-= Li'l Red =-

Well, I decided to give this one one more go.  Hopefully 3rd time is a charm!  LOL  Doesn't hit either.



Almost screwed it up.  My welder is from my dad.  He got it long ago.  Long story short, it started not working well so my dad opened it up and cleaned it out.  When he put it back together, somehow the dial became backwards.  Lower on the dial became hotter welds.  And on top of that, the locking mechanism broke so you have to bungee strap it in the place you want it.  While welding the pipe, the dial got out of place and turned up the heat.  I melted a hole the size of a quarter in the pipe.  Not sure if you can see it on the left of that image.  I had to weld in a patch of metal.  Seems to be pretty structural sound.  Later this week I'll get to work on the rack and get this thing installed.

So.... a bit frustrated and bummed.

All the work I have put into the monolink and steering apparently do not mesh well together. Steering column and the monolink crash into each other pretty bad. To fix I would have to mount the monolink super low. That is a no go. Also the angle of the steering column and the angle of the rack&pinion don't seem to work well either. It binds up the universal.

Currently the build is on hiatus until I come up with a new idea.

That sucks, but sometimes the best course of action is to step back and cool off before the death wheel gets some use

Oh it will get some use.  

Slept on it a while...

First off, I realize while the monolink looks simple and strong, it is all wrong.  Looking at KAL, I see where things went wrong.  I think I can redo and resolve some issues.  In the redo, I will also make it longer like Kal's and mount further back.  I realize now how low and far back Kal's back link was.



Kal's is just past center and down 4 inches.  I was much more correct with my first longer version that I chopped off.  So.... chopping again.  But that doesn't resolve my steering issue linking the steering shaft to the Rack. That will need be addressed too.  I may have to use a different rack for Red.  I don't know at this time.

You guys know me... can't keep a problem on hold.  I slept on it and I also got to work from home today.  I got several chances to stand and study the tractor.  So yeah.. everything got grounded off.



I also have started building my new links for the monolink.  Going back to the bend and also lengthen it out a bit farther.





Silver Harley in the back is my mother-in-law's.  

I also took the handle apart on the welder tonight and got it almost fixed where it doesn't loose it's setting.  Need one more final tweak.

On another note, while staring at the tractor, I also decided that I may want to nose the tractor up just a bit.  Not like it is going to matter.  It's not intended to run on a flat surface all the time.  

So yeah...

This happened today.



Little less haspin edition and more baja edition.  Not truely on all 4's again as I still have some work to do.  It is progress finally!

Ya know I think that’s the best I’ve seen a Murray of that bodystyle look

I think I would have to agree with CQ, it looks like she's gonna have a super tough stance when done. Nice work Mighty!

Wow. It actually sits pretty level. I like it. Oughta be a smooth ride.

Thanks Guys!

It's slightly nose up, but I like it a little nose up.  It will probably settle once the engine is on there.  Also the axle is hanging about an inch forward at the moment.  I need to make my back mounting point for the monolink still.  



I finally got around and made the hood mount on the extended frame.  Works well.

My scrap metal for the monolink back brace is outside in the rain on the other side of a deep water puddle.

Rain is suppose to stop tomorrow sometime.  I have to run down to Dallas then Ft. Worth for the day.  Hopefully I can get the monolink shored up Sunday then I can get it cleaned up for paint.  Bad thing, it's cold now so painting will be a little difficult.  Maybe it will be warm enough Sunday.  Warmest day in the next 10 days.

Really like the way this turned out. All your hard work will pay off at the end.

MightyRaze wrote:

My scrap metal for the monolink back brace is outside in the rain on the other side of a deep water puddle.

Don't you have Patriot???

Yeah,. It's a utility build. I also have Kal. This one is a lot like Kal.

looks great man, I agree with everyone, not big on these murrays but man the stance and paint on this thing are awesome, strong work.

Thanks everyone.  Still got a ways to go.

I finally got all 3 links of the monolink attached (temporarily) to the frame.  I have a little tweaking to do for final install.  I made my frame crossbrace about half an inch too long and drilled my holes in the wrong spot.  That's OK, where I need to trim is where my holes are.  Fresh holes will be fine.  I also tacked up my tabs for the panhard bar.  My steering universal is working great now.  I am a little concerned how much meat it has to hold the 2 adjustable halves together.  I think I will be chopping one of the sections in two and welding in a pipe extension.

Well took the front structure back off and burned in the tack welds.  Ready for paint now but too cold and wet to do so.  Not sure 38° and Rain is the perfect conditions for paint.  I did go ahead and hit the steering shaft extension with some paint.

Everything is laid out to be painted.



Extended my steering universal by about 3 inches.  Went ahead and hit it with some paint anyway in the garage.  It's about 59° in there.



Rear monolink point is finished and ready for paint as well.



Steering complete as well.  Went with a different rack for the redo.  Hard to tell in this pic, but there is some ackerman in the spindles.



Since I could not paint...  well.  I cleaned the garage.





Still to make.  Front bumper and finish the panhard bar (half complete next to computer mouse 2 pix up).  I just need a die to cut reverse threads or buy a regular heim.

Looks good, link to the steering rack?

Same one I have been using and is on Kal.  They are currently out of stock, but easy to modify.

https://www.bmikarts.com/Rack-Pinion-with-Rod-Ends-for-Yerf-Dog-Spiderbox-Go-Karts_p_1456.html

I have been on the notify list for a couple months for them. 

Oh ok so it’s one you had on hand

Kinda.... swapping the other one with Patriot.  I think it would work much better there.

I also realized, I may be jumping the gun on paint.  I'll go ahead with the bumper build.

Guess who is back on all 4's.  Still have a list of things to do.

• still need my panhard bar. 
  
• build my bumper
  
• mount a winch
  
• mount either a nilight bar or 2 pods
  
• clean up engine, add oil and reinstall
  
• Fender flares?
  

Things longer term.  As $$ permits.

• Larger tires on front.
  
• new matchng rear tires
  
• bolt on wheels and hubs for rear.
  

Nice! Lookin' pretty good. When you say 'fender flares', do you mean rear ones or front ones? Either one will help.

Rear ones.  I've struggled with ideas on that since day one.  I like Doc's version but it doesn't work well with this model as the skirting on the fenders are not much more than an inch already.