Topic: mikes idaho modified build

[mike h]

I,ve been working under my rig.  Here is a photo of the clutch.



This the front end

[Old Goat]

Are you going to weld the front axle to the frame?
 If you make a spacer out of a piece of pipe to fit snugly between your heim ends, then slide your L-spindles up through, both heim ends will support the weight instead of just the bottom one.
George (E.C. Distributing) makes a nice aluminum hub with high speed bearings that fit on 3/4" spindles. Then you can use front kart wheels. It's a lot stronger setup than the factory front wheels. We kept breaking the centers out of the stock wheels. We haven't had any trouble since we switched to the kart wheels.

[low mow racing]

i have been running a 35 chain on its side for two years and no problems.just keep it clean and lubed..

[Wheelhorseracer]

I ran a 60 inch #35 chain on it's side all of last year from my centrifugal clutch to the 90 box.. but I don't think I would run it all the time..

I don't think that spindle set up will last very long.. You have a shear point right under your spindle bolt and the bottom heim joint.. It will bend there or break...

[redneckracer]

I can't wait to race you on that thing Mike. I see the running boards and the Potlach guys had us change the rules to a sudo deck for running boards. Maybe you plan to make it look like a deck under your boards? Either way is fine.

I trid the chain thing on my jackshaft to transaxle and it blued the chain and burned it up in under a minute. I know guys are using it from engine to trans with no problem, but the jackshaft to trans axle turns faster and I couldn't get chain to hold up.

[mike h]

 I will be making a spacer to go between the hiem joints. I've put bearings into the steel wheels and the  kart wheels will be later.  The axel will be welded in place.

As for a shear point I'm not clear where you mean. The L spindle is 3/4" rod. Tomorrow I'll get a better photo if you could point it out to me I would appreciate it.

Thanks for the help  Rob, I am looking forward to racing you too. I will have deck stuff on it and the trans is a 820-017 so, I'm running 1to1 from the engine to trans 

[mike h]

Here is another photo of the front end.



Wheelhorseracer remarked that it has a shear point. I believe it is where the plate is welded to the cross beam.
The plate is 2" wide by 1/4" thick and the beam is .095 by 1" by 1.5" and the hole for the hime joints are 3/4"

I think I will gusset it and weld it better.  Safety first.   

[mike h]

Well, I've been working on my mower. I spent a lot of time on the front end and the more I worked on it and the more I read this site the worst it got .  So, after three attempts I called Mike at Acme Mower and bought one. I'm still waiting for it.  Mike has been a big help.

In the meantime I got a lot more finished. I will say the kolher engine, the  820 tranny and the small heavy tractor feels like a pig. It might be  because I have to drag it on and off the bench since the front end is not functional.

But, I'm happy. I started it and ran it through all the gears( just a bench test).  It work great. It was like starting a well maintained old grass cutter.

Here are some pictures.