Custom Craftsman Rock-Crawler build

dangeroustoys56 wrote:

Cool- have y checked how the steering would work with the extreme flex yet? Full drop on that side shouldnt be an issue- just full hilt i think might be an issue... the steering comes off the left side of the tractor - i dunno if y might need bump stops.

Yeah, when your right, your right!

It actually does pretty good! at full compression on the left side, the linkage does come very close! I will have to put in some steering stops, not so much for the linkage, but more for the tires rubbing.

Here are some small update pics, didn't work on it much, mostly reinforcing and checking clearances...



Mocked up with steering and tires. (yes they rub.. lol!)





That should be enough travel... Not quite as much as I originaly wanted, but good enough! 8" from full droop, to full compress. Gotta figure out how im gonna keep it stable though... Springs, or shocks or I was also thinking about using those gas charged shocks you see on hatchback cars. I have 2 of them and they are the perfect length. It's a low speed machine, so they could work. Unless I find something better.

Oh yeah, I'm putting a new mudding vid up today, keep your eyes peeled. It's gonna be a good one! lol!

Its looking cool! I like those real wheels on the front. Do you have a couple valve springs - id tack those to the axle up in under the frame - youd loose a lil more flex tho with those compressed springs .

For the wheel scrub- use a bolt on the spindles to limit the amount they steer( like MTD's have that pin )- just far enough to steer w/o hitting the frame.

Definitly very cool looking so far.

me too and the icon for new posts is flashing red

I tried to leave the steering alone for slimplisity's sake. I'll try to get some stuff done on it this weekend. Gotta buy like $10 worth of steering parts first.

Well thats the best part about modding- y can always tweek it after its complete .

I have alot of stock parts around - unfortunately i dont have any metal stock really laying around - ill need some for my direct steer setup on the 2 mods - also some square stock for supports n stuff - i usually wait till i have a 'list' before i travel around n get the stuff i need - hate making more then a trip.

Most likely my mild mod MTD will get direct steer n all that jazz - just not now.... i want it screaming around the yard- LOL!

Well I gotta get some large bolts and nuts so I can extend the front spindles, and I'd like to replace the 4 plactic busing inserts in the front axle, before I put it all back together. After that I may reinforce some more, add the steering stops like dangeroustoys56 way saying. Then the front end will almost be done!
Still gotta figure out spring/shocks....
I got a few ideas brewing...


I love making multiple trips to tractor supply, its like a candy store for me. I look at everything everytime i go there.

Yeah same here - they got rid of the clearance section in our store- sucks! Im going to buy a roll of that battery cable sometime- ill save money that way instead of $10 a wire..... ill need a couple more tubes for the back wheels on the wizard ( plus rear tires) .... also need to get the belts for the mod mtd..... sprockets...ect, ect....

For the wizard ill use the hommade spindles from large bolts - i already bot a set of spindles for the wheelhorse- just need to weld the bracket to the axle.

Ive been thinking tho about maybe making the ones on the wheelhorse adjustable tho- if i weld them and they dont set right- then id need to cut em off and redo it. Ive seen racers use heim ends to create the spindle holders - or mount them to the spindle plate - ill have to look into it further.

Well yesterday, I got the front end greased and back together. No wheels yet though. Gonna do that today. Everything seemed to work well so far. It's alot stronger then I thought it would be. At least it seems that way, we'll see when I drive it. I may have to do something like Chunk did with his front axle, where the pieces of steel come down behind the front axle so it cant be pushed back. It might be fine though.

So I have to get the wheels on to figure out the steering stops.
Still have to figure out shock or spring mounts
Then put the hood back on and trim the shit out of it! The front tire comes just under the carb at full compression and turned left.
And I also have to figure out a low clearance exaust because I don't think the stock one will fit. That left tire will probably hit it.

I'm gonna try to get most of this done today... Well maybe not the hood and the shocks.... Lets be realistic here... LOL!
If I can get it rolling and maybe driving, I'll be happy. I'll snap some pics and maybe get a video. My camera battery charger died so it'll have to be quick, I don't know how long it will last. I ordered a new one, I should have it by now...

I saw the video- its wicked! Yeah i see the contact issues with lock to lock turning and full flexing.... i know y did the wheel bolts already, what if y moved the wheels out just a tad more? Like weld a washer so the wheels wont wander in- thatd probably give just a lil more clearance/stability.

dangeroustoys56 wrote:

I saw the video- its wicked! Yeah i see the contact issues with lock to lock turning and full flexing.... i know y did the wheel bolts already, what if y moved the wheels out just a tad more? Like weld a washer so the wheels wont wander in- thatd probably give just a lil more clearance/stability.

Thanks guys!
The only reason i don't want to move the front wheels out more, (and this is probably dumb) is they already stick out more then the rear tires. Plus, I don't think the tractor could actually turn that sharply, and the rear tires are going to be taller and maybe narrower, so then it'll look really weird. I'm hoping not..

Chunk wrote:

how about the shocks you get to lift the tailgate of a car, you know the ones that push it up. That should help slow things down a bit, and making it more stable.

I have a set of those that would be the perfect length. Mounting them wouldn't be that hard, but damn! Do they push HARD! I might try it, and see how it goes. I can always cut em off!

Fearlessfront : Yeah i used my wheelhorse front tires on my kleen kut- man, looks alot better with those on it, steers easier too- they also have wheel berings and roll easier.


Chunk: I like that hood style on that tractor- with the lil scoop- reminds me of my toro with the fibreglass hood with the scoop. Y could probably cut a custom scoop out of the stock hood- slice 3 sides open, then get filler pieces for the sides- or at an auto customizer center how about one of those stick on plastic scoops?

Hey- there y go- make one out of fibreglass - that'd be cool! Reinforce it with steel strips ....

No side panels would suck in more air as well- just make sure y leave the tins on the motor.... could always make side panels with scoops as well... cpet y might get a load of mud in there ocassionally......

I dunno- my agway doesnt have sides on the hood, it stays somewhat clean.... and i ran it thru some wicked mud!

i agree with chunk . i never run any of my motors without a shroud. so important if you think about it

Update! finally!

I put in some steering stops, they were the head to the bolts I used to extend the spindles.



Also had to change the shifter, I didn't have enough leverage with the toyota lug wrench... I guess that what I get for using toyota parts.... lol!



Here are some veiws of the front end and how its attached. Those bolts are 15/16... Big bastards!



Its a long 3/4" wide hardend steel threaded rod. It goes through a piece of pipe, then through the axle, and then out the other piece of pipe. All supported be 1/8" flatsteel.



So yeah, I took some video too... I'll edit and upload that soon. Maybe tomorrow, I donno yet. I'll guess i'll leave you guys with one last pic.... I like this one ...

Very cool! Itll be a serious beast when its done. I like how it looks- i always sit back n think- " pretty cool stuff can be done with a lawntractor never built or intended to do stuff like that."