My 1988 Craftsman

If these posted, here is my 1988 Craftsman Garden tractor Build, not quite completed. The engine is a Kawasaki FX730v, Transaxle is a Peerless 820-040 with Rod Rom gearset's 1 and 4. Rodney is a great guy to work with. I did add a 12" pulley to the transaxle and the engine has a 3" pulley. The rear tires are 26-11x12 inch tires. I did a little fender work widening them 5" to cover the tires. The seat is off a Husqvarna Zero Turn. Very comfortable. In the spring time, i do plan to repaint the whole tractor to match.
I built the machine to pull Black Boar atv implements. I did buy the Black Boar motorized arm and Landscape rake.
Thanks for all your help, from the technical articles, ideas and pictures.
Ken

Great job with the fenders, they look even better than factory! When you say you plan to repaint it, are you going to match the seat or the hood? You’ve got a very nice tractor there.

Thank you,
Yes I am trying to figure out a two tone paint scheme to match the seat.
The fenders are all steel, they were a fun project.

Nice tractor!  Don't think I would use that seatbelt. :-)

Hey MightyRaze, I guess the airbag I was thinking about putting in isn't going to fly either, huh?
I really forgot about the seat belt, it does a nice touch though.
Ken

Oooo Airbag would be nice. Tractor would bounce off ya if it flipped.

Nice craftsman man!

When I think of an airbag on a tractor, I think of this lol



It would launch you right off the back hahaha

I'm adding headlights and a front end weight this week and then leave it alone.
I'll update the pictures this weekend.
Thanks for all the help I've gotten off this site.
Ken

I'll finish the front end next week, I'm working on it at work early in the morning, (6am to 8am,) then fixing other equipment during the workday.

Here is my headlight bracket I made yesterday, the right one will be done Monday


The ammo box holds about 35 pounds of sand, an easy front ballast box.

I really like those rear tires

The rear tires are TG Tyre Guider Mars-A Utility ATV/UTV Tire. 26x11-12's

Those headlight brackets look great! I think I’m jealous of that 4 post lift there...

That lift is at work, I am too old to be rolling under the tractor, and you are right, its great.

I haven't been around bragging about my tractor........ Well it turns out the transaxle I am using should have been completely taken apart and inspected, just as it is now. Last time I drove it, it was stuck in first gear. I even bent the shifter trying to shift into reverse. Yep another repair in the future.
I pulled the 820 apart and found rust on the shift/brake shaft. Pulled the gears and the shift keys to find a huge amount of RUST build up. Today I polished every touching surface to that shaft, keys and gears. I used 500, 1000 and 1500 grit wet dry paper with wd40 as a lubricant. I also polished the shifter stem and the case where it is inserted. I so not want to take this apart again, at least for this. I haven't used this machine sense posting the pictures above because of this and my work schedule.
I am hoping I will have it back together and working it Saturday.
I'll post my results and progress.
I can't thank RodRom for all his help.
Ken