MTD - "Budgie"

So I picked up this MTD thingy at an auction the other day for $45. Has a peerless 2300 and (had) a 18hp oppy.

Only good pic i have of it, its still at the auction here. RER i got in background too


Basically immediately took out the oppy to put in my snapper RER so i dont have to deal with a twisted belt system.



Took the trans out and managed to get one rim off with the help of a torch, the other had to cut off with the angle grinder.


Stuff to do
-fozzy lock trans(eventually)
-put itps on
-swap in 6.5 generac engine(honda clone) for now and get rid of belt twist
-put a seat on it
-prolly steal the headlights out of it for mutt lmao
-weld frame where cracked, beef up frame while at it i guess
-beef up front axle, im not making another lol
-put the fugin clutch on the correct side this isnt england for frogs snacks(MOST IMPORTANT MOD)

This is basically me building with what i have around with the aim to avoid all the mistakes and subsequent work that happened with mutt.

"Budgie" is the name for now cause its 4:35am and i cant think of anything better and its a budget build ig idk

also would you look at that steering tightener bolt mmmmm

Nice project!  2300 is the cast iron trans, right? With the 6.5 and the 2300 it would make the ultimate long range tractor. The right side clutch pedal is a bit strange at first, but you will get used to it. The design of the clutch pedal looks like it won't be too hard to move to the left.

Generac is actually a name brand. Expensive generators and they’re on Dixie Choppers. Very good engines I believe though, so should be ok. Bit underpowered though eh...?

Nah. 6.5 hp is pretty good for just messing around.

This generac came off a pressure washer. Will do nicely till i find a gx390 or maybe a vanny, something along those lines. Yeah she's cast iron, heavy as frig too.

Anybody know the gear ratios on these 2300s? I think i have a pretty narrow pulley selection at the moment and I'd like to know what speed I'm gonna get lol

No idea, pretty low, I will go out and get a ratio in about if you want

I mean i can go out and get a general gear ratio myself, but I'd like some more exact values lol

Here ya go Rich:



22.2:1 in 4th gear. Definitely some fairly low final drive ratios, but at least you know what they are now.

Holy hell, this thing is geared lower than i thought! Lol

Oh my, that first gear is insane. I didn't know my JD was that slow.

Yeah, hope i can still get 15mph out of er lol

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

Oh my, that first gear is
insane.  I didn't know my JD was that slow.

Well yours has the variable-speed too, which boost the speed a bit most likely. I know my cousins 110 moves pretty decent in 4th hi.

Have a VERY similar tractor myself, but 16 hp. The gearing is pretty low and the stock belt twist sucks, so I am in the process of copying Mighty's Kal-El design. You won't have any trouble with the clutch. just clamp it in place, chop it, and weld it to the other side.

Yep, looks like i just gotta cut the welds and switch it around. Cake.

Took some mower mounts off and getting the trans back in

Well she's back on four wheels at least.

Looks good on all four. ITPs look nice

Interesting drive thingy. Is that a early design of the stupid *** vari drive system all mtd mowers are blessed with?

No varidrive. Has a jackshaft in the middle that clutches both belts.

If you give me a tire size I can work up some top speed calculations for you.  Do you plan on going un-governed?

Looks like if you run the same sizes as Ol' Red which is 6" engine, 5" trans, you'll top out at 14 mph @3600 rpm.  You could overrev it to get more speed.  Of course you'll here some funny noises over driving the transmission.

Lmao I'm not unfamiliar with those funny noises.

No progress on this thing, i gotta do this whole huge tire switch fiasco that I'm not looking forward to. Also these front rims have plastic bushings but no grease fitting, so i gotta figure out what I'm doing with that. And the frame has to be welded, and a mounting plate needs to be arranged for the new 6.5. That's just the big stuff that i can think of right now.

Um no progress besides the puddles around both of the rear tires lol. Seems the axle seals are 100% ineffective

Got the new fronts on. Still leans to the front, think I'll lower the axle pivot. Doing that should give some more articulation too, which it really desperately needs lol. While doing that I'll weld up the cracks on the frame and beef it up some too.

Figured out where i want her to sit. About 1° backwards lean, rather than the 1° forward lean it had before.


Just kinda sitting on the front axle bolt. Haven't figured out how exactly I'll mount it yet, i have some ideas tho.


Frame cracks. Harder to see since i pounded the frame straight.




Cut away a bit for the steering arm, it couldnt travel enough before, when adjusted to steer fully in both directions.


Kind of a tight spot to run a belt. That rod going down will come out anyways(deck thing) and the spring can be moved.


So tomorrow I'll do some welding and bracing. Oh, and steering stops are a must. Also a engine mount plate is something that needs figured out soon.

Nice! The new stance looks meaner for sure.