A different way of building a racing lawnmower

So my question is why do most racers use a vertical shafted engine to a peerless 700 transaxle to a live rearend when they build a racing mower? I would think they would have issues with the transaxle? I use a NEW harbor freight 6.5 212cc engine with a CVT/Torque converter to a live axle in the back. It is much easier. When racing mowers they NEVER shift gears so why have them with a peerless 700?

For one thing peerless 700s can be found in junkyards for cheap. 10 years ago CVTs were really expensive and they have come down in price recently, but you’re still going to spend over $100 for one . How often do you have to change the belts in your CVTs? Is it part of the racing rules that racing mowers have to have a mower transmission?

The one thing with a CVT I don't like is the lack of reverse.

He has a point though that is a feature that we would want in our mud mowers but we wouldn’t necessarily need in a racing only application.

Most races ban reverse anyway.

Yeah I believe that because of the risk of blowing the reverse chain and causing mass destruction. But for a backyard bomber I would like to have the occasional reverse.

I can get a cvt for 56 bucks.

Let's see the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Go-Kart-Torque-Converter-Clutch-Kit-3-4-10T-40-41-and-12T-35-Predator-212CC/311969384646?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
56.49 which is much cheaper than a transaxle. Not to mention you get WAY more lowend than a centrifugal clutch. I can pick the front end of my racing mower up no problem. 10 tooth sprocket on the cvt/tc and 60 tooth on the rear end. 18 inch tires.

It's also just way easier to swap the pulleys, change the belt, and call it done.  It is cheaper than buying a CVT, or an 212, or a live axle with the chain and sprockets, not to mention all of that put together.  You can also do it with less tools and cheaper tools, and you do not need lots of fab work. Anyone can make the pulley swap one in his garage, but not many can do the other.

I dunno, maybe because the average lawnmower came with a vertical shaft engine? Thats what people had to work with, so they used em.

When did harbor freight introduce the clones they sell? Could be, cheap engine like that weren't always available so people used what they had available.
And besides, the average lawnmower has a bigger engine that than that little 212. Mow Powa. Mow... hehehehe

TheBeal wrote:

I dunno, maybe because the average lawnmower came with a vertical shaft engine? Thats what people had to work with, so they used em.

When did harbor freight introduce the clones they sell? Could be, cheap engine like that weren't always available so people used what they had available.
And besides, the average lawnmower has a bigger engine that than that little 212. Mow Powa. Mow... hehehehe

Well the best thing about those 212cc engines is the power upgrades. They have so many power upgrades for those engines it is insane. It seems like every time I finish taking it apart and tinkering with it I find something else that I can do so I pull it out and do it over and over Also In order to be USLMRA the typical cost of putting together a racing mower that will be legal in any of those classes costs around 1-3 grand to put together. These boys have some serious money invested. They did have a horizontal engine class but not anymore I don't think. Also the best part of using a horizontal engine is that you can find a horizontal diesel engine much easier than a vertical. Then you have some serious power. lol What I did with the black racing mower above is sell off the engine and trans for 150. Then I bought a harbor freight engine for 100, the cvt for 60, the chain, pillow block bearings, rear sprocket, axle, brakes for about 150. Then the engine upgrades..... lol for about another 100. I did replace the front bushings with bearings and used balance beads which are amazing! so perhaps 10 bucks there. Then some steel to reinforce the frame. I think total I have about 300 in to it. It is not bad considering I can give other racing mowers a good run for their money and they spent thousands.

I'm pretty impressed with that racing mower considering how little money you have into it. I know I'd have fun driving it and I might build something like that someday that I can rip around on like a go-kart.

What engine upgrades did you do? I want to do some upgrades to the 196cc Kohler OHV motor I have on Mud Rat which is like a clone motor.

It started with the air intake and it ran a little funny so I re-jetted it with emulsion tube and .037 jet. Then I made the custom exhaust. Now I am taking it back out to advance the timing about 8 degrees. It is like a night and day difference.

Sounds simple enough, is it still governed?

for the time being yes. I guess my biggest point in posting the thread was to try and gauge why there is not a class that allows horizontal shafted engines? Like perhaps I was missing something about how other people build racing mowers? I also wanted to share my build as I am trying to get a group started that I can race with. I have checked in with a few groups in the area that would not let me race with them because my racing mower was set up a little different. Well it is set up like fearlessfronts kind of. Which his mower is SICK!

It would be helpful to know where you live in NY.

I did have a cool idea for a 4wd mower. Why not use a horizontal shafted engine and turn it 90 degrees. Mount a CVT on it that runs a chain under the frame to a jackshaft that goes to a front and rear driveshafts. Like my buddy did on his 4wd mower except he used a peerless 700 and a vertical shafted engine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-96VJrC5M8

I showed this to my students. It is kind of neat. Blew my mind when I first saw it. It is not about horsepower it is about gearing lol