Dirty Rat - Sears

Good call.  I may have a smaller idler on the wall.  I'll check later when it cools a bit and can get some air flow.   Then when the belt stretches I can go back to the original. I fear I will have to go up a belt size though.

No smaller idler...

Great news! The 96" belt is going to work perfect! I had a "durh" moment and forgot my idler was also adjustable. It was adjusted all the way out. I slid it back in and it was a perfect fit. Ran it around the 'hood and it worked great. Belt stops as expected for shifting. I did have to do a minor modifications for my belt guides.

The Tach/Houmeter is going coo-coo. It's counting up 0.1.2.3...8.9 Blank over and over. Works fine when engine is running. Backlight no longer lights up. Grr...

Hourmeter/Tach is working right again?  Go figure.

@RichieRichOverdrive got me curious what the dimensions of TDR is.  I don't know if I had them.

This is with the offroad tire set:

RR - 176.4
LR - 182.0
LF - 148.4
RF - 148.4
TW = 655.2 lbs

Shocked the front is perfectly balanced.  Took the weight 2 times.  Not shocked the rear is off the 5.6 lbs.  Not surprised due to the trans being installed a little left.

Front width = 40"
Rear width = 40"
Wheelbase = 58"

Needed a little help figuring length.

Length - 80" (with the toolbox, but that only added 0.5")
Height:
Hood - 36.5"
Steering Wheel - 40.5"

The tires are truly on each corner of the tractor. Exactly what I was going for.

Thanks for the ideas Rich!

So the gap above my exhaust pipes on my hood where stock muffler goes has bothered me. Tonight I fixed that. Took some sheet metal I had lying around and bent me up a spacer for it mimicking the muffler look.





I’m about 60/40 leaving it as is or painting it black.

Now that I am awake, I was still 60% keeping it natural, balances the fan cover.  40% painting it grill/flat black so I don't have sun glare.  Looks like the exhaust pipes need a new coat of paint themselves.  Sheesh..

But now that I photoshopped the image.  I am leaning more towards the black.

NOW:


Photoshopped:


Thoughts?

My vote is for black, blends in much nicer in my opinion.

Brianator wrote:

My vote is for black, blends in much nicer in my opinion.

I agree.... just need to get a can of black. LOL

Black was a good call.  I thought I had some etching primer, but I didn't.  Paint may flake over time on it.

Good! Then it will develop some patina and fit in even better! Lol.

Already gave it some help. LOL

Really interesting seeing the stats on this thing! You can really see the typical garden tractor rear weight bias that Mutt doesn't have. That wheelbase is crazy! I bet you don't have any trouble with it coming back over on you on hills! It's also interesting to note that Mutt and TDR are right about the same height at the steering wheel, despite the fact that Mutt essentially has a chopped steering shaft that's probably 4-6" lower than stock.

Very cool! I actually got the ideas for tractor stats from @Crazy_Carl, he had all the stats written down for Red Stag and I thought that was a great idea.

AYE, so yesterday I was going to put the Dirty Rat to work dragging railroad ties. It was taking a bit to get it started since I ran the carb dry last run for storage. Just as it was about to start, CLUNK. Won't turn either way by hand. My first impression I think a magnet left the flywheel queue. I'll try to get to it again after I get Red Bandit's rod installed. Or i get over this head cold I have. Not feeling the greatest. Green Machine was up to the task that was needed done.

My assumption was confirmed.

Three magnets came off.



Those destroyed the alternator as well as damaging 3 other magnets pretty good.  Can't see those in the pix.



Luckily, I have a couple in a parts box I have kept.



I had some spare magnets to replace the busted ones.  Lining them up opposite poles like they are suppose to be.



I only had enought clamps to do 11 at first.  Here is the last one being held while it sets up.  The inside ring of the flywheel was cleaned as well as the magnets before reinstall.



Flywheel not reinstalled yet.  That will happen tomorrow sometime.  Back plate and the alternator is reinstalled.

That's scary mighty! I'd hate if the magnets came out of one of my oppys.

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

That's scary mighty! I'd hate if the magnets came out of one of my oppys.

This is not the first time. This one isn't even the most destructive.

First time I encountered this was the first sasquatch phase of the green machine. When I took the horizontal out and put in a vertical.

Here is that short.



This is about the 5-6 time this has happened to me. I have contemplated just removing all the magnets and alternator. Then running some kind of external alternator.

Dirty Rat is back together. I had to put the stock fan screen on, the vent cover was pretty clogged up with grasses and leaves. Took'er for a spin for a few laps around the backyard.

I have a belt system update coming soon. I made some modifications to the holey pulley mod as well as the belt guides. Hoping this thing will be ever that much better!

Delay on update, apparently it was a downgrade. LOL Needs more work.

You'll figure it out, you always do!

Sorry guys.  Lost momentum making a video.  I did find out tonight the backlighting for the Tach did not work because there was a short in my connector I made to get power.  That's fixed now  LOL.

WOW, got 2 videos since that post for ya!

Today was a good day to ride!





I hit it in 3rd and not a bit of slip. Not sure about 4th, I got wet enough in 3rd. lol.

Just watched your video. TDR sure looks long in that trailer! Mutt fits in a short bed pickup with just an inch or two to spare, it doesn’t look like TDR even comes close to fitting!