Brianator's "Mud Duck"- Tractor Recovery Rig/Mudder

Well guys it's been a BIG day at the Mud Duck Recovery HQ! Although I do still have a long way to go with it I decided to make a completion video of it just in case anything happens between now and the actual unveiling, unfortunately I'm low on data right now so I can't upload it yet... Anyhoo here's what I got accomplished today:

I rerouted the choke cable into it's permanent location and installed the new throttle cable.




I added a spring that connects between the end of the throttle linkage on the engine and the fan shroud, it seems to have solved the issue with the throttle creeping down as I had hoped! If it doesn't work out long term maybe I'll try hanging some lead fishing weights or something! Lol




I installed the headlights (not wired) and apparently may have tightened the one too much which has cracked the housing... *sigh*.




I installed a hood strap (it had previously been bolted to the side of the grille)...



...and removed the front PTO to make a possible spot for the muffler.


Speaking of the muffler I had done a little looking around to see where I can put it, seems I won't be able to tuck it up where I wanted to as there's just not enough room...




... so I think it will end up here between the "subframe" and front wheels all nice and tucked up (shortening required), I can use an elbow to turn the pipe and run it down the side into a tail pipe. I really can't find another good spot to keep it protected yet but I will keep poking around some more before I commit.



Another good thing about that location is it will make it a pretty strait shot from the engine to the muffler inlet.



I took it for a few blasts 'round the track (in my yard) and even ended up going through the neighbors yard following the snowmobile track up and over the snowbank, what a blast this thing is I can't wait to go for an actual romp!  

I'm hoping to get more exhaust work done tomorrow, I need to get it situated before I can rework the steering drag link (for more ground clearance) and start planning out the floorboards and pedals. There's still plenty to do and only 30 some weeks left until the deadline! Lol

I'll mark ya complete... Much like me, I'll probably complete next month, but we still have till Nov 30 to resolve anything we want before the contest ends!  You also have until Nov 30 to get the video up. It's the final step to competion.  

[adm]This is for all build-off participants.  Make sure you post a "SHOW-OFF" pic that we can use in the voting post in Dec!!![/adm]

Thank you! I'll get the video I took today up asap but it might not be for a week, I'm low on data as stated and don't trust public wifi! I figured better to do it now because if the hydro blows up for some reason this build is over (maybe for good), the parts are not easy to come by and really expensive when you find them.  The hydro seems really strong btw, no signs of funny business just a little leak. There's still a LONG way to go with this beast I'm not even 50% done yet,  I've just gotten past some hard parts so needless to say I'm beyond the "proof of concept" stage now! Lol


Here's a screenshot from the start of the video (at the lake) so you know I'm keeping it honest!

The weather around here has been decent hovering around 30-35F so I got some more accomplished today!

I wanted to get the exhaust sorted out and the muffler done so I cobbled together the fittings until I was happy with it but as you can see I need to bend the pipe to curve around the fuel fitting...



...and this is when $#!+ hit the fan! Do NOT let anyone trick you into thinking this black pipe is easy to bend because it's not! Lol. I didn't want to just sledgehammer it so I tried out my 4 ton press and... blew a seal. Oil everywhere. I grabbed my mini torch set even though I knew it would act up and not work, well that's exactly what happened. Okay, so then I clamped it in the bench vise, pinched it just a little bit and hit it with the sledgehammer a couple times... no luck AND I've caused some kind of damage to my old as dirt, super heavy duty bench vise... oh boy!


But the show must go on so I cobbled the pipe back together, slipped the tube on and took a measurement of how much to remove so the elbow on the exit side is where I want it.




I then drilled the (1/8") holes in the mufflers out to 3/16", cleaned some paint off, tack welded both ends to the tube and test fit it. Looks like it will fit pretty well overall!




Then I tore it all down and made it into a stack! Lol



I'm undecided on where it's going but I thought it would be a good idea to cut it to fit in front of the subframe regardless. I can't run it down there anyways until I make floorboards and a new pedal setup, I don't feel like melting my boots and shoes y'know!?


