[Complete] MrShaft696 Stretched CraftsmanPlicity [2018 Build-Off Entry]

had to take these tires to a shop, too stiff of a sidewall for me to seat the bead... anyway got them on the tractor and added some headlights.. starting to look more finished... I also blew both the headlights out first time I turned them on, the + and - from the simplicity wiring to craftsman wiring is opposite, same connector plug just plugs the opposite way than meant to.

Got the expanded metal inserts in my running boards, getting them painted and then can get them bolted up....

finally got the side steps on, allot easier to get on and off the tractor around the shifter..... Getting close....

The running boards look great so far. Can't wait to see it with the rear fenders on!

Nice front tires and running boards.

If you're making mutiple trips (like 10 or so) hauling dirt or gravel by yourself I recommend the 12v actuator because lifting up all that weight over and over gets old.

I've been following the build rather closely and I think @MrShaft696 has done a good job designing the build should he want that upgrade; I think it would be easily added.

MightyRaze wrote:

I've been following the build rather closely and I think @MrShaft696 has done a good job designing the build should he want that upgrade; I think it would be easily added.

Yeah I think it is a great viable idea ,and I will certainly add it in the future based on that it is financially feasible & cool factor. I will not have it before the end of the build off...

What I will have is a seat mounted in the bed, because on of our gripes on the property is whenever my wife goes to dump the horse turds in the woods, she either needs to bring me or her mom to help. So with a seat in the bed two people will be able to ride around on the tractor while towing the little trailers....plus I can do safari tours.

So I have to figure out my fenders, class II hitch, tighten about 200 bolts, paint the rear rims, re paint the black on the majority of the tractor, work out some "stability mounts" & vibration isolator for the bed. The bed is a little wobbly right now since the framework is all in the middle almost. Want to get some good pics asap since the days are getting short & weather is all over the place.

Getting my trailer hitch mocked up and removable bed seat!!!

I like the rear facing seat. That way it won’t be such a huge surprise to the passenger when you dump her out

Are you going to add a gusset on that receiver?

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I like the rear facing seat.  That way it won’t be such a huge surprise to the passenger when you dump her out

Are you going to add a gusset on that receiver?

yeah its gonna be fun to ride in the back haha... yeah I have some triangles cut for the hitch... The blue is a left over part from a piece my work did for capital one bank & I kept the scrap.

getting close to done....gonna do a shake down ride tomorrow....

Finally out of the garage for a shake down... just ran out of time to do my build off video but I got allot of pics.....

I'm looking forward to a video of you hauling and dumping some dirt or gravel.  I think this should make a nice pile and easy to dump with the bed mounted higher than it would have been if it were still a trailer.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I'm looking forward to a video of you hauling and dumping some dirt or gravel.  I think this should make a nice pile and easy to dump with the bed mounted higher than it would have been if it were still a trailer.

haha I don't know, maybe some logs, spent so much time painting everything and making it nice I don't know if im ready for dirt or rocks yet....

Here is one more, gonna hold off on anything else, and put my final video together next weekend. Probably have a walk around video and a driving around action video.

Some final completed pictures

Getting some work done....

So here is my walk around finally, came out ok, Im sure I missed allot of details but it gets the point across...



LITTLE ACTION



TAKING A DUMP

More vids! cool

I like the bumpers you used to support the bed when it's in the down position.  My buddy's Kubota RTV has either 4 or 6 rubber bumpers like that on it.  How about a handle on the front of the bed to make it easier to dump?

I would add some wire loom or old air hose around the red battery cable.  Looks like it's pretty close to some sheet metal edges.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

More vids! cool

I like the bumpers you used to support the bed when it's in the down position.  My buddy's Kubota RTV has either 4 or 6 rubber bumpers like that on it.  How about a handle on the front of the bed to make it easier to dump?

I would add some wire loom or old air hose around the red battery cable.  Looks like it's pretty close to some sheet metal edges.

Its really easy to dump so far, but as you can see we just got snow, and I have some snow removal/tractor projects going on. It just feels great to finally drive the thing out of the garage and use it a few times.

There are a bunch of little things that I will continue to tweak... one issue is there is still not enough weight over the wheels, I need a weight box or something.  For now this is it for the build off, 12 days left is getting done right on time about...

Nice final bit, I've always wanted to build one of these.

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

Nice final bit, I've always wanted to build one of these.

Thanks man, hey your only 14 you have more than enough time to try it in the next 20 years... It took me 38 years to get some time to do it, you have plenty of good ideas and practice... my parents would barely let me touch the push mower when i was 14.