"NellyBelle" Craftsman LT1000 [2018 Build-Off Entry]

Again, that 8:1 gear ratio seems ludicrous but these tractors come stock with a tiny pulley on the motor and a big pulley on the trans to achieve a better reduction.

With a 4" engine pulley and 5.5" trans pulley your top speed will be 30 mph @5000 rpm, with 22" tall tires, and an 8:1 reduction through the transaxle.

Would you do me a favor and measure your actual wheel circumference with a string? Or you can just measure the actual wheel diameter if you want too.

8 to 1? That's ridiculously fast for a off road mower. 1 to 1 is what I would use.

Muck I think you are confused? That 8:1 ratio means the input is turning 8 times, while the output turns once.
1:1 would be faster.

Sure I'll measure it, give me till tomorrow it's dark and raining lol. Yeah, the input turns 8 times and the wheels turn once. That pulley ratio sounds really low tho. I had a 6" on the front and a 5" on the back with 20" tires and no gov and I could only get 23 MPH.

oh I was confused BMP. but 8-1 would be very slow.

As a comparison high gear (3rd) in my wheel horses is 24.6 to 1 in the transaxle which is quite a reduction even in high gear.

Yeah that didn't sound right.  I'll go check again.

Okay so I measured again, still 8:1. IDK.

BTW, I'm so indecisive. I'm swapping the fenders, lol.




Tilted the rear hitch plate, made a big difference. I am putting the roper's floorboards on, and the fenders from the roper are being cut down to practically nothing. I really like that exposed tire look, so that's what I decided on. Yes I'm going to get really dirty driving it, but I don't care lol.
For shifter, I'm going center shift, only I'm doing it in a way I haven't seen done before. Need to get some grinder blades before I can progress any farther, though. Turning out really good, hopefully I can get done soon.

Open fenders? i always worry about hitting a bump and falling on the tires and bye bye bottom !

I have suspension...I shouldn't fall off. 

Ok . i will send you a sympathy card when your in the hospital waiting for a butt transplant.

LOL, don't forget the flowers!

I'm too cheap for that. I didnt even get my girl flowers on valentines day,...... oh wait nvm i was in the hospital and i dont have a girlfriend!

What did ya do? Weld your steel toed boots to your toe ring haha!

Very small update.

Got this splash-guard-thing-a-ma-bob on.  That's probably not what it was meant to be, but I had it sitting around, so I might as well put it on.

Spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning out my shop, looks much better. Before you couldn't walk around, lol!

I think it is designed to be an air tunnel? A clean shop does make for some fun working later!

You have a shop like that at 14 years old? Pretty sweet. Beats working out in the elements. Looks like it might double as a fort too lol.

mightyraze wrote:

I think it is designed to be an air tunnel?  A clean shop does make for some fun working later!

yeah all my craftsman LT's have one regardless of the engine. The hood has louvers that it blows out.

mightyraze wrote:

I think it is designed to be an air tunnel?  A clean shop does make for some fun working later!

Oh, okay that makes sense.  It also can keep mud off my flywheel, lol.  And it's probably better to have it on anyway.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

You have a shop like that at 14 years old?  Pretty sweet.  Beats working out in the elements.  Looks like it might double as a fort too lol.

Haha,thanks, yeah I do.  It's a 12-15 year old shed that was here when we bought the place.  It already smelled like gasoline and oil so I got it, lol.  It's 8-16 with an 8-12 loft.  Would like a little wider and a little shorter, but it's better than working outside by far.  Doesn't have power, I have to run an extension cord out there, though.  We are going to expand it soon, build a sheet metal room thing off the side, it'll be like 12-12ish.  Sliding barn door, dirt floor, etc.  Be nice for storing tractors.

mrshaft696 wrote:

yeah all my craftsman LT's have one regardless of the engine.  The hood has louvers that it blows out.

Okay. Funny thing is my nicer LT1000 with a 17.5 OHV didn't have one. This one came with the cheapo WeedEater with a 12.5 flathead, lol. It has vents in the hood too.

I prefer dirt floors to work on , absorbs spills and is softer than concrete if you don't mind getting dirty. Just find a medium sized generator and set it outside of your shop when you use it, they can power welders and basically anything you will use in a small shop

biggasmowers wrote:

I prefer dirt floors to work on , absorbs spills and is softer than concrete if you don't mind getting dirty. Just find a medium sized generator and set it outside of your shop when you use it,  they can power welders and basically anything you will use in a small shop

Only one issue there, when it rains it puddles up in the shop.  But my shop isn't concrete, it's wood.

Can you jack it up any? Its a simple process, just takes time.
That might not help if say the roof leaks.

You think Neal would honor his bet that one couldn't get 3 inches of travel on a mowers rear end ? I might be able to prove him wrong

He mean with a transaxle and belt though.

Idk, but I think he meant using a transaxle not a transmission. Either way, he didn't make it clear.

I know you could get 3" of travel out of the RER.

I think I have more like 4 inches ......... yeah he wasn't very clear.
Edit : just looked at his post, nothing about what tranny or axle . Just the capability to go 25 mph and have over 3 inches of suspension