Then it was time to weld it up which by the way went WAY better than previously because I found a brand new roll of Forney wire I must have bought because I wasn't digging the Blue Demon and then forgot about it! Lol. I still only have a crappy 80amp flux core welder and only 60amp service to feed it but this new (to me) wire worked way better and there's almost no spatter! Finally! Still not perfect but I'll accept it! Lol




Then I painted it up and got it on the tractor so I could take it for a rip and help cure the paint! Sounds pretty good I think, about half the volume of a single muffler (2 mufflers = half the noise... could it be!?), still enough to be heard and still sounds tractor-ey (is that a word?) but is definitely more tolerable! I did shoot 2 short videos of a single muffler then mine for comparison but you'll have to wait to hear them I can't upload videos right now.



So I did a couple victory laps 'round the track then decided to try something a little more challenging... I took a skinny trail that runs between my front yard and the neighbors (we're all friends) to test this thing out and see what it's capable of. Freaking thing jumped the railroad tie no problem once I got lined up, just barely squeezed through the trees, up the hill (of their yard) and over to the road! I only got stuck once and only for a few seconds! I'm lovin' the "controlled differential" in this thing!



So a crappy start but a strong finish today and man is this thing fun, I was laughing for almost 10 minutes strait!  I'm having more fun with the Mud Duck then I do with my ATVs and I definitely have fun with them, I can't wait for some snow to melt and hit the trails!

That's all for today let me know what you think!

You can find a link to the mufflers I used to build this by clicking here.

Brianator wrote:

Snipped for flow:

Then it was time to weld it up which by the way went WAY better than previously because I found a brand new roll of Forney wire I must have bought because I wasn't digging the Blue Demon and then forgot about it! Lol. I still only have a crappy 80amp flux core welder and only 60amp service to feed it but this new (to me) wire worked way better and there's almost no spatter! Finally! Still not perfect but I'll accept it! Lol

Snipped for flow:

I wouldn't complain about 80 amps when your welding sheet metal like that, honestly something like exhaust doesn't need to be really strong, good enough is perfect

TechnoChicken wrote:

I wouldn't complain about 80 amps when your welding sheet metal like that, honestly something like exhaust doesn't need to be really strong, good enough is perfect

Technically I'm underpowering it @60amps (my main house panel) and that creates an issue but you're right when it comes to exhaust it works fine (sometimes) but I get into 1/8" and 3/16" too which makes it very difficult at that point! Lol.



On another note here's a link to the DIY muffler thread I created
DIY: How To Build A Muffler The Brianator Way!

Good stuff! I like the stack. Needs a little flapper thing. I always did like stacks on tractors.

Be careful you don’t break the head of the engine, that looks pretty ‘out there’ and might need some support.

Good Job!

Thank you!  I agree a rain flapper would be good,  I have one but it's 1" and I would need 1-1/4" and yes I'll probably put a small support on it tomorrow. It's a stack for now,  I could turn it forwards too if I desired but really I just don't know where it's going to go yet the important thing was to build it because it was so freaking loud!  Lol. I'll figure it out all in due time but I do kind of like the stack so far,  I've always been partial to them and  even put a mini stack on a garden tiller with a 3hp B&S! Lol

The exhaust goes in the block and it's cast iron so it would take ALOT to break it! The pipe and muffler would be crushed first!

Oh, yep, the pipe would strip out at worst probably.

I actually have a nice, bench mounted pipe bender but it only goes up to 1" OD and this pipe is 1" ID/1-1/4" OD go figure!

[spoiler="Off-Topic"]

[adm]This is a competition thread for the build-off so I should be a bit stricter than I am in the other topics.  This topic has gone way off track.  Please stay on topic and not clutter the builder's thread. [/adm]

I am going back through and changing posts to hidden text.  Even some of my own. The posts are still there and not deleted.

@Brianator nice job on that muffler ! pretty inventive !! still want to give you the respect you deserve working a lot outside in those temps. i keep my shop warm with gas and wood ! but i'm old LOL.

