(2001) Murray Widebody LT - Bowser

Figure these tires would be a good match for the rear...



I'll look into getting a pair in a few weeks

Starter got installed, and the belt guide was been bent back from the drive pulley.  One last thing to fix and Bowser will be ready.  Not worried for a bumper at this time.  I do need a new fuel tank.  The one I patched decided to full fail.  Unfortunately the tanks for this model, price has doubled since I got the new one for Li'L Red couple years ago.  These little tanks are going for the price of the big ones from then.

I am looking for other possibilities as well such as put angle iron in the mount holes and use a craftsman tank.  They hold a little more.

I think the craftsman tank would work, the original muary tank should bolt on from the sides holding it to the dash the only thing I would be concerned about would be the tank being too tall to fit under the hood with the angle underneath it.

I think it might be wide enough, but the fill spout would be in the wrong spot.  That is my biggest concern. I'll keep my eye open.

too bad if you were closer to Minnesota I would give ya a gas tank, I think I may have a few tanks I do have a complete widebody also.

I can take a look at the junkyard for you. He usually has a couple.

Fuel tanks are an irritation to me. They used to be metal and could be easily modified. Now... not. I would like to use a 1 gallon metal can, but most all of them now have tiny plastic lids. Grrr... I’m still watching for the right, old, gas can I can modify.

gopowersports had the old school metal tanks $30, 

Gas / Fuel Tank Old School - GoPowerSports.com

I bookmarked it for a later day for when I was going to refresh my Sears Suburban.  I literally watched their supply go from many to nothing overnight.... and guess what.  They are now all over ebay for $90.

Ugh...

So, Bowser has been out of commision all winter.  No start issue.  I found the wires that came undone.  I fixed that issue.  Found some gas in the oil and changed that.  Now for the issues...

After changing the oil I tried to fire it up.  It fired right up, but blue smoke fogged the garage.  I went ahead and drove it back around to the building.  I fogged the whole yard and the building.  All the while it had a horrible knock.  I've pretty sure this engine may be on it's last go.  It never stopped blowing the blue smoke.  I figured when gas got in it, oil got on top the head, but like I said it never stopped.  I would like to find a 18hp Briggs single intek for it.  They pop up time to time.  Maybe one will pop up soon.

Got Bowser out this weekend and I am a bit frustrated.  Engine fired right up, not smoking as much as it did.  But it appears that I have within minutes of taking it around the yard, busted the new tank already.  After about 3 shake down laps around the yard I was smelling gas and when I stopped realized it was all over the left floorboard and my foot.  Glad no sparks happened. Sometime in the upcoming weeks I'll make sure it isn't something else like the fuel shut-off which is in that location as well.  Been storming every day this week since so, I haven't been too motivated to dig out the tractors to look at it.  Maybe I can come up with a way to put in a different tank if needed.

Well.. I've been in a sort of a thought process on that as well but my mower is a little longer than yours.

Personally I wanted to move my battery into the location where my fuel tank is and move a universal tank under the seat or in front of the engine, you don't have as much space in the front but if you have a sturdy metal tank and a fuel pump that might work better than those plastic ones.

Personally I have a metal tank but the gravity feed has just given me stupid hickups so that's more the reason Iam changing it

Moving the battery is an easy enough job.

I went out and looked it over just a bit ago.  I just realized I patched that tank and not changed it.  Thanks for the Idea.  I'll probably find something I have on hand to fix it.

I had some luck with a soldering iron and epoxy on some tanks but these transparent ones never seem to hold up long after they fail once.
Just a pain in the behind, hope you get to fix it

OK, I had a tank that I was able to install with some homemade brackets.  Seems to work well.  I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow.  Also, we may be able to get some footage of it running tomorrow!  Hoping all goes well.  Trying to decide on the Dirty Rat or Li'l Red as well.

This past year, especially this weekend, has proved I need to sit down and have some serious time with Bowser.  I've decided it will be my summer project.  Engine is in SERIOUS need of rebuilding, but not for this tractor.  Tires... I know in my video posted in the Dirty Rat's thread HERE, I'm going to look into Bowser having its own new set of tires.


So, here is my starting list.  It will update as I go along.

• Engine, looking for a single 12-18hp. May end up with the V-twin I started to put in the tractor now it has the governor fixed.
  
• Tires, it needs new tires.  Smaller than Red's old tires on the rear and maybe some larger for the front.
  
• Is my gas tank fix permanent?  Seems to work well.  I need to fix the fuel line.  I went with the shutoff that I had on that tank, but it is too close to the tank.
  
• Maybe stiffen the steering column somehow?
  

This is just a start for this little tractor.

First installment of the Bowser Refresh!

New tires I mentioned in the end of my video. Got the pair for $30. Ocelot P316 never used.

Nice score man! Have you heard of Ocelot before? I hadn't until I was helping a friend shop for tires for his rig recently and found these P3056 on Ebay for a screaming deal. They look WAY better in person than they did in the photos and they looked awesome in the photos! Lol.

Yes, I am familiar with Ocelot.  The fronts on Red are Ocelots.  

All right.... new tires installed on rear, took a set I had and put them on the front.  The fronts are a bit large, but I think it will be fine?  We'll see.  May need to modify the stop.

I think I have decided to go ahead with the V-twin again for Bowser.  Give that a go.

Engine installed!  Now I just need to rework the exhaust as the tire rub.  Should not be an issue.





Glad to be giving Bowser some love. Finally getting around to doing it right.

Bowser updated! Not sure how I feel about the vtwin. We'll see!

The Vtwin sounds awesome! How's the power? Throttle response seems pretty good

Brianator wrote:

The Vtwin sounds awesome! How's the power? Throttle response seems pretty good

Power is great until you start hitting 3600rpm and it falls on its face. Manual says 3200 top rpm, I think. It is running governor on normal hand throttle. I was able to pop a little wheelie just giving it gas in 6th gear. I feel if you dump the clutch in 3-4+ gear full throttle it would either blow the trans or flip you over on your back.

Lol. "Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go" ~Dirty Mary, Crazy Lary