CraftsmanQuad19’s CraftsmanQuad [2018 Build-Off Entry]

Ok so most of you know my machine, the CraftsmanQuad or CQ for short. But it’s never done and it’s nowher near where I want it for haspin, so hopefully you guys let me in as under 50% completed

Build list:

Reinforce frame

Paint side panels, tunnel, and frame black

Paint fenders tan

Wiring harness

New front tires

Light bar

Battery

Auxiliary tank?

V-twin?

Bigger front pulley?









-Approved by Doug, 2/8/2018

Make sure you have that Waiver signed for Haspin!

Birthday is in May, I’ll be 18 by then, so I’ll be good right?

Here is the link to the original pre-buildoff thread:

CraftsmanQuad

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

Alrighty guys, not a big update here but an update none the less. Got a different idler setup on the rear, and the new belt put on. Took it for a drive tonight and everything was working fine.

Hope this setup is the one, it’s the 3rd or 4th try lol

Nice CQ! It's always great to have a nicely functioning belt system. My least favorite part to figure out though, haha.

It’s all trial and error. I’ll need to figure out something different on the simplicity when that belt lets go. I’m not doing that setup again

Small update tonight. Got the transaxle vented for now. Gonna redo it later more permanent when I blow the whole thing apart and go through it from the ground up. Once it’s warm enough I’ll get the pressure washer out, take it down to bare frame, wash it, reinforce everything, paint it all, new bushings in the front axle and steering, transaxle vent to the air intake on the engine, and finally the wiring.

I’m sorry for the slow progress, just waiting on some good weather and some time to really get into it. Few hours here and there isn’t enough for me to justify tearing down my perfectly running rig, upgrades or not.

No problem, a few of us have been waiting for better days to work! Good you have a todo list. Keeps ya focused!

I have officially added front transaxle braces to the ‘to-do’ list. Won’t add much weight but will hopefully add a lot of strength. Also, this will be getting a new transaxle. The one in it now is out of a Murray and has the tall shifter. It also leaks a bit.

I’m going to take one of my spare MST 206s (out of a craftsman) and do fresh oil, thread in a transaxle vent, and swap it in. The MST in mine now will go in my friends MTD.

What do you guys recommend running for oil? I run 90wt gear oil in it now, but that stuff gets really thick when it’s cold. Have read about ATF, and have a couple quarts of that on hand so that would be preferable. People have told me it may be a little thin, but some Lucas oil transmission fluid additive would bring up the viscosity quite a bit.

And what else would you guys do while the transaxle is out for durability? As far as I know all the seals and bearings are good, and I don’t want to lock it.

I would try 50 wt motor oil.  That's what what my hydro uses and it works good in the cold.

I use Lucas Oil Transmission Fix, I love the stuff. Works wonders for a transaxle.

Yeah I would think like 15w40 would be a happy medium. Although I run 80w90 gear oil in my transaxles and don't have any issues in the cold. My 600's don't have shift keys obviously, but still. Haha.

Once that mst warms up it’s fine, but man oh man when it’s cold it’s a bugger haha. Plus my shift pattern is wrong so it’s hard to tell if it’s in neutral

Nice to see the CQ in the build off! I've never had any problems with my MST in the cold and I have 80w90 oil in it. As suggested maybe clean the case out and try a thinner oil. Wouldn't want it too thin though as it would leak out of the seals.

Hauled a couple loads of wood today. Going to swap the transaxle very soon. The one that’s in it now is out of a Murray, so it has the tall shifter, which threw my shift pattern off, and it doesn’t shift very well. When I first got it, the tractor overall wasn’t in very good shape and the little bit of oil that I drained from the transmission looked like Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Not even kidding.

I have much higher hopes for the next trans. Another MST206 but this is from a craftsman. Also will be making front transaxle mounts at some point. Most likely the same time I reinforce the frame

Pic from today:

Ok guys, tomorrow is our last day of school. That gives me about a week to thrash hard on this thing and get it done for the trip. What I’m looking to get done in that time is reinforce the frame with the Murray pan frame I just got, paint, and rebuild the steering with all new bushings, heims, and a new tierod.

In two days this build is officially OFF HOLD

Things like tires and wiring will be done after the trip at some point

I really like those rear knobby tires, nice and trippy in various terrains i would think, how do they handle in mud?

Let the fun begin!

Be cool if you come to haspin. The rear tires fit nice in the fenders, looks good.

Biggas: they do ok as long as you have enough wheelspeed to keep the tread clear. Real sticky mud or going slow they struggle.

Mighty: haha heck yea!

Mr.moo: yep I’m planning on going! They’re 22x11-8 duros. The stock was 20x10-8. I think they fit nice myself. Wanted to add fender flares for more protection but it would totally kill the look

Yeah my stance is too wide now for any thought of fender flares, and I always get muddy anyway so what's the use.

Ok guys got a bit of an update but no pics yet. My phone has been on the fritz all weekend. I found a pan frame murray for free that I got completely broken down to parts this weekend. Here's what I got:
-12 horse briggs, brothers mower
-wiring, friends MTD
-steering box, also the MTD
-peerless 920 or 930 5 speed, dynamark street rod
-front wheels/tires, my wagon
-the frame, THE CQ!

So I'm cutting up the frame and welding it right in on top of my existing frame. I hope to start tearing down the CQ tomorrow after I clean pressure wash the driveway (long story) and after football practice.

Interesting idea of welding a frame on top of a frame. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.