Thanks @MightyRaze!  I'd just like to say quickly that I do like when people make comments/suggestions and have relevant info to share and I'd like for my threads to be fun and inviting for all, present and future. If it's a "dead thread" (just myself posting) it's not even fun for me anymore as I think noone cares and then there's no point in spending so much time taking photos and posting, I know what I've done! Lol. I usually don't even really take photos of work I'm doing because it takes time away and distracts me BUT over the last couple years I've started to turn over a new leaf and share some things I'm up to at the encouragement of others, there was another forum I was on for a bit but it wasn't "me", then I found this place! I lurked around for a couple years then became active late last year because it just seems like such a great community here and unique too! I've found myself a whole new hobby that I love and thank everyone that made this place what it is!  Well, now that I've jacked my own thread I better get to the meat and potatoes of it!



It's been an interesting day to say the least, unlike yesterday it started out strong and kind of ended rough! Lol


I had a look at the 1" exhaust weather cap I have that's for my MTD Seven Hundred and said (to myself) "Well why the heck can't I just cut the bracket off and weld it onto a piece of threaded pipe!". The cap itself is just a little bigger than the pipe so why wouldn't it work right?!





So I drilled out the little divot/spot welds and ground down the other weld to separate it from the clamp.



I made sure to mark the forward position of the threaded pipe as it sat on the muffler to make sure I set it how I wanted it (strait ahead) and welded the bracket on. I also put a little tack weld on the nut so I could make adjustments if needed or flat out lock it either open or closed with a single wrench.


Then I scuffed it up, painted it and installed it! I'm loving it! Looks pretty good in my opinion!





I had the ATV tires and tractor tires broken down at a tire shop close by today also (sorry no pictures! Lol) I did take a picture of the bead breaker "spoon" because I would like to design and build my own bead breaker that mounts on one of the legs of my steel work table.


The tractor wheels are way too pitted to seal a tire but only on the outside beads?! Go figure. Luckily the tubes that were in the tractor wheels seem to be in decent shape! I scrubbed the lips down with a wire brush on my angle grinder...



...and noticed the wheels were made by Firestone!?...



...painted the lips with some quick drying Duplicolor silver lacquer and dried them in front of the heater.


While the paint was drying I decided to finally have a look at the workings of the "controlled differential" adjustment so I took it apart, cleaned everything up, lubricated it and put it back together. It's smooth as silk now!



Then it was time to install the tires!


I figured I might as well use the tire inflator to pump 'em up! Did the first tire no problem then 100% completey quit about 20 seconds into the second tire for some reason(?) so I got a work out with my foot pump! Lol


Then I mounted them on the tractor, set them to 6PSI and went for a rip around my yard!



I have to say... I'm rather disappointed with them they seem to have LESS traction than the old Kenda tires and all they do is dig when they spin! I got stuck twice where the Kendas didn't, guess the Kendas kind of float on top of the snow and can't dig down because there's almost no tread. I'm sure the Dunlops will be great on hardpack dirt, rocky terrain and for climbing over obstacles but if today is any indication of how they'll work in mud, sand and loose forest soil I'm screwed! Lol. That is unless they can dig down and catch solid ground, I guess I'll find out... or will I....?


After 20 mins or so I realized I wasn't going as fast as I was... reverse was fine but forwards had slowed down a bunch. I figured maybe the control rod bracket needed to be adjusted, I checked the hydro fluid and....



...it started puking out of the reservoir! Nice and pink and foamy cloudy so that's something to look into but I will say it was at it's proper level and color before I went for a rip! So I'm a little bummed about that but I'm doing some research and will hopefully dig up some goodness! Lol.

**edit** I figured out what was wrong with the tire inflator, the cigarette lighter plug itself was the problem! When I cut it off, stripped the wires back and hooked it up to a battery it worked perfect!

diddie wrote:

@Brianator nice job on that muffler ! pretty inventive !! still want to give you the respect you deserve working a lot outside in those temps. i keep my shop warm with gas and wood ! but i'm old LOL.

