Cub Crawler by RCG

As a parent it's exciting to see your kid take an interest in the things you like. John has been driving anything gas powered he can get his hands on sense he was a toddler. By the time he was 3 my Mud mower had a hidden toggle on it so he would quit sneaking off and trying to start it up.  

This summer he started to out grow his Gas Power wheels and the conclusion was made it needs a full down to the frame rebuild. During that time Hydro mudders became a big thing in one of the groups I ride with. Over the summer John got a chance to try out several and liked one the best.  

My friend Dans shaft drive Cub Cadet. In the words of John "If its pedal drive both hands are on the wheel it can not throw me. So I feel the safest on Dans." I told him if he can survive a entire day of riding on Jessi rig Bouncy at 3 miles of kidney killing trails I was game to build a rig.

Little did he know all the plans had been put in motion to build him a rig.

I think this is a really cool build I have been following it on youtube, glad to see it on here not many people build hydrostatic tractors. any fears of the hydro getting mud packed around it and overheating?

Watching.
I’ve enjoyed seeing John grow into the hobby. He is a lucky kid to have a Dad like you!

MN mudder wrote:

I think this is a really cool build  I have been following it on youtube, glad to see it on here not many people build hydrostatic tractors. any fears of the hydro getting mud packed around it and overheating?

The Irony of these tractors is the cost of a Hydro rebuild verse Getting the transaxle out to replace it. Most are easy to get the Transaxle out and expensive to rebuild. This one is hell to remove cheap to rebuild. A tuff torque 46A the most common transaxle on the marked is $400 a rebuild. These the kit is $150ish and cheaper if you after market the cylinders.

Hydro rebuilds are going to be forced on us lawn tractor guys at this point. Might as well embrace it and plan for it.

Some pre YouTube pics
Current project wiring, battery, gas tank.


Bonus pics of front end and skid plate that I have decided to not drill holes for exhaust. Have decided it would be better to rebo exhaust for the 3rd time and have it angle back and out behind skid plate in the future.
 

Is that red switch the kill switch? I like the slap switch... there is one for the Rat Rod I’m working on, so if anything goes wrong, my grandson can just slap the red cover and the engine dies.

Nevadablue wrote:

Is that red switch the kill switch? I like the slap switch... there is one for the Rat Rod I’m working on, so if anything goes wrong, my grandson can just slap the red cover and the engine dies.

Yes but as I will show and talk about in my next video and many in the past. You have to flip the switch to make it work with a Magneto coil. The red cover is keyed you have to file out the key then rotate the switch 180 for it to work.

Thanks for the video! As always, enjoyable and informative. Don’t blink, that little boy will be as big as you soon. All too soon.
Didn’t I see a how-to somewhere on making a tether switch out of a seat switch somewhere? That could save a buck or two also.

Pre Youtube pics.
John has decided he hates the look of the stock foot rest area and found a set of old Craftsman Gt ones he likes better.
Todays Goal is to sort out foot controls and brake pedal.

It is so cool that john is getting into the hobby and those gt foot rests look a ton better

Pre Youtude:
Well tonight we learned walking in a junkyard is dangerous and might cause new plans and ideas.

That’s a good looking setup. Look at the grin on John’s face. Priceless.

Pre Youtude:

Somebody looks pretty darn happy! Tractor is coming along nicely

Those new rear fenders look great! This makes me want to revive my projects.

Honestly looks really sweet, you going to add suspension? with that shaft drive you could take an old CV shaft and add live suspension...

John has a good teacher. He knows how to handle that rig.