Rat Rod/ Racing Mower

[Connell]

Hello everyone, My dad just got a new lawnmower so he has said i can have the old one, it is a lawnflite je150/92a, it is currently in a poor state as i does not drive (needs new pulleys) but i would be upgrading that anyways obviously (chain drive). it has a 15hp tecumseh engine but the problem is its a vertical shaft, i know you can convert them but it seems like a bit of a shame to heavily modify a nice engine. i have a gx160 which i have just recently rebuilt so i may modify and fit that aka de-govern, valve springs, Billet conrod etc... i was thinking of racing go kart wheels but i am still undecided, i would have to redo the front suspension as it has been a problem since we bought it that it bends as if it was made of butter so i wouldn't like to go fast on this thing withoud upgrading that, i would like to keep spend low as I don't think it will be worth much when im done. Im not too sure weather i want to go for a rat rod look, or more like a racing mower. I have quite a lot of tools and a stick welder so i could do some fabrication, what do you guys think?

 

[OzFab]

OK, first, this is neither an announcement nor a suggestion so, why did you think it was a good idea to put this thread in the site announcements & suggestion box forum?

Second, that's not how you upload a pic; please read this & try again...

 

[Jdr72]

The first thing you have to do with any racing mower is reinforce the steering and drop it down. Does it have a trans axel? how many speeds does it have ? Is it a variable speed mower?If you wish to go with the racing mower look I would keep the vertical 15hp and run the transaxle.

 

[rushking19]

Yeah I would definitely keep the 14 vertical engine

 

[DirtyDamage]

Pulley swap it and call it a "racing mower". That's what most people do. You can still get really good traction from the belts as long as they're not hard and old. New belts, on new pulleys would be fine imo.

Most cases even when the belt is wet, it'll perform still, maybe not as well, but good enough. The transaxle will also be nice too, just have to get a good clutch system. Why limit the mower to just racing, why not make it a utility vehicle also....that's why I would keep it anyhow, snow is fun to plow(No more shovels!) and they're fun to work on, imo.

If you decided to keep the transaxle but still want that GX160 then get a right angle gearbox. It really all depends.

Anyways best of luck to you in your new mower/project.

 

[ghost civic]

Ive been pretty tempted to find a older, cheaper mower without/deck and pulley swap it, rig up a throttle pedal and maybe lock the diff. Call it a Mud Mower. Ive seen a few that will pull a wheelie.
They are not as capable as a 2wd ATV, but Ive been surprised just how much mud/water/rough trails they can drive through.

 

[DirtyDamage]

Mine is open dif, no pulley swap(yet) and can pop a wheelie. Older rally roper lol

 

[ForceFed86]

Pulley swaps are fun... GPS 28mph with a pulley swap on a 16hp honda. Wheelies were fun too... Eventually blew the diff.

 

[ghost civic]

Pulley swaps are fun... GPS 28mph with a pulley swap on a 16hp honda. Wheelies were fun too... Eventually blew the diff.

Ive read/heard that a pulley swap that results in a 1:1 ratio is good (which to me would mean both pulleys the same size) Am I miss understanding that? What size pulleys did you run?

 

[dwcopple]

one to one is decent for light mods. You can go big on the engine and small on the trans and really rip if you upgrade the steering and/or lower it and have a reliable brake system. I had a 1:1 on my craftsman and it went around 18mph in top gear. But it also caused the steering to shimmy like mad. Would've been better had I locked or welded the front axle and not allow it to pivot. atltf forum (google it) should be your bible should you pursue this

 

[ghost civic]

thanx for the info and forum tip.

 

[ForceFed86]

Ive read/heard that a pulley swap that results in a 1:1 ratio is good (which to me would mean both pulleys the same size) Am I miss understanding that? What size pulleys did you run?

No idea what the pulley size was, just swapped them. you have to factor in tire size to calc you're 1:1 ratio. There was def an large and small pulley. No where near the same size.

 

[OzFab]

I think everyone is forgetting about the internal diff ratio... that's a major factor...

 

[Connell]

what exactly do you mean by pulley swap, do you mean just running a pulley straight from the engine to the diff?

 

[ForceFed86]

Swap the pulley on the crank with the pulled on the diff.