Lol. Thanks @diddie! Well, to tell a secret I heat my workshed with a propane salamander and bounce back and forth between working outside and inside when it's close to or below freezing.

Nice work and thank you for documenting it.

I agree with you, to me a build thread should be a ‘conversation’ with the builder and watchers interacting. Otherwise, one might as well wait till the machine is complete and post a bunch of pics. I very much enjoy the interaction before, during and after the build.

IMO, a thread can’t be derailed, as long as the posts are related to the thread subject.

Brianator wrote:

After 20 mins or so I realized I wasn't going as fast as I was... reverse was fine but forwards had slowed down a bunch. I figured maybe the control rod bracket needed to be adjusted, I checked the hydro fluid and....

...it started puking out of the reservoir! Nice and pink and foamy so that's something to look into but I will say it was at it's proper level and color before I went for a rip! So I'm a little bummed about that but I'm doing some research so hopefully I dig up some goodness! Lol.

I found a similar problem with mine...reservoir/rear end was building air pressure, found aired fluid. The vent bolt issue is one I'm going to look into this weekend, need to set aside a good chunk of time to remove the fender pan. I'll keep you posted as to the results.

Flap cap looks mint! All stacks MUST have one IMHO, especially tractors.

Thank you fellas and I'll do the same for you @Rustbucket Garage, us Eaton guys need to stick together! Lol.

Here's a little something I forgot to add earlier in regards to the hydro fluid and some findings from research since.

First of all I don't believe the hydro unit was overheating. 10 mins after shutting it down I took a temperature reading (I wish I thought to do it right away) and it was 93F, from what I read of normal operating temperatures I don't think it could drop that far, that fast if it had overheated. Overheating temp about 170-180F/Normal operating temp 120-150F.

As I was watching the fluid run down the fender and onto the absorbing mat I noticed small beads of ? running faster than the oil. My first thought was water.


Just a little bit ago I took a sample of the Pepto Bismol looking ATF.


You can't really tell in the photo but around the edge its fairly clear like water. How did water get in there? One possibility is through the natural act of heat and absorption.


Another possibility is that ice was built up somewhere inside the unit?  The original reservoir hose was clogged solid by about 3/4" of ice, roughly in the middle of the hose which I found odd. So if there was/is some ice hiding somewhere inside the unit it would make sense that's its only now surfacing as I've only really been using and working it recently and the spewing also makes sense because water expands when heated.  I know I did state "foamy" in the above post but thinking and looking back (at photos) I was wrong with that statement it wasn't actually foamy is was cloudy... I was upset please forgive me!  Lol.

I have the Pepto Bismol sitting and awaiting highly unscientific testing for poops and giggles. I'm really hoping it is just water, that means a few flushes should take care of it!  

Wish me luck!

I bet it is water. If there was water in that line, there could have been water in the bottom of the sump. Can you drain it? I think it would be the best thing to do. Hydrostatic stuff is sensitive to any contaminant and you would guarantee no water or dirt if you can drain (and flush?) it.

I'm thinking it is water that's absorbed and emulsified but because it's suspended in the fluid it will NOT freeze or even crystallize when left in the freezer overnight! I'd like to try and steam it to see if I can evaporate it and confirm/debunk that's its water, ive only read one post online where someone stated air can cause cloudiness so I'm skeptical of that being the cause but won't rule it out yet. I checked the fluid in the tractor this morning, same color but the level has dropped back down I'm thinking I will start it up and see if the fluid starts to rise quickly, before it gets up in temperate as another test.

Funny thing is I learned there is no sump on this model (Eaton 10), it has a reservoir/expansion tank instead. Certain Eaton 11 models have a sump that's part of the transaxle and othes share the fluid with the transaxle... there's too many options just like looking at paint...why does there have to be so many different shades of grey ffs! Lol

**edit** no there isn't a drain plug but I have a plan to drain/suck in new fluid at the same time by using a oil filter and a pulley on a cordless drill.

i would agree that it is water. as a auto mechanic iv'e seen trans coolers in radiators give way and  that's what it always looks like ! the old pepto bismol. i wouldn't use it for that though lol.