Uprating Running Gear On A Ride On Mower

Uprating Running Gear On A Ride On Mower

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Discussion

V8RX7

Original Poster:

26,762 posts

262 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
If you were uprating a ride on mower - (relatively sensibly) where would you start ?

Engine, gearbox and axle

Car stuff is too big and heavy.

Bike engine / box seems the obvious choice - presumably older single / twin for low torque.

Rear axle - I'd prefer a diff rather than a bar with a sprocket welded to it

Anyone built anything or know a forum where they do ?

Not for racing just for fun.

mini1380cc

2,944 posts

170 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Didn't Honda make a 100mph mower?

V8RX7

Original Poster:

26,762 posts

262 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
Yes

They used a bike engine.

I wasn't aiming quite so high

blueST

4,378 posts

215 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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I have absolutely no practical experience in the sportifying of mowers, but if it were me I'd have a look at quad bikes to see what running gear I could cannibalise.

sparkythecat

7,898 posts

254 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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I pimped my 1980's Atco 12/36 a few years ago



Mods included custom manifold and BSA Bantam pipe...



Classic Moto-Lita steering wheel.......



And the best bit - the tired and wheezy old B&S motor replaced with this bad boy



driving

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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I reckon quad bikes are the way to go for parts for a project like this. Get on gumtree and buy one. Probably take a friend when you go and pick it up though. wink

Murph7355

37,646 posts

255 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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What are you wanting to achieve?

Spare tyre

9,456 posts

129 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Can you get mowers you can tow with a quad?

Aprisa

1,798 posts

257 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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Spare tyre said:
Can you get mowers you can tow with a quad?
Yes but they are in the main self-powered petrol flail mowers and would make a pretty bad job of your lawn!

V8RX7

Original Poster:

26,762 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
Murph7355 said:
What are you wanting to achieve?
More power !

Just because.

I've looked at getting a bigger B&S engine and they cost a fortune - hence considering other options.

Quad is definitely a good idea - farm ones fetch good prices though

blueST

4,378 posts

215 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
More power !

Just because.

I've looked at getting a bigger B&S engine and they cost a fortune - hence considering other options.

Quad is definitely a good idea - farm ones fetch good prices though
Chinese brands like Quadzilla are more reasonably priced.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Farm-Quad-Linhai-/231210...

Eski1991

1,113 posts

132 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
quotequote all
blueST said:
Chinese brands like Quadzilla are more reasonably priced.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Farm-Quad-Linhai-/231210...
Quadzilla, yes, Linhai/other Chinese knock offs, no. It's not worth putting one of their engines in and after all that labour it falls apart. The 250 engine used by Quadzilla/SMC/Ram/Barossa would be ample for what you're looking for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ram-250-Engine-2004-/251...

Murph7355

37,646 posts

255 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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What do you have already as a base?

Milli94

51 posts

119 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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We have a Countax c400h with a twin Honda that does 6mph doing its job and I have a 100cc pro-shark quad (2stroke) that I changed the gearing down so that the kids would play 'safely!' Is brought it down from 60 to 45mph but made the acceleration quicker (DOH!!!) that'd be a start...........

V8RX7

Original Poster:

26,762 posts

262 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2014
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I have just bought an old Mowermax or something (haven't collected it yet) old metal type with manual box with a mighty 11hp B&S engine - as I didn't want to ruin my Countax.

Basically it's got to tow my trailer and cut the rough areas and generally be abused whilst the Countax mows the lawn.



Kapenta

1,590 posts

195 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Personally, I wouldn't put in "more power", since then you will have to add lead bars to the front of the "tractor" to prevent it from driving on its back wheels, you will have to change the drive train from a pulley based system to chain drive and will have to change the steering system from a pressed steel trackrod and half moon gear to rack and pinion (or have a stainless steel half moon gear fabricated with a sealed bearing unit plus reinforcing...).

The best way to achieve instant speed increase, is to keep the 12hp Briggs Engine and just change the front and rear pulleys. The gearboxes in these tractors are not designed to have the gears changed whilst on the move, and this is the highest cause of gearbox failure on them. Select the highest gear and off you go!

The 12 hp Briggs Motor is 500cc, side-valve and is usually ample. If you replace it, the newer V-Twin 16hp are drop in...

Try the lawnmower racing crowd?