(2001) Murray Widebody LT - Bowser

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

After long consideration. I think I will extend the hood forward about 2 inches. This should do 2 things for me.

1) Not knock the right front light out of socket due to bumping the engine.

2) Maybe make room for a muffler. I may go stock muffler with this engine. Duals are nice, but they are noisy. My daughter may not like that after some time.

Took Bowser over to my in-laws today. It's doing better but I have to do something way better with the exhaust. I have new manifolds coming tomorrow. I think I will put a factory muffler on and see how it does. Still smoking off the right side, but not too bad.

Sticky rings on that cylinder perhaps? I'm happy to see you getting this tractor going for your daughter, it's awesome she's in on the fun too!

I have temp 3/4-inch pipe I'm using for exhaust. The engine has 1 inch exhaust, so I have the 3/4 just slid into the exhaust nipples so there is a major exhaust leak up at the engine. Its sucking air causing the rough running, I think. We'll see. I did get the gov spring tension fixed so it idles better. I think I will still need to take off the carb and clean it down the road. I've been hoping it would somewhat clean itself with some fuel additives.

Stocker muffler installed for the engine. Runs about 50% better. No more pops, but there is a surge time to time that ends with a puff of blue smoke.

Made a heat shield for the muffler.

The vtwin may be a dud.  It will run perfect for a few minutes then all the sudden it starts stumbling and burning oil.  I don't want to troubleshoot the darn thing all summer and fall.  I'm going to put the 14.5 single into it.  It's what I was looking for to begin with!  Maybe tomorrow I can get that engine closer to drop in for run test.

Soon... 

Aye.... ok, I have something else going on here.  Not sure yet.  Gremlin?

So, removed the vtwin and put on the 14.5 hp. Ran good for about 1 minute and started running the same as the vtwin.  Then later to full surging below 2/3 idle.  Figured it could be that governor maybe messed up again.  SO... swapped on the 16hp.  Guess what.  Run just like the other two.  Runs good 2/3 or higher throttle, but hunt and surge below that.  Tomorrow I'll change out the gas cap and the fuel filter.  Outside that, I'm at a loss.  The fuel tank drains fine.  I wish it were a tick higher.  It is a bit frustrating.

Also, maybe bad gas?

Those vtwins are great if they run good its blowing oil from the breather so i would add a peice of fuel line and a filter to a water bottle then id clean the carb

The puff of smoke is coming out the muffler.  (right side I'm certain)  I do think it has a blown head gasket as well as the 14.5.

Got the 16hp running decent after a change in fuel line and filter.

So, got things buttoned back up.  Readjusted the hood again for the muffler.  Also installed the nilight pods I had forever it seems.  First time I've seen a dead cell in one.



Still bright... used the Doc method for installing them.

Got some fresh gas from my normal station (100%).  Filled up Bowser and the Dirty Rat for some riding today.  First day under a hundred since I do not know when.  Bowser ran better and better as the day went.  Only issue now with Bowser is a needed shift linkage adjustment.  Other than that all was well. A successful day.

Only issue I had today was on of the headlight fell out of the Dirty Rat.  No bigs, easy fix.

UPDATES! 

So I fiddled with this tractor this past weekend.  Still surged and popped a bit.  Cleaned the carb for the 3rd time.  Helped some as I found some of the holes still somewhat restricted in the jetting.  Never got it 100%.  Last cleaning must have killed the needle and seat as it started to leak.  Decided to ditch the carb for a $15 chinesium piece.   She's running the 16ph flawless now!  Pretty torque-y too.  



Now that it is running well, driving well.  I'm a bit torn on the front tires.

I had on 19's.  I felt they were too large.



So, I bought some 6" wheel atv tires based on the original tire size to the tractor.



They came out a lot smaller than I had hoped.  We've ran them for a couple months now and they just are not growing on me.  

I'm thinking something in the 16" size would be good.  I'll probably also move back to the 8" wheel.

I'm also hoping to take a Father/Daughter ride sometime in the next 30 days.  I won't have it nailed out by then but think the 14.5's would be ok for the trail system we are planning to head to.  Although the 19's would probably be better suited.

I've decided to go with the 19's.  They don't look as silly as the 14.5's.

Little update.

All right, another update on Bowser.  I did go ahead and add a foot throttle to Bowser.




The Daughter and I are looking forward to putting Bowser and the Dirty Rat to some trails in 2 weeks.

MightyRaze wrote:

Some coverage of the day.

I was impressed with how my daughter handled Bowser yesterday!  Only issue I saw was the gas pedal I installed fell off.  Not sure if it vibrated off or if I forgot to tighten it.  Its reattached now.





I do have a laundry list of things to improve Bowser.  It may get the focus of my 2023.  We will see.

Here are a few things I know right away that I need for bowser.

I REALLY LIKE this from @diddie



I also noticed the medal ruler used in it.  


I also think I am going to put Red's rear tires (bearclaws) on Bowser.  I like the tires on it, but  I need a little extra height for Bowser.  I have other tires for Red I also like.

I'll eventually move these to Bowser.


Tires I'll put on red when I change them out.  I have since fixed the leaking beads.  Turned out to be Haspin Acres dirt.



These are the biggest items needed for Bowser.  Also, I may need to make a transaxle skid plate as well.  I saw that ol' MST bounce off a few large stones during our rock crawl.  Made me cringe a few times.  I even seen an aluminum skid mark on one stone.  I haven't looked close, but nothing is leaking.  

@MightyRaze Lol ! used a Square for that. got to use what's available when fabrication calls. guess when i need to cut a piece of wood straight i'm screwed. lol.

diddie wrote:

@MightyRaze Lol ! used a Square for that. got to use what's available when fabrication calls. guess when i need to cut a piece of wood straight i'm screwed. lol.

Who needs a straight board.  Adds character.

MightyRaze wrote:

These are the biggest items needed for Bowser.  Also, I may need to make a transaxle skid plate as well.  I saw that ol' MST bounce off a few large stones during our rock crawl.  Made me cringe a few times.  I even seen an aluminum skid mark on one stone.  I haven't looked close, but nothing is leaking.  

Some of those MSTs can be pretty weak lol, I hit my blown up one twice with a hammer and the bottom of the case was in shards

Bowser 2.0 has started!

Brought it in the garage on this cold day.  I guess winter is here early.



I had purchased some 5 lug hubs pretty cheap off flea-bay for the 3/4 axle.  After doing some measuring, the hubs went on right up next to the transaxle.  That should help protect the transaxle a tiny bit.  Less likely to bend now.



The Bearclaws from Red are now on Bowser.



Next item I realized, was I need some handles on the fenders like Red has.

I had a couple handles available.   Installed...

Those tires give it a whole new attitude and they fit in the fenders perfectly!

Brianator wrote:

Those tires give it a whole new attitude and they fit in the fenders perfectly!

It's definately level now.  HAHA..

I think I need to look into a custom exhaust now too.  That way I can put the hood back on the original hinge maybe.  Right now, I don't think it will fit in the back of the pickup.  LOL.

Doing a little more going over.  I noticed the steering tower had a lot of play.  Yep... those pesky Murray mounts.  One's wifi now.  I'll fix that when I make some sort of tower bracing.

Upper teardown has started.