RichieRichOverdrive's Snapper LT18RS [2018 Build-Off Entry]

Well folks, I've finally got the courage to do it. This here's my series 2 Snapper LT16 (made sometime after 1986) that I'm planning to build into a speedy ralley type tractor. Will swap in a peerless 700 series, ungoverned Briggs 18hp opposed twin lowering it to 4" or 5" off the ground, and gearing her for 40mph or so. Will have a go kart brake caliper and disk and live axle.

Work that has to be done? Front axle built, 700 mounted, oppy mounted, live axle mounted, belt system made, steering system made...etc etc.



doug that's the bonus pw at the bottom of the sign cause i know you're gonna say you cant read that




-Approved by Doug, 2/4/2018

I guess I'll let you in.

Yay Rich..... Hope that 700 holds up to the Oppy.

I've seen 700s hold up to a lot more, plus I think I've decided against the big tires. I'm confident it'll work.

yeah i had my ungoverned oppy with a 700. and 22 inch mud lites. went about 45-55 mph . if i would of put smaller tires on it, it would of lasted more than the couple months it did.

Mockup, looks weird because it's a bad mockup lol, rear wheels are at full width




Think these bushings will hold up for what I'm doing


Rear axle mounted


Wheels in around where they will be when finalized


Got hella tired after this for whatever reason so i quit lol, prolly will get back at it tomorrow.

I didn't realize you were going for a speed build.

Interesting axle ,bushings? I like the shape of the fenders!

The axle had bearings, I took em off because I didn't see them holding up to what I wanted. Were just in stamped housings. I got the bushings from my old trade school, they were throwing em out and I snatched em up as fast as I could.

Yeah mighty, she's a Ralley/Sport, so on/off road, sorta like a mowron build.

The keyed axle might chew em up quick? Can you drill em out and put in some brass bushings?
Atleast then it wearing something that more easily replaceable.

Something else to think about... that alot of un-supported axle hanging out there. That will bend without support closer to the wheel.


Looks like a fun build at any rate.

Rich could easily weld up the keyway in that axle then machine or sand it down to make it fully round. He might already have plans to add a couple more bearings closer to the wheels to support the axle better.

I would get some cast iron axle bracket hangers, you can order full assemblies from bmikarts for around 10 bucks apiece i think. That includes installed bearings , they are what i use and have not had any issues with them.

I dont think the axle is going to bend by being out that far, i ran a 42 inch axle with 22 inch tires and had my brackets 14 inches apart in the center without bending anything.

Those cast iron things already have bronze in them, and they have grease fittings, I think they'll be fine. Aren't stretch and doc running bushings over keyways in their 820s?

I'm not really concerned about the axle bending. Not much room to move the bearings out farther(at least easily), gotta fit my brake rotor out there somewhere. Also this is an actual axle, not just some cold rolled.

Didn't get any work done today. Went to BG and went around through flea markets and thrift stores and stuff, was great. I'll get back to it tomorrow hopefully.

Ooh find anything good?

Ehhh...nothing special. Got a guitar strap and pick, went to walmart and got a misfits tea shart and the Master of Puppets remaster(thats missing disc 3, and instead has 2 disc 2s...gotta do something about that, and I got Wendy's lol.

Misc pics somewhat related to this build that I didn't put before because they're pretty non-essential but I'm putting here so i don't look like I'm supporting the thread jacking of my own thread

Got some stuff done today/ Was looking the frame over a bit, found that there was a bit too much flex towards the back, especially above the axle. I figured plugging the hole around the axle would help, I think it will. Might add some more crossmembers toawrds to back to get back what I lost from taking the crossmember for the drive disk and what the stock transmission helped with.

This is actually the frame I cut the plug from, but it's the exact same as the one I'm patching.


Was having some trouble with the gas at first. Turned out ok though. Bit outta practice with the Mig haha.


Nice and flat on both sides.

Good luck and best wishes, very happy to see your entry. cheers.

Dragged my sick arse out to the shop yesterday and did a bit of work. Patched the other side of the frame. Tuned the settings a bit from last time, turned the wire feed down and the heat up a bit, burned in a lot better. I was kinda out of it though, welds weren't so pretty.

Pro grade clamping. Didnt do a very good job cutting this one out, oh well.


All ground down. Got lucky, welds didn't interphere with the forward axle mount hole


Finally got the steering shaft out of the dash. Had to make a drift out of a rusty drill bit (tried just about everything that i had that wasn't tool steel, everything bent), and used a bit hammer to drive it out. What a pain.


Oh, and first pics on here from my new phone!

Ooh new phone, whatcha get?

Build looks like it’s coming along. Hope ya feel better bud

Cool. I just got a new phone too. Frame looks like it's getting stronger with all of those patches !
I need to get out and do some stuff on my machines but I have so much stuff that's cluttering up my life rn.

Wondered where you have been. Hope you get better man.

Got the steering wheel apart from the steering shaft.

Steering wheel ,.... in your locker?

My locker in machine tool lol.