have been working on for a couple months but have been doing small things once at a time .
Currently it has a 19.5 hp Briggs and Stratton opposed twin (governor removed fully) , with slight head work and porting .
Fully re-enforced frame with 1 inch steel tube down the entire frame and re-built console to make a stronger steering system, using a murray pan frame steering pinion and gear .
The front end is made out of 3/16" steel square tube with front wheel assemblies home made crossing golf carts spindles with atv wheel assemblies with drum brakes to hopefully have functional front braking for better uphill and down hill stopping . I hope to put a 820 peerless in it with some type of tires that have at least 1 inch of aggressive tread.

Looks really cool! Gonna be a racer or a rally machine or a mudder or what?

LOL, it's in his title.  Looks to be a mud build.

Would be a bit interested in seeing what you did for steering if you have any pix of that.

Dual batteries? You're not messing around. I like how you're taking your time because eventually this is going to be an awesome offroad/ mud tractor. Hopefully it won't break!

Is there any way you can change your builds in your signature to links? I'd like to check them out.

Yeah dual batteries was something i wanted to do on an opposed twin because of their high cranking demands . I am trying to do this build as well as i can with my limited funds , and i will change my signature info , i still need to post about more of my projects because these are the main projects that look the best .

I will post pics of steering once i fix all the bugs and hook up all the linkages , and weld up some arms to pair the wheels together .

Did some work on it today and i had done a few odds and ends over the last couple of weeks .Put the 930 in it and it has a few shifting linkage problems
This is in 6th gear position , and halfway down the tranny case.( trans shifter plate is in 6th gear position)
Different angle of same thing.
This is in reverse position .
Also put in a clutch, not fully hooked up but pretty close.
Stole the mud lites from the murray cause its not going to need them for awhile

That is one heavy duty clutch you built there. Looks good!

She looks mean with those mudlights! Clutch should hold up nice. Hardest thing about them is getting the pivot right. It's a bit hard to design them to keep the slop out of them for the long term.

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

She looks mean with those mudlights! Clutch should hold up nice. Hardest thing about them is getting the pivot right. It's a bit hard to design them to keep the slop out of them for the long term.

I made it so it has a replaceable pivot plate thats roughly 2.5 by 2.5 inch plate that makes full contact so theres not any slop , i just put some grease on the plates so it shouldn't wear much.

Got the shifter figured out, and i like this style way better because its simple to work on and out of the way so branches and brush wouln't catch it like it would normally being on the fender.

What size tubing did you use on the front axle? Did you throw away the stock one totally?

mrshaft696 wrote:

What size tubing did you use on the front axle?  Did you throw away the stock one totally?

It was one and a half inch tube,   3/16" wall thickness. i used the stock one on my murray

Wired it up finally , probably the cleanest job i have done on wiring . Dual batterys and the whole nine yards.

Dual batteries are nice, had a dual battery setup on mutt once. Cranked her over great. Dash tower you made looks good and sturdy too.

It better be sturdy! i dont want to redo it lol.


Not too much left till this thing will drive now, just needs front end work , steering rod, belt keepers, gas tank install with fuel line , and mufflers.

Don't need no mufflers.

I'm building mufflers for mine I think, ain't sure yet

Most likely it will be straight piped , but i have not ever had a quite mower so i might want some peaceful mudding and riding .

it runs and technically drives but it might need some steering so i dont drive in a straight line into stuff lol

Can you take a pic of how the starter is mounted on that mower when you get some time, Id like to get a better understanding since I bought one like it without one.

I think it needs mufflers! makes a huge difference.

mrshaft696 wrote:

Can you take a pic of how the starter is mounted on that mower when you get some time, Id like to get a better understanding since I bought one like it without one.

If you are talking about the opposed Briggs, it's just 2 bolts.  One under the flywheel and one not. Might need to rotate flywheel to work that under bolt in or take flywheel off, but put it back on before tightening 2 bolts. Wire goes opposite the battery post on the solenoid.  But there are several wiring diagrams out there and in the forums for that.

The fan on top of the motor shroud, is that original or did you put that on there?

I have one of those, mine came off a horizontal with flywheel side PTO. I'll let biggasmowers give his source.

OK, nice little upgrade for the cooling of the engine.

I have the same fan from a horizontal. Would put it on Mutt's oppy but I don't wanna change to the metal cooling fin flywheel

mrshaft696 wrote:

Can you take a pic of how the starter is mounted on that mower when you get some time, Id like to get a better understanding since I bought one like it without one.

Mightyraze said it basically , i will post a pic next time i have the engine shroud off. But the starters are a pain to get off but it is possible to take them off /put on without removing the flywheel. If your engine does not have a starter and is not mechanically sound,i would just look for a mtd style mower and pull a good engine off of one of those because those mowers are not worth much and are easy to get cheaply and most likely have oppys on them.

Prancstaman , Yes the fans are off of horizontal oppys, i took it off now because it would cool the engine down way too much in this 3 degree weather lol