Im bored for most of the day at school in my off time after my works done, sooo i need something to discuss and read and i think it would be a good topic. describe whi you like a certain cassis what makes it great what sucks etc try to sell your chassis as being the best and why. ill give an example, pros: i think Craftsman LT1000 Based chassis are some of the best to start on other then murrays, craftsmans are retro come with a 4,5,6 speed models have flat framerails you can bolt any axle in any motor to it clutch is easy to move back because again flat frame rails and they are extreamly lego like you can swap fenders floor pans shift plates hoods dashes and everything parts are easily obtaiable and they are a good chassis to begin with.
cons: front axle comes weak mounts are terrible steering weak (exept 2nd gens) hoods tend to break and fraames crack and break in two and the seats crack super easy
The best frame is the one you have. Any of them can be stiffened and reinforced. I have read that some like the C-channel frames, but I don’t have any of those. I’m using a Craftsman LT1000 frame for my first build and have reinforced it by welding a 1” square tube along the bottom of both frame rails, since I stretched the frame. I also lowered the rear of the chassis by raising the axle.
Rustbucket Garage Veteran Member
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2022 Build-Off Entrant
1000+ Posts
1000+ Posts!
Join date : 2021-01-15 Points : 2883 Posts : 1340 Location : Upstate New York
Hmm… Craftsman vs Murray you say? *grabs popcorn in anticipation*
Personally I think that lawn tractor transaxles and frames are flimsy across the board unless you find something from say the 1970s.
Garden tractors on the other hand, I have yet to see a single one break or bend or anything of that nature, my white’s frame is at least 1/8 plate and the front half where most damage occurs is 1/4.
Murraymountain and Nevadablue like this post
Budget_gokart Established Member
500+ Posts
500+ Posts
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2022 Build-Off Entrant
2023 Build-Off Entrant
2023 Build-Off Entrant
2024 Build-Off Entrant
2024 Build-Off Entrant
Age : 21 Join date : 2020-12-23 Points : 2306 Posts : 785 Location : Roachdale IN
i never said murray vs craftsman but thats a fun topic i just asked on why you like your chassis and why you dont whats good about it whats bad. it can be any chassis a garden or lawn tractor any age. my opinion of older garden tractors is the same tougher frames better construction. craftsmans have a big issue with the frames cracking and the front axles and steering however murrays are harder to obtain and murrays seem to be a great chassis to start on ive seen alot of you guys running murrays and seriously abusing them and they dont have too much trouble, ex: fugazi, murray mountain, and mighty raze's murrays i forget the names of. all the craftsmans seem to be heavily modified for stuff murrays have no problems with
redzz02 Site VIP
500+ Posts
500+ Posts
2014 Build-Off Entrant
2014 Build-Off Entrant
2016 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2016 Build-Off Top 3 Winner
2021 Winner of Winners
2021 Winner of Winners
1st Place Build-Off 2015
1st Place Winner Build-Off 2015
1st Place Build-Off 2017
1st Place Build-Off Winner 2017
1st Place Build-Off 2018
1st Place Build-Off Winner 2018
Age : 30 Join date : 2010-05-12 Points : 6377 Posts : 899 Location : PA pittsburgh and pymatuning
well i get that i realised that i actually had a craftsman/noma all wheel steer dynamark with a plastic dash and all wheel steer but i cut it in half kept the fenders and scrapped it