Vertical shaft in tube frame?

ed-nh · Jan 27, 2012

Just curious, with all the available used vertical shaft engines out there in the 16HP-18HP range has anyone devised a fairly easy way to put one of those engines into a tube frame tractor?

I'm thinking of making an 18HP tube frame using a horizontal briggs twin but would love to figure a way to repower broken stuff with highly available vertical twins out there. This could be a way to save a lot of old iron any thoughts??

jason4567 · Jan 27, 2012

I've thought about running some kind of gear box with a driveshaft to the transaxle. It would be easier on a hydro since no clutch would be needed. I have a 1556 with a junk motor, and if I have room in the shop in a couple weeks I may fool around with putting a vertical shaft motor in it.

Jason

Deerlope · Jan 28, 2012

You would have to have a right angle drive or use a hydraulic motor or a flexible cable.

ed-nh · Jan 28, 2012

I wonder if a gear box would l rob too much horsepower. Probably not if using an 18HP motor. I was wondering about a belt system with pulleys of some sort.

Deerlope · Jan 28, 2012

A belt might work but you still have to make that turn. Hey look into it you never know what the possibilities might be.

ed-nh · Jan 28, 2012

Deerlope said:
You would have to have a right angle drive or use a hydraulic motor or a flexible cable.

Flexible cable now that is an interesting thought. There is not much room under there for the engine shaft besides any gearbox or other arrangements to make it work.

dmorrill22 · Jan 28, 2012

I am 99% sure that some 80's Craftsman GT's used a mule drive to convert vertical shaft engines to the horizontal input of the transaxle. It should definitely be possible to do on a bolens.

ed-nh · Jan 28, 2012

dmorrill22 said:
I am 99% sure that some 80's Craftsman GT's used a mule drive to convert vertical shaft engines to the horizontal input of the transaxle. It should definitely be possible to do on a bolens.

Hmm, I was planning on using the engine from my 1985 Craftsman GT 18 in a tube frame. I'll have to check out that tractor a bit closer to see what it has for a drive system in it.

Kbeitz · Jan 28, 2012

Some tractors even use the right angle gearbox on Hoz mounted engines just so they could mount them with the PTO faceing out front.

ed-nh · Jan 28, 2012

I've been doing some internet searches for those gearboxes, no luck yet. It would be nice to find a cheap box that could fit under there. We could utilize all those cheap vertical engines out there and keep the Bolens going.

Deerlope · Jan 28, 2012

https://www.surpluscenter.com/home.asp

Check out this company

mcavvie · Jan 29, 2012

The old MTD 960's uses a right angle Peerless gearbox from the clutch to a drive pulley. I think the peerless number is RA208P71. Not sure but the Mtd models 920 to 960 probably use the same drive, just different engines. Might be able to find yourself an junker.

qub qadet · Jan 29, 2012

If that '85 happens to be a Briggs opposed twin they can be converted to horizontial. There are threads around here somewhere with details. If memory serves you need a sump from a horizontial. Walt Conner knows a good bit about this.

ed-nh · Jan 29, 2012

qub qadet said:
If that '85 happens to be a Briggs opposed twin they can be converted to horizontial. There are threads around here somewhere with details. If memory serves you need a sump from a horizontial. Walt Conner knows a good bit about this.

I actually have an 85 briggs horizontal that I am thinking of putting into an H14. I'm interested in an conversion of a vertical shaft though. It would be nice to do since there are SO many of those around.

qub qadet · Jan 30, 2012

Well since you have a horizontial motor you could keep it fresh with vertical motor doners. I have thought a little more about the swap today. I think all you have to do is swap the sump, intake, carb ect., drill a couple of drain holes, and a dip stick hole. I like those old flatheads but they will wear out the crank bushings, and I have heard the valve seats come loose, I have not seen it myself though.

Kbeitz · Jan 30, 2012

Mowing deck gearbox will work...

wilberj · Jan 30, 2012

Kbeitz said:
Mowing deck gearbox will work...

:ditto:

gburnett · Jan 30, 2012

Reinventing the wheel is usually not worth the effort and more often than not the end result is a lopsided wheel.

ed-nh · Jan 30, 2012

Thanks for all the info on this. I will keep it on the back burner for now. I guess reinventing the wheel is not such a good idea or everyone would be putting the vertical engines in the bolens if it was that simple. I love the idea of mower deck gearbox.

CADplans · Jan 30, 2012

The Cub Cadet 1204 has a right angle gear box between the engine and transmission.

This model is a less desired model as it did not have a IH style transmission.

That might be a low cost source of the gear box. I have that tractor, I acquired it for the other parts and have been thinking about a possible use for that gearbox!!

Vertical shaft in tube frame?

ed-nh

jason4567

Deerlope

ed-nh

Deerlope

ed-nh

dmorrill22

ed-nh

Kbeitz

ed-nh

Deerlope

mcavvie

qub qadet

ed-nh

qub qadet

Kbeitz

wilberj

gburnett

ed-nh

CADplans

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