Budget build murray [2018 Build-Off Entry]

I will be looking at trying to use those mounts when I'm further along in the build. I'm still not sure if I will be using a pan style seat or a riding mower seat. Also im still unsure of the rear fenders.

Today I started to work on and mock up the front end and its looking a little long. Rear tires are 25" front are 19" and I have a 48 1/2 wheelbase. I'm thinking I'm a little long from seat to where the dash start but when sitting on it it feels good. Any opinions would be appreciated.

I think your tractor looks stretched but in a good way and not overdone. Your wheelbase is only 3 inches more than my C-81. That seems reasonable, but what’s important is that the tractor is comfortable and feels good for you. I would really take TheBeal’s advice and connect your frame to the original axle mounts. That’s how that transaxle was intended to be mounted. The aluminum housing may not handle the torque of being mounted to the end of the frame like that.

Good sized wheel base, should be stable at high speeds.

Oh you finally cut the front. Looks great. Excellent example of a custom frame for the build off! I think placement looks good.

Really cool Build!

A little bit more progress today. I got the rear fenders mounted. I will be adding inner fender sheet metal for blocking off the tire from the seat. The fenders are from a 83 ytm 3 wheeler. I also built the front axle. For the spindles I used ones off of a atv so I would be able to use the front drum brakes.

Man those fenders look pretty good! Really ads to that old school garden tractor look. Also that front axle looks really heavy duty, should be a rugged stup for sure. Great work!

Man I am loving this build. I think you may be a top contender.

Yeah he's going to be a top contender for sure. This thing looks like a stretched old school garden tractor with atv spindles and front brakes. That is really cool.

What's the motor plan?

Hey! Ain't I a top contender???? I mean , I might be in the hospital or dead after my first test drives but still!

I think he had a Tecumseh 10 hp to put in it.

biggasmowers wrote:

Hey! Ain't I a top contender???? I mean , I might be in the hospital or dead after my first test drives but still!

How much life insurance do you have?

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

biggasmowers wrote:

Hey! Ain't I a top contender???? I mean , I might be in the hospital or dead after my first test drives but still!

How much life insurance do you have?

Idk..... I might wanna get that figured out I guess...
This frame is pretty beefy, but that steel is spensive!! Not sure how that makes it a budget build. Lol

Thanks guys. So far its looking about how I want it. For now the engine is a techumseh 9hp. As for the budget the steel 1x2" steel tube and the 6"×13" plate cost me $35. $10 of that was there labor to cut it. So as it sits a roller that's all I have in it. All other plates and gussets have been cut out of the Murray's pan frame and a craftsman frame. Bumper will be made from a exercise bike. Lol

Excellent job sourcing your metals if you didn't intend to use those frames again!

Biggasmowers, there are a lot of good builds. A few I do feel are top contenders!

Oh, and the opinion on the seat placement from the other day.  Whatever feels good for you.  I think the seat looks good there.

Here is receipt for the steel. Not to bad I dont think

Ohhh, That Frame is really sturdy, it will handle a lot of abuse! Also now after all the body modifying, the mower looks a lot better!! only needs a really big powerful Engine to get through every Mud hole!

Those steel prices are reasonable and I think that's budget minded.

Woah! If I would have bought that here in Kansas it would have been around 60-80 bucks.

Ouch. I would have certainly picked a different material at that cost.

Just added more gussets to beef up the front axle holder. Tomorrow I might get to steering or the bumper.

That's a good idea. Is your front pivot going to have greaseable bushings or anything? or just a bolt going through it?

Working on that right now. Im adding a piece of tube inside the front axle. The bolt will run through that and also act as a replaceable wear point.

Awhile back I bought 7 ft of 1x2 x11ga and it was 26 bucks. And it was even a cutoff piece in the extras pile.

Got a few things done the last few days. The steering is done other than some steering stops on the axle. Also started the bumper I'm going with a prerunner style of sorts. The steering is a mix or atv parts and stuff left over from the murray.

Steering shaft bushing removed from atv.


Got the bushing cut out from the mount.


Drilled it for a grease fitting and welded it to its new mount.


Steering bushing in place and started the tie rods. They are shorted from the atv


These are the parts I found for the front steering shaft. Piece of a old go kart axle the old axle mount from the murray and a front wheel bushing from the murray


Here is the steering finished up


Started on the bumper. Mounting bars from a murray go kart and main bumper from a pressure washer handle.


Here is where I decided this thing is way to long


Time to take some out of the dash to shorten this thing up


Added some angle steel to mount the hood back to the dash


And how its sits mocked up with engine and shorten up about 3". I also made the battery mount that you can see in this pic

How's the direct steering work? I tried direct on a mud mower with big front tires and with a large wrench on the steering shaft I could turn the wheels. Of course that was a while ago and I probably mucked something up and didn't do it right

It feels good. Wont know till it runs but I did direct steer on my craftsman and it was just fine. Gave me more control at higher speeds. I might mess around with the leverage if needed later on. If by the end of the build off I can come up with a pretty compact gear reduction I would prefer that route. I actually started with the stock murray unit but wasnt happy with it.