[FINALIST] - Murraymountain's Mountain Murray [2019 Build-Off Entry]

Yeah I mean it takes a lot of work, but when you really look at it, putting $1200 to building a tractor better than any ATV definitely beats spending $5000 on a used 4 wheeler. I really can't afford to do this but I try, and that's all that matters right. It took me 6 months to build my hydro when I could've had it done in 4 because I ran out of money. It really depends on what you start with, I probably got a good $200 in my hydro but I started with a perfectly good lawn tractor, Whereas the MM was a total piece of junk, and now I got $150 in it and still can barely start it.

I've only got $310 in the John Deere, and I'll have about $200 in the MTD when its done, a long with about $50 in the murray. I've learned if you try to reuse as many parts as you can, it's really easy to keep it cheap.

So true. The only problem for me is that i have no parts mowers. So i have to go to the junkyard every time I need a part. But I always get stuff for free there so it's really not that bad.

[mod]Let's try to keep the topic on the build-off entry.[/mod]

I know it is all relevant somehow, but please use the discussion area for off the wall conversation.
Thanks...

Well, got some good news and some bad. Good first...



It's finally running right!   This is what the knock did today. "Noticeable on cold start, gone during warm up, loud when warm." And it doesn't seem to be the connecting rod. It sounds to me like the valve system near the camshaft or, even though it's not common, piston slap. When I'm just listening I'm almost sure it's the piston, but when I use a listening stick I'm not sure anymore. Very confusing. Anyway got the new carb on a few days ago and when I pushed the button, "silent." "Oh the push button start blew." So I ordered a new one and it came in today. "Finally! It runs!"

As far as driving it goes, I can't even seem to do the Doc Locker. The 3/4" washers are a 16th too big, the weld-on hub was not precision cut and is too small by a measurement that cannot be taken in in. or mm., and the 3/16 key stock has surface rust that won't allow it to fit in the axle. I know I can easily fix the key stock and I might be able to get some better washers, but the hub will be a beast since I can't take it back. Plus I still have to take the tranny back out of the MM, take it back apart, re-lock it, waste more RTV on it putting it back together, put it back in, find the right belt size, get another tensioner pulley, change the flat tires, fix the brakes, add a kill switch, and maybe fix the knock before I'm okay with driving it around. And to put more pressure on me, I really need this thing by next week.

So for the knock, do you think some slick 50 or sea foam in the gas or oil might help?

To be honest, I think that no matter what you put in it to make the knock go away there is still going to be something wrong with it. I'm still wondering if it isn't an issue with the counter-balancer, assuming this Briggs uses the same setup the previous ones did.

There's usually a pretty big difference between a valvetrain noise and a bottom end noise. I haven't heard yours in person obviously, but by your description I'm thinkin' it's more of a definable bottom end type knock.

Is there any way to post videos that were taken on a digital camera, or do I have to use Youtube? I'd like to post the knock somehow.

To embed it in the page, you have to use YouTube. You could upload it to Google Photos and then share the link or something.

Okay thank you!

Alright, so I have to be honest, I kinda rushed getting it back on 4 wheels and that has taken its toll. All my fault...




Tranny has to come back apart for the locker, and the engine, well, I'm not even sure I want that motor anymore. The MM may end up with a twin! When I get the lowe's sold I'll try to start the suspension, bumper, and whenever I get the motor on (again), the exhaust. So now we may talk about suspension...

First the rear. So I was thinking about trying something like putting seat springs from a GT6000 in between the tranny and mounts and running each bolt through the springs if you know what i mean. I would definitely need some longer bolts. Now the tranny wouldn't be secured properly so I'd need something to stop it from moving and eventually shattering the case.

(Just FYI, I really don't want anything crazy, just something to take the stiffness out of the ride.)

Keep in mind, if your rear end is going to be able to flex a bit, you will increase the probability of throwing your belt.

Yeah I may have to put some stupid belt guards on it.

