[jdcrawler]

While I'm waiting for the new gas tank for the Ridemaster cart to show up, I'm going to go back to work on the R/T tractor.
When I built the tractor, the rear axle turned out to have a 12 to 1 gear ratio and the rear tires are about 2 or 3 inch smaller diameter than the original tires.
I have used the tractor a little but the combination of the gear ratio and smaller tires makes it really slow.

About a month ago I was able to get a rear axle with the 5 to 1 gear ratio.
So I'm going to bring the tractor back in and swap out the rear axle.

I've also decided to take the front end loader off of it.
I have played with it a few times and it works just fine for what it is.
The problem is that I have been spoiled with the FEL on the Lindeman crawler.

The crawler weighs almost 6,000 pounds and has traction that is unquestionable.
It will go thru snow, mud and loose sand with out and problem.
The 1,500 pound tractor on rubber tires can't even compete with that.
So I said to myself: "Self, why are you carrying the bucket around all the time if you're never going to use it?"

Today I got the FEL off the tractor and took it out side and took some photos so I can put it up for sale.


Here's the tractor with the FEL removed and ready to start on switching the rear axle.

This is the other rear axle that I picked up.

 

[evo803]

What about taking the bucket off and making some type of other attachment like a grapple , forks or something , seems a shame to pull it off and sell it after all that beautiful work you did. Don't make this decision hastily, you will wake up one night with a briiliant idea on how to customize it to make something you really need . Just my 2cents .

 

[jdcrawler]

I have a 4-wheel drive fork lift for anything that I need to move or lift.
My initial reason for building the tractor was for using the 3-point hitch inplements to maintain the drive and for towing a trailer around.

The FEL idea came along later as something that I thought I would use but I ended up still firing up the crawler to move dirt because it has more power and just works better.

 

[Tencubed]

Consider the times you may want to use a FEL around the yard. I've mentioned a couple of times my wife's reaction to my bringing a crawler into the front yard to remove a stump. Those rubber tires would be a lot gentler on grass and other landscaping.

Your machine and you know your needs way better than anyone else.

Mike

 

[Dominqiue01149]

Even though your FEL was well built and all, I preferred the look of your tractor without it.

You could always build a little 3pt bucket for the back for light duty stuff around the yard.

 

[jdcrawler]

Was able to get the tractor all stripped down today.

 

[ben2go]

I dunno how I missed this one.OK now I am caught up.

 

[123maxbars]

where did your new transaxle come from/what size tractor/make/model?

 

[jdcrawler]

where did your new transaxle come from/what size tractor/make/model?

The new rear axle is from a Economy Jim Dandy tractor the same as the original rear axle.
The only difference is the gear ratio is a 5/1 instead of a 12/1.