2018 Build-Off Discussion

Its snowing down here, 16 degrees and dropping.

And i dont have a running mower to drive in it !

Ive been considering snagging a salamander from our secondary warehouse to keep my butt warm so i can get stuff done in the shop. I dont believe the weather report until the day before, but February is usually the heavy hitter.

richie thomas wrote:

I'm think of a truly slammed mower, like maybe 1 inch off the ground, and as fast as I can make it

Just don’t crash it’s painful.....

Well not long now, I’ve been thinking hard about my build with spending no money, if that’s possible? Anyhow I guess this year I will have to be inventive and just make it happen! I’m hoping the only cost will be for Tyers and some small bits and pieces. That’s what makes this build off competition so great, us battlers can get in there and have a go! This year I will be going for torque rather than speed, after crashing my Speedster At high speed made me rethink my options. Anyhow be on your toes because I’m in this time to win. Dave 007 is on FIRE, and taking no prisoners! So give it your best because I’m on your tail! Hehehehe hehehehe. The Mad Aussie is back. Cheers!

I look forward to what you will come up with , good luck and all that fun stuff

Negative 15 here toady , not very good mower tinkering weather but i might get out and do some stuff .

But isn't it fun? 5* here with -10 to -20 WC We have the cold but no snow this year. Always get me, My in-laws family from N Michigan says they would rather deal with their -20 than our 20 above down here.

I dont mind cold, but the wind is whats annoying . And the dry powdery snow . Only got 3/4" .

I may be heating the shop anyway. I told my wife to get the propane tank filled 2 weeks ago when it was 30% full. I reminded her last week several times and again this monday. It is now down to 3% and they might be able to fill it wednesday, or friday at the latest... and of course that is all my fault. She can sleep in the cold house, I will be in the heated shop.

Okay, so I'm pretty much ready for the build off.  I have an engine, tranny, the Roper's frame, a doner's frame, and one set of the rear wheels (it's gonna be a dualie), but I have the rims for the other set.
I need a couple of parts which I can't get until I have the necessary measurements.  I have some front tires, but I'm not sure if I like them.  I do need a dump cart for the bed and a few other little parts.  I think I can do it as far a money goes, that was my only worry.
I look forward to competing ya'll!!!

Im getting closer to having the shop cleaned. I did steal a 35k btu salamander from work. It hadnt been run in so long that it fired a cloud of dust when I started it, but it ran on the old diesel that was in it. Soooo much better than my convection heater.

It was 36 and snowing today. Got 3".

Dave 007 wrote:

richie thomas wrote:

I'm think of a truly slammed mower, like maybe 1 inch off the ground, and as fast as I can make it

Just don’t crash it’s painful.....

Trust me I know I crashed my first one into a pine tree and 40lol

It was 6 degrees where I was outside taking my first tour of a college campus. I thought it was a bus tour so I was in jeans, tee shirt, windbreaker, and sock hat. Nope, we are hiking around campus with a -15 degree wind chill.

I have learned. Not a bus tour. Lol

biggasmowers wrote:

I look forward to what you will come up with , good luck and all that fun stuff

Negative 15 here toady , not very good mower tinkering weather but i might get out and do some stuff .

I Australia where I am it’s 118f plus. It’s to hot to do anything, we have it for the next week, the tar on the roads is beginning to melt. Looks like there are going to be heaps of fantastic builds, looking forward to it, good luck.

Ooooh ! thats my kinda heat ! lol . highest its ever been over here was 119f , and that was for one day about two years ago ,not a week .

Highest it's been here is 120F.  Consistently is 107f for about 2 months in the summer.

About the same here as Tx. Then again us northern hemisphere people are lucky that we have Summer when earth is at the furthest from the Sun in our elliptical orbit. Dave down there gets the worst of both summer and winter probably.

Ah umm ok whatever you say mighty!

Either way i am ready to start prepping my frame for the build off. there is some rust and gunk i want gone so i will just be cleaning it up for some paint but not sure what color it will get when the competition starts.

Took advantage of the nice weather and got the murray and other parts in the shop before everything thaws out.
Started with this...



ended up with this...
 


and wont be using any of this...



For those keeping score, yes that is an 820 with 1" axles and 12" wheels... not gonna use it. 7/8 front axle with 10" wheels... nope. factory steering... no way. I am keeping the deck lift though

got my parts pile ready. just need the sign.

Looks like another awesome build. Should be a feat of engineering looking at the parts you have there lol

This one is gonna be a budget build. I dont expect to spend more than $150, most of that will be pulleys, belts and paint. Everything else is from the hedgerow warehouse. I planned on rebuilding the eaton 77's, but you cant buy parts, so they will get the r/c/r. That is all they need anyway. total cost on that ... $0

Man that’s a nice parts pile you’re not gonna use. Whatcha planning on doing with it?

I cant say.

Thats like a more modern version of the frame im using this year.

I have not checked the DNA. I am guessing late 80's/ real early '90s

Yeah I have no clue how old mine is either. The data plate was missing as well as the engine shroud when I got it. Its all steel though, except for the tires and the seat. Got a 2300 too.