Anyway, I really think this is what I'm gonna end up doing. I think I've come up with a solution that will only allow the tranny to move up and down (my drawing skills aren't the best)...



First off, so they don't pop outta place, i'd weld the springs to the tranny mounts, and that part would be done. Then, I'd need to make homemade brackets that look like this...




They'd mount to the bottom of the tranny, and be flush with the frame. One for each side, and that would take care of side to side movement. I'd probably grease them so it doesn't tear up the frame. Then, for front to rear movement, I'd weld 8 small plates to the frame. 2 for each part that's flush with the frame, and just enough space between them to fit those homemade brackets. It would take some precision measurements to pull this off, but I think I can do it. ALL the brackets will be reinforced and made with strong steel. I'd like it so that when someone decides to jump it it won't destroy the rear half of the machine. Remember, I'm not looking for something crazy, just something to reduce the bumps. If anyone sees a potential problem, let me know.

I kinda like that Idea, but then U would need a Trans Subframe (check out Lucky7 & RS motorsports on YT) they did the same thing to stiffen their trans up!

I really need to get this thing going... I think I really just needed a better mower to start with and I'm flat broke so right now I'm stuck with a hunk of metal that doesn't do anything except take up needed space. Just bad timing I guess. The 15.5 is going away so that'll take a chunk of money out of this one. I'm not sure I'll make the deadline but one thing is for sure... Someday... I'll drive it. This is how it sits now... Covered in pollen and dust, 4 flat tires, motor and trans not mounted... it's a mess...



Hopefully it'll come to life after the Lowe's sells.

hey it's still a good looking ride if you don't get'er done for the comp oh-well just get'er done for self satisfaction when the time comes ! we do this for fun and enjoyment ! not to be pressured.always Remember it"s for fun. if you cant have fun why do it.

diddie wrote:

hey it's still a good looking ride if you don't get'er done for the comp oh-well just get'er done for self satisfaction when the time comes ! we do this for fun and enjoyment ! not to be pressured.always Remember it"s for fun. if you cant have fun why do it.

You hit that nail on the head!

Very true. But it takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to build these things and one time or another it's gonna piss you off and you just have to quit for awhile, like what happened earlier with this build. Or, like right now, your timing is bad and you run out of money or free time. Luckily I just got out of school and I should have way more time on my hands. But in the end, the result is normally worth it. So hopefully I can start on this one again.

yeah I have to agree here! Diggin the Look of it, would be a shame when U never finish it like I do with most of my stuff

Okay so @SebastianAlbrecht, you've mentioned something about subframes. Exactly what vid are you talking about? I looked through their sites and didn't find anything...

Murraymountain wrote:

Okay so @SebastianAlbrecht, you've mentioned something about subframes. Exactly what vid are you talking about? I looked through their sites and didn't find anything...

I make my Subframes at my own to get them stock frames stronger..
Have to finally get work done on that damn Widebody I kinda threw in the corner...

I mean a subframe for the tranny. I didn't find anything on these guys sites. What did Luck7 & RS motorsports do?

SebastianAlbrecht wrote:

I kinda like that Idea, but then U would need a Trans Subframe (check out Lucky7 & RS motorsports on YT) they did the same thing to stiffen their trans up!

Murraymountain wrote:

I mean a subframe for the tranny. I didn't find anything on these guys sites. What did Luck7 & RS motorsports do?

SebastianAlbrecht wrote:

I kinda like that Idea, but then U would need a Trans Subframe (check out Lucky7 & RS motorsports on YT) they did the same thing to stiffen their trans up!

I'll look 4 Pics! U can only find it on FB though..

