John Deere Ice Racer by RCG

Laughs are good for us.
I’m looking forward to seeing this develop.

Nevadablue wrote:

I’m looking forward to seeing this develop.

The butt operated throttle?  Does that come with fart boost?

Just curious. Are there any rules in this game? I have some ideas that should make the thing work better, given that the ice is flat and there isn’t nearly as much strain on the rig as off roading creates.
So, similar to a sprint car that only goes left and is on fairly smooth surface...
What about extending the right front spindle and the right rear axle? A wider stance would help with the stability. I wish there was a pond near here, I always liked driving on ice.
When I lived near the big lake in North Dakota, we would take the big conversion van and the little car out on the ice and have a ball. Big booms can come out of 4’ thick ice too.

Basically we raced using the base rules we had for drag racing. This is the new list a few things got added after a crash last winter.

Rules for all classes

1. Must be a stock mower engine, chassis, drive train and rear end transaxle which cut grass at one time.

2. Working brakes and four wheels.

3. Naturally aspirated.

4. Pump gas (94 Octane) only. Octane boost allowed to 110 Octane for engine protection.

5. No Zero turn mowers allowed.

6. Must have a kill switch or key.

7. Mowers are allowed to move up in as many classes as they like with the same mower with the exception of outlaw.

8. All drivers must wear a helmet while racing.

9. All drivers must wear appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes.
10. All classes may use foot pedals

Hmmm... rule no. 1 could be rather tricky... stock drive train?

Watching.

Are you allowed to pull the governor?

TechnoChicken wrote:

Are you allowed to pull the governor?

Yes! But can not find much racing love for the kohler on this rig so it will be a make it up as I go.
If it has plastic Cam gears like some are known to that might explain why.

Yeah those courages have the plastic cams.

Pre Youtube:
Well got things moved over and out of the way.

Helping out a friend and teaching John about timing and lining up the oil pump.
Sorting out a few front axle drop ideas on the Racer. The front pivot is built less like a MTD and more like a AYP craftsman. That being side if I can raise the pivot so the front axle Wedges into the top. It would drop it the 1 inch I am after. I do not like tipping the engine much more then that cause it would potentially put oil into the bottom of the piston cylinder.

My furnace in the house failed in a big way so I am out my entire emergency budget. AKA anything on these racers has to be free or insane cheap to continue the build for the next 2 months.

You are a good Dad. That time you spend with John is priceless.

Sorry about the furnace. I’m sick of stuff that just quits working. Our furnace is a dinosaur, like me. Likely to die at any moment... like me. LOL

Now the exhaust blower on the pellet stove is squeaking. Fans that run in heat flow (like FIRE heat) should be illegal. I just replaced the same kind of thing in the kitchen range.

I agree with @Nevadablue. Any time spent with the kids is a bonus.  Letting him work with you, in the future, he won't have that anxiety of tearing something apart to fix that some kids these days have in this disposable world.  

Isn't it the worst time something breaks?  I know it gets pretty cold up there in Maine.  Last year when we were having one of the worst cold outbreaks we have seen down here in Oklahoma, rolling power outages and all.  I remember it was in the (-) single digits out and I wake up around 5am pretty dang cold.  It was about 54 in the house.  My first thought was one of the blackouts happened while sleeping, but soon realized the burning smell.  I took it upon myself to track down the burn smell to the furnace (ac combo jobers)  I flipped the furnace breaker and proceeded to tear into the unit.  Luckily, I found a tarnished wire that burned in two. (Original unit to 43 y/o home).  I seen there was a couple others that had some tarnish as well.  I cleaned up ALL the wiring.  While doing that, I quickly realized I needed to also flip the breaker for the AC (didn't realize the 2 separate double 50 or 60 amp breakers)  Got myself a good tickle on that.  Thankfully not too bad.  Arm did feel funny for a couple days.  Shorten this up.  The wire fixed worked for me.

