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Another offmowder build craftsman II

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offroadohio

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Picked through the mower pile again and snatched up a old craftsman ii with a spicer transaxle and a yardman with a 22hp vtwin.

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The yardman was cutting the grass two years ago so I knew the 22hp would run.

I poured some gas in and hooked up the jump box and after some cranking it fired up and ran great.

Tonight I pulled the 15 horse off the craftsman and the trans axle.
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Ran into a couple issues
Broken bolt in the housing.
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Also one axle just fell out, and the other axle the wheel is seized onto.
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Basic plans:
Lock transaxle
Install 22hp from yardman
22-11-8 rear atv tires
Custom bumpers.
Foot throttle
 
#2 ·
If that transaxle is falling apart, you may want to rethink using it... I don't thik those were very heavy duty to begin with...
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
What I'm doing with it is kind of like in a ATV gokart type deal for my 11 year old daughter I have the Sears that's in my other build thread that I use for trail riding and she told me a while ago she wanted to go kart instead of the four wheeler that she has now so I told her I'd builder a mower that can do with the four wheeler does but is also like a go kart
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Today i pulled the trans axle apart and replaced the axle shafts with a single solid shaft, i forgot to take.pictures of the process becuase i had a pretty tough time, between bolts breaking off and/or being rounded out, among a ton of other things. But basically I split the case and removed both axles and spider gears, and did a similar procedure as this

https://youtu.be/XJurTvFQqsc

I decided to use a set of newer wheels that do not run keyways, instead the ha E 2 flat spots in the wheel to match the shaft and are bolted on instead of held via sir clip like the craftsman Ii is.

So I ground flat spots and drilled and tapped both ends of new axle.
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Instead of dismounting my 22-11-8 woolybooger s on 4 lug aluminum wheels i decided to cut the wheel center out of the mower wheels and use it as a hub.
Youll have to excuse my ugly torch cuts. Has been probably 5 years since I've used a hand held torch, so my first cut was a bit rough. The second/hub wheel looks a ton better

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As it turns out the 2 holes in the wheel line up with 2 of the 4 atv bolt holes so I bolted it on and drilled 2 new holes.

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Test fitting both hubs.


Next step is to clean up the torch cuts and paint them. Then I'll be installing some collars with bearing out near the wheel to help support the trans axle and hopefully keep it togather.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Finally got my 11 year old out in the garage to help with this build. It's her mower so I told her she needs to learn to wrench on it.. Here is her first design and fab. We added pillow caskets to the axle shaft to try to help extend the life of it with a 22hp and 22 inch tires hooked to it. I helped her measure and make the cuts/drill but for the most part it is all hers. I realize there could much better fab work, but this is how kids learn.

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Swapped the adjustable seat from the yardman on, aswell as the 22hp vtwin, still need to button up the wiring.
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Also got the 4.80x8 Ag tires up front and the 22s on the rear.

Still alot of little things to do before it's test run the 16th, and I also plan to totally redo the steering at some point.
 
#14 ·
Glad your having fun with this stuff. I rode dirt bikes in the woods in the 70's and 80's and loved it. You chose the right frame to use, I have a yardman like that (been a great mower) and there's no way the front axle would survive in the woods. I have a troybilt apart now http://www.mytractorforum.com/63-mtd/933154-huskee-608-front-axle-repair.html that looks like someone tried. Wish you were closer, I get what you had left over for parts.
 

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offroadohio
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