Ughhh. This build has really failed me. But I'm stubborn sometimes so like I said before, this build won't go unfinished. But, I highly highly doubt I'm making that deadline. I have no money yet, everything I've tried hasn't really worked out, and I've just kinda lost interest in this build. But my pride ain't gonna let me let it sit. This is a Build-off tractor, and it is not going to fall out of this competition. It definitely ain't gonna win, but it's gonna be a player to the end here and it is going to be completed at the end NO MATTER WHAT I have to knock off this list. So here's the old list:

-New orange paint

-Reinforced frame, hood, and steering column

-New ATV tires

-Recoil pull start

-Snorkel

-Gas pedal

-LED headlights & tail lights

-Brush guard

-Locked transmission

-Pulley swap (6" in front 4" on back)

-Suspension

-Exhaust

-Hand brake

-Rear guard/rack

And a few other small things.



Now, the orange paint is obviously already done, the frame reinforcements are not gonna help much, but call it done, as for the rest of the reinforcements, they may or may not happen, but, as for the moment, call it done. The ATV tires will probably turn into cut up turfs. The recoil pull start turned into the good ol' pulley and rope start. No snorkel, gas pedal is still a go, a rewire is planned, the headlights and taillights are a maybe, I drive in the dark a lot so they'll be needed. Brush guard is a maybe, Locker is a go, pulley swap is almost finished, suspension is out ( ), straight pipe exhaust is in, hand brake is getting there, rear guard/rack is out, the 15 HP motor is BACK in ( ), And of course there's always a few other small things.

I need to get 'er going or the temptation of putting that tranny under the Hydro Murray might happen and that would be the end of this build. There's way more to do than just that list. I need a seat, a battery compartment, all your normal lawn tractor electricals, a new gas tank, and so on. I'm ready to work on my hydro again but for now, I don't really have a choice if I'm making this deadline.




I can only do so much with my knowledge, tools, money, and time, but I'm trying and that's what counts, right...

I understand man....  I was in your position several times..  It will come back around to you or you will find something else.  Don't push yourself if you are not feeling it.  You will end up cutting corners and in the end, just don't want to mess with it anymore.  It's ok to step back for a while and re-evaluate.  That's why I scrapped my first build-off Idea.

Thanks Mighty! I worked on it all day yesterday and I'm about to do it again today. I'm beginning to make progress. If everything starts to go like yesterday did, all that bickering from me was just frustration I guess. Maybe she will come back around...

Alright. We're beginning to knock some stuff off the list! So this week, I managed to get the motor off the Craps-man and on the MM, I managed to rewire it, just waiting on my push button now to see if it works, I got the pull-start on and it looks great. I stiil haven't ran the motor so I'm not sure if it's centered, and I also realized just how junkafied this engine is... It has so much compression that I could pick up the front wheels and stretch the rope that I use to start mine when I hit compression, hmmmm?... I did a little face work that I'll let you guys figure out, notice anything?...



And then we went to the junkyard and got a battery case, a seat, a gas tank, and a tensioner pulley that doesn't work. The seat does not look good at all, but it's way more comfortable. I managed to lock up the front axle pretty good so now I gotta fix that. And we also were able to complete the Doc Locker!!!!!!! Of course there was a few hiccups along the way, like a bad weld on hub, crooked key way cuts, rusty key ways that don't fit, you know, things like that. My Papa was a metal worker so he was able to salvage the weld on hub!



Completed Locker...




And when I reassembled it, I somehow was able to blow hole right through the top of the case... I still don't understand it. You know those 2 bolts on the underside of an MST? Well some RTV musta got in there and when I drove it in real hard with an impact, "Pow!", and then I hear a ringing of metal. I had no clue of what it was till I turned the tranny back over. The backing that that bolt stops at busted off. Luckily no leakage yet, but I still haven't run it and I'm not sure, but it might of cracked the casing and when someone sends this thing off an embankment, it may mot hold up. So I just RTVed the crap out of it and hope it holds. But on the other hand, it shifts perfectly. So now, before I can drive it, it needs a belt, tensioner pulley, 4 tires, a gas pedal, and it would be nice to have some brakes too. She's coming together!