2020 Build-Off Discussion

This is just a suggestion -

How about for the 2020 year we drop all the rules on what we can and can't  use, and just have a couple of guidelines that have to be meet to be entered as a finalist.

Kinda like this-
1. A lawn tractor or garden tractor body must be used.
2. Steering wheel and tractor seat retained.
3. Wheelbase limitations  (like 72in long x48 wide)-just an example.
4. Run, drive,and stop.



It's just a suggestion but I'd think it would bring more builders to the build off and more people to the site.

@muddstir you might be onto something there, that could either work very well or go south quick. Could bring more people to the site and get more people to enter, but it may also flood the site with a whole bunch of mower sheet metal slapped on atv chassis, may take the site away from its roots

@redzz02  That might happen to the site on its own one way or another - ya never know.

We all have different taste and beliefs in want we consider a offroad mower. Just giving my suggestion.

Biggest killer for the site is Facebook.  (I would do more there to promote the site with our Facebook account, but how it is set up isn't all that friendly to me so I struggle there.)  Forums like this are a bit "old school' now.  We'll linger till no one bothers anymore.  Just a technological evolution, like old bulletin boards giving way to newsgroups, that gave way to chat rooms...etc.

We'll see what the turn out for this year is like on whether we go forward or not.  I guess comes down to @Doug's decision.  Interest is key, but there are some rules to help keep some level ground.  But as we have saw in the past few years intentional or not loopholes can be found.

MightyRaze wrote:

Biggest killer for the site is Facebook.  (I would do more there to promote the site with our Facebook account, but how it is set up isn't all that friendly to me so I struggle there.)  Forums like this are a bit "old school' now.  We'll linger till no one bothers anymore.  Just a technological evolution, like old bulletin boards giving way to newsgroups, that gave way to chat rooms...etc.

We'll see what the turn out for this year is like on whether we go forward or not.  I guess comes down to @Doug's decision.  Interest is key, but there are some rules to help keep some level ground.  But as we have saw in the past few years intentional or not loopholes can be found.

No plans on letting the site die in my future. Viva la ATLTF.

I might enter this year. Have a tractor the same body as @CraftsmanQuad19 so im gonna try to see I cant make something even worse to fall apart as Haspin. Back to budget builds baybee.

Company gave out no bonuses this year, they kinda lost some money due to a couple plane crashes by unskilled pilots. On top that, 2019 was a pricey year for things breaking and 2020, we need to save for a big trip in December 2020. So unless I can get something done for dirt cheap, I am out this year as I do not have enough parts to play. I have an Idea for a future build, so I'll keep that filed away.

Also, I need to work some projects on the house.

Kayla needs a new 2020 ttc rig so I may force her to enter and make her do all the work - the welding

The more the merrier!

Well it looks like I'll have to bow out before it even starts. Circumstances are changing, I won't have time to build anything for the competition.

i'm thinking of entering this year, but i don't know if my planned project will qualify, basically i planned to enter my noma/murray hybrid build, as it sits it's more than 50% even without the engine and transaxle, but i planned to completely blow it apart, replace the rear section of the frame with a section from another murray widebody to match the rest of the chassis, add bracing and put in the hydro from that chassis too, along with remounting the bed and putting in the engine, i was just wondering if it qualifies before i dig it out of the garage and start work on it, i know the rules say an old project can be used,

Everything you described, I would not consider it past 50%.  50% would be what it is becoming, not where it sits. Let me explain that a little bit.  You may have a 100% tractor, but only have 10% of the project rebuild because you are going to tear it all apart and redo most of it.  Things that are frowned upon are just a repaint and transaxle lock.  There isn't much to that.  Now if you are also, bracing, building add-on's, replacing tires, things that will take some work and re-engineering.  That is typically OK.

For instance, I had a 100% complete tractor, but my project changed engines, engine orientation, changed steering, front end, complete repaint, different tires, built some new add-ons like a utility bumper, etc. Creating something new out of it.  For the project, I was not 100%.  Personally, I wouldn't even say 25%.

Enter, give us a description like you did above of what you want to do.  Don't sell yourself short, either way sounds like you have a fun build ahead of you whether we let you in or not. Doesn't hurt to try to enter.  Nothing to loose. Only real outcome of that is how fast you build it.  

@MightyRaze thanks i just wanted to be clear about it before i started,

Aaah dangit, count me in this year!!!


Gonna have to get my entry ready tomorrow...

wish i could, but i'm not going to be able to start mine for a couple weeks at least, i have to many things to do before i can even get to it to pull it out of the garage for the entry pic, the good thing is once i get those done i should have a lot of free time to work on the build

Runs from now till Nov 30 at 11:59PM. Loads of time to get started.

Had a question, Would I be able to enter my AMF? its getting new steering, different motor, trans gone through, pto winch, new seat mount, new seat, rewired, new exhaust and a handful of other stuff?

If all you have done is the framework in your thread, I would consider it UNDER 50%. Go for it.

sounds good, Ill drag all my pieces together at some point and get it entered

Man some people are already rolling!!

I am debating this Sears and my cub 104 for my project... still doing some tinkering before I commit....

I have been talking about building a puller for forever....I want to try it this summer... The sears is pretty complete & 16hp, the cub needs a motor (k241) installed etc, wiring the whole 9.

I know the belt puller is less desirable but it is the path of least resistance & I would like to make the cub a little more wild possibly in the future, I think the 10hp will be underwhelming for pulling.

Both sound fun.  Haven't seen a puller in the forum in a while! 

So, I am about to wrap up with Red's upgrades.  I think!  After that, other than some house projects, I was thinking about returning to this Kohler Command that I have.  Currently it does not run.  It turns over and seems to have compression.  I have done the screwdriver test and the piston goes up and down.  I know nothing of it's history.  I know the one time I tried to turn it over I would get the occasional knock inside. 

Plans, bust into it and check things out. (hoping the knock was it trying to fire out of time, key?)  If it is OK, then I will use it to power a build-off entry.

Nice! Does it have the fuel pump on it?

Those Kohlers are some really nice smooth running engines when they run

Don't think it has one.

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Those Kohlers are some really nice smooth running engines when they run

Darn right. Unless you buy a brand new carb that wasn't fully assembled. Then it runs like crap. But normally they run smooth. Hope my 12 horse does.


If you need a fuel pump (they normally do for some reason), you can put the universal lawn tractor fuel pump on it. I did it on my 16 horse. Runs like a top now!

Took some surface coverings off and already found one issue and a potential no-run issue.

Non-issues:
I turned the engine by hand and it does seem to have good compression.  Took the valve cover off and the valves look fine as well as the push rods.  They even have good rocker movement.  Looks to be non-adjustable.

Check out that gasket! LOL



Popped off the flywheel and found my first issue and the possible second.

1st  Magnet fell off the flywheel.  Hoping this is the knock sound that would momentarily stop the cranking.



and now the potential no-run issue.  When I took off the flywheel, look where the key is?  Also, the key is rusty all around evenly as well as the keyway.  The keyway even had some dirt in it.  I'm 98% certain that key was not in there.  The shaft looks a little scored too.

Murraymountain wrote:

Nice! Does it have the fuel pump on it?

Answer to that question is no.  No fuel pump.  Certain it was a gravity fed system.  If I need a pump, i'll use a briggs style.



I'll clean up the engine and put it back together.  If it runs, long term, it will need a new valve cover gasket and by the looks of all the blue rtv around the sump probably a gasket there.  It is obvious this engine was tore into at one time.  That is my biggest concern.   If it runs, I will start the thread and stop talking about it here.