I really hope you get the heat fixed soon.  I know you're pretty smart, but careful with any portable units.

Take care Neil and Happy New Year.

Well as they say the show must go on!
Pre Youtube:
The steering turned into way more work then drill a hole and move the front axle up a bit. But with some careful pre-planning on the cutting with the grinder it went quick. Seems to have turned out ok. Will know better once we get it back on all 4.

Pre Youtube:
Front axle moved up into frame. Time to drop the seat as far down to the frame as I can. Pond had 4 to 5 inches of ice. Fun time is getting closer.

Good news on the ice!

MightyRaze wrote:

I agree with @Nevadablue. Any time spent with the kids is a bonus.  Letting him work with you, in the future, he won't have that anxiety of tearing something apart to fix that some kids these days have in this disposable world.  

Isn't it the worst time something breaks?  I know it gets pretty cold up there in Maine.  Last year when we were having one of the worst cold outbreaks we have seen down here in Oklahoma, rolling power outages and all.  I remember it was in the (-) single digits out and I wake up around 5am pretty dang cold.  It was about 54 in the house.  My first thought was one of the blackouts happened while sleeping, but soon realized the burning smell.  I took it upon myself to track down the burn smell to the furnace (ac combo jobers)  I flipped the furnace breaker and proceeded to tear into the unit.  Luckily, I found a tarnished wire that burned in two. (Original unit to 43 y/o home).  I seen there was a couple others that had some tarnish as well.  I cleaned up ALL the wiring.  While doing that, I quickly realized I needed to also flip the breaker for the AC (didn't realize the 2 separate double 50 or 60 amp breakers)  Got myself a good tickle on that.  Thankfully not too bad.  Arm did feel funny for a couple days.  Shorten this up.  The wire fixed worked for me.

I really hope you get the heat fixed soon.  I know you're pretty smart, but careful with any portable units.

Take care Neil and Happy New Year.

got a foot and a half down here that year

Nice video!
Do the steering rods clear the frame with the axle tilted? Sure looks close.

Nevadablue wrote:

Nice video!
Do the steering rods clear the frame with the axle tilted? Sure looks close.

Its very close clears by around 1/4. Reality is I get it rocking that far on the track at 30+mph I got bigger problems to worry about.

The Flying Iceman! Can’t wait!

Pre Youtube:
Seat and body pan and shifter sorted. Now to figure out the steering and decide where I want it. After that wiring and gas tank should be no biggie.

Wonder how hard it would be to chop the steering rod, put in a universal and turn the steering more towards you? Then again universals cost $.

A piece of flat stock welded on each end of the steering shafts that make a cross with a piece of reinforced rubber as a u-joint would work for steering column angle.
rubber steering joint

Good idea!
I bought a complete steering shaft with bearing and two u-joints, out of a Range Rover for my builds. Got it off ebay for a little over 20 bucks delivered. Hard to beat that price.

MightyRaze wrote:

Wonder how hard it would be to chop the steering rod, put in a universal and turn the steering more towards you?  Then again universals cost $.

The problem in this case is the same as every problem with this machine AKA MTD cut corners. Steering shaft is a 5/8 most stuff is 3/4. Now that is not saying it can not be done. But it comes in under the category of "Where there is a welder there is a way"

In my case I am tall and unlike a craftsman it tips back stock. I think for me it will turn out to be a lower the height not a relocate like it was for Johns rig.

Shortening the steering shaft seems like a great idea! That would give you more room to throw your weight around and get more weight towards the front when you need it by leaning into it, also gives you the option of sleeving it to make the height adjustable. 

I had another idea for extra traction up front btw... how about a little negative camber and move a few studs from the outside row to the inside tread? I think it's a viable idea that's within your $0 goal! Lol

Edit : I just realized you're racing a circle track so if you'd want to go negative camber on the outside wheel with some studs relocated to the inside and positive camber on the inside tire with some studs relocated to the far outside of that tire. Not much camber, just a few degrees should help you dig in a bit more.