4WD lawnmower build

[ben h]

well i wanted somthing different and like the look of these john deere 110's and wanted to make one 4wd well finally finished up the front end and close to getting the motor done last few things i need to do are mount the steering rack( need a yolk that will fit it)
get a gas pedel and brake pedal
then put the rest back together
this is what it started out as

then

mock up of the tires

build a small frame and got the rear end mounted

first knuckle was designed

using a peerless diff

needed a hub for my disc brake setup ( bought a mill and lathe to make parts)

lots of time goes by so i decided i better start working on it again
used 1/2in bolts with thrust washers to make the " king pins" got the front end totally done now

rear end is done just gotta settle on a position for the rear gear

and this is were i ended up with the motor at tonight (there is a jackshaft in the center of the mower i forgot to take a pic of it will take one when i flip it over to finish the steering

 

[Kartorbust]

What kind of ujoints did you get and where, Tractor Supply? It might turn a bit poorly because the rear end does not have a differential, but should excel off road. But I do like what you have done.

 

[landuse]

This is shaping up to be an awesome build!!

 

[Bansil]

Insane! I love it

 

[ben h]

What kind of ujoints did you get and where, Tractor Supply? It might turn a bit poorly because the rear end does not have a differential, but should excel off road. But I do like what you have done.

They are just pto yolks you would get them from a tractor supply store cant remember the size joint that's in them I got them from napa since I work there
Yea I'm not planning on driving down the road much

And thanks guys I was waiting tell i was a ways into the build the post

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

I hope you'll be racing that thing!

 

[J.S.@SMS]

I'd use a differential axle in the back, and another in the middle (that the engine turns) to allow the rear and front differentials to turn at different speeds. That'll keep it from binding in tight turns, where the rear follows a much tighter circle than the front.

Also, I've had my eye on a similar set of tires, but with sidewall knobbies.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I like the way that you’ve done this. I’ve thought quite a bit about how to make 4wd work on a kart and that’s about how I had it figured. You actually did it though.
Well done sir, well done.

 

[Kartorbust]

It shouldn't have too much issue in the turns with the diff in the front and live axle in the rear. It will act like a race quad while turning slow. It might be a pain, but doable. Shouldn't be any harder than the higher end model Deere Garden tractors (X-series) with a K92 rear end with a selectable locker.

 

[ben h]

I'd use a differential axle in the back, and another in the middle (that the engine turns) to allow the rear and front differentials to turn at different speeds. That'll keep it from binding in tight turns, where the rear follows a much tighter circle than the front.

Also, I've had my eye on a similar set of tires, but with sidewall knobbies.

I do have a jackshaft in the middle but the solid rear axle should be fine with the big tires should turn better then most go karts I didnt want to have different gear ratios otherwise when I drive down a tar road it would bind

I like the way that you’ve done this. I’ve thought quite a bit about how to make 4wd work on a kart and that’s about how I had it figured. You actually did it though.
Well done sir, well done.

Yea I looked and searched for a few months before I started designing it took what I liked about all of them and then made this
I know why karts do it the way they do but that's the good part about a lawnmower chassis I can have all the chain below and not really in the way

It shouldn't have too much issue in the turns with the diff in the front and live axle in the rear. It will act like a race quad while turning slow. It might be a pain, but doable. Shouldn't be any harder than the higher end model Deere Garden tractors (X-series) with a K92 rear end with a selectable locker.

Yea I figured with the open front diff it wont have much of an issue plus with the size of front tires it's not going to have a huge turning radius anyways

 

[ben h]

got some time to work on the steering my rack mount isnt the best but it works i guess heres what i got done

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

How are you going to power it? 'Cause that looks like a LOT of weight for just the front end.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Is that one of those chinese ebay steering racks? If so, BE CAREFUL! it will break. There was a whole thread about them, some guy bought 3 chinese buggies, and 2/3 broke the rack first day. replaced them, broke again. The housing is plastic IIRC and very fragile.

Love the build otherwise, i've been fantasizing about something similar for a while.

 

[J.S.@SMS]

I do have a jackshaft in the middle but the solid rear axle should be fine with the big tires should turn better then most go karts I didnt want to have different gear ratios otherwise when I drive down a tar road it would bind

I don't think that you're understanding what I'm saying. On 4wd trucks the transfer case has it's own limited slip differential thingy, which allows the front axle to spin at a different speed as the rear axle while still sending power to both, to help with cornering. This is done because if the two axles were forced to always rotate at the same speed as each other it would bind when you turn, because the front axle would be turning faster than the rear axle.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I don't think that you're understanding what I'm saying. On 4wd trucks the transfer case has it's own limited slip differential thingy, which allows the front axle to spin at a different speed as the rear axle while still sending power to both, to help with cornering. This is done because if the two axles were forced to always rotate at the same speed as each other it would bind when you turn, because the front axle would be turning faster than the rear axle.

That is not true at all. AWD vehicles use a center differential. With a few exceptions, True 4wd vehicles have no such thing in their transfer cases.

 

[J.S.@SMS]

Now that I think about it you're correct. I must have confused the two. But It would still help since this is probably going to be locked into 4wd all the time.

 

[ben h]

How are you going to power it? 'Cause that looks like a LOT of weight for just the front end.

Using a predator 212 couldnt physically fit any bigger in there but it's also geared at around 13:1 if I remember right will do stuff to the motor down the road just not right now but your right its heavy lol

Is that one of those chinese ebay steering racks? If so, BE CAREFUL! it will break. There was a whole thread about them, some guy bought 3 chinese buggies, and 2/3 broke the rack first day. replaced them, broke again. The housing is plastic IIRC and very fragile.

Love the build otherwise, i've been fantasizing about something similar for a while.

Well I'll watch it this thing wojt be going fast anyways wish I woulda spent the little more on a nice one now it was a paint to make a mount for it

Now that I think about it you're correct. I must have confused the two. But It would still help since this is probably going to be locked into 4wd all the time.

Yes it will always be 4wd like most trucks are when in 4wd but the front diff is open so it will allow it to turn fairly easy

 

[Kartorbust]

I would maybe consider adding if you have the room front brakes and have them both controlled by the same pedal, but separate from the rear brakes. That way you can slip the front to act like a locker, without a locker.

 

[txluke]

Looking good

 

[ben h]

been a long time since i updated but it sat tell 2 weeks ago when i decided it had to be going for an event coming up this weekend
well when i put the motor on i planed on using a FNR box well i had decided that wouldnt fit and never thought about engine rotation well i got it running and guess what?!! it drove backwards... so tried to make the FNR box work but it wasnt possible so i did some cutting and spun the engine 180 took it for a test drive tonight
i need a better rack cant mount this one better and my steering is backwards ( dont try and correct your self at high speeds yup i did a barrel roll tonight)
now hes abunch of pics

made a nice billet flange to make an intake on

intake mocked up

all welded up dont mind my crappy aluminum welds

chains all setup pre engine move

making a mount for my fnr box

when that didnt fit i got out the air powered persuaider

after the first test drive

coupple pics of it mostly together

last one for the night was the throttle pedel

this was the first test drive right out of the garage holding the throttle cable

https://www.facebook.com/benenjaminhusen/videos/10215713152358921/