Big ride on mower

[AndyUK]

hello

l have been having a bit of trouble with my old ride on mower as of late, its on its last legs and needs replacing really
however when l look around at the price of new its a non starter :confused2:
so since l always enjoy a project l thought l would have a go at building one from scratch
below is a pic of the sort of style and layout l want, except l want to be able to fit a rotary deck or flail mower on the front
and not cylinders as the area l have to cut is a bit rough

to keep costs to a reasonable level l will have to use components l have or can get get cheap rather that what might be best
as its always bl**dy raining here l think 4 wheel drive is a must as is a diesel engine

l have been into offroading suzuki's for a long while so the parts bin is full of suzuki stuff lol,
sidekick/tracker has a nice wide rear axle that is quite robust too so that will make a nice front axle on the mower
and a sj front axle will take the sidekick front diff to match the ratio's, the long side is easily cut down to the same length as the short side giving a nice narrow steering rear axle that has matching ratios

the other bonus with using suzuki axles is that the stud patten matches up with the wide wheels l already have

Andy

 

[Bird]

Sounds like a very interesting project. Keep us informed as to how it's going. I didn't do a lot of off roading, but did buy a new Suzuki Samurai in 1986 and kept it for over 3 years. It was quite a toy.

 

[AndyUK]

hi

cutting the long side down to the same as the short side meant l could just use another short side halfshaft but the axle isent quite
narrow enough but l might have to live with it

l wanted the rear wheels to run inside the fronts so as l could use the mower as a roller too, but when the wheels turn they use up so much space and l have to get a chassis through there between the tyres out to a tow hitch on the back

 

[AndyUK]

power plant is a fwd car engine and box turned sideways with the diff welded up or better still a LSD fitted, in this case its a peugeot 1900cc engine fitted into everything over and as cheap as chips, the one l am using for mock up is a manual but will get swopped for an auto before its finished

 

[chad22]

Definitely an interesting project. Will be following this thread.

Chad

 

[creekbend]

Interesting project. What ground speed are you anticipating with the automatic transmission?

 

[madmax12]

This whole forum is absolutely incredible!

People like u, AndyUK, are the reason why.

I liked your new ride as soon as I saw the first pick with the tires in it!

Absolutely amazing, what so many here can do.

Great work!!!

 

[AndyUK]

Interesting project. What ground speed are you anticipating with the automatic transmission?

well l will be happy with what ever l get after all its a mower, my present mower seems to cut happy at walking speed 3mph ?
but it is on its last legs and wheezes along like an asmatic snail so a little faster might be good,
the car the engine and box came out of had a top speed of around 80 mph on level ground clearly l have a second diff in the drive train now so that will get cut by a factor of 4, so that is 20 mph flat out but l dont want to run the engine flat out so lets assume 12mph at a steady engine speed then add back in some for the increase in tire size l have gone from a 21" dia to a 31" tire so thats a 50% increase ? which gets us back to 20 mph or more for travelling on the road, it would be easier to calculate accuratly if it was a manual gearbox with fixed ratio's but the auto is a bit wishy washy

l have to make a decision on the engine and box at some point as l have a choice to make here, the engine and box l have in the workshop is a 1.9 turbo diesel with intercooler and manual gearbox but l also have a complete working driving car with the same 1.9 engine but its a non turbo but with an auto box, now l like the idea of the auto box as its far easier to arrange the gear change than it is with a manual gearbox, however the extra power from the turbo would no doubt be usefull too as l want to drive a big hydraulic pump of the crank pully, the intercooler sat up on top of the engine wont see any natrual airflow so will be as much use as a chocolate fire guard but l was pondering fitting 2 electric fans above the intercooler that were activated by a switch on the accelerator pedal at around 2/3 rds or 3/4 pedal travel so when travelling on the road the intercooler might be doing something usefull ??,

l have these cutting decks l bought of ebay for around $150,

the centre one has 3 blades but is not quite wide enough so l might make a new deck that will carry 4 blades/motors that is the full width of the mower but would like to arrange it so it will swing sideways to stick out 2' or so so l can mow under the trees up to the hedge with out the branches knocking my false teeth out

 

[AndyUK]

Sounds like a very interesting project. Keep us informed as to how it's going. I didn't do a lot of off roading, but did buy a new Suzuki Samurai in 1986 and kept it for over 3 years. It was quite a toy.

those little samurai's are great little things, l still have a few kicking around the barn lol, they will run rings round my landrover due to their lightweight and nimblness but horses for courses l wouldent want one for a daily driver and as for towing an empty trailer is too much for it lol, did you get the lwb version overthere ? well l say lwb its the same as everyone elses swb

Andy

 

[AndyUK]

This whole forum is absolutely incredible!

People like u, AndyUK, are the reason why.

I liked your new ride as soon as I saw the first pick with the tires in it!




Absolutely amazing, what so many here can do.

Great work!!!

its always the wheels and tires that get peoples attention, if l dident have them already l probally wouldent have started building this, l like to have them on early as l find it motivates me to get on and do something to get it finished

 

[AndyUK]

l managed to get an hour on it after work today, bottom layer of the chassis is just about there,
l was pondering just making the rear pivot about a "pin" for suspension, what are peoples views on that and does anyone have any links to what other folk have done ??

 

[Renze]

Nice work !! You must have more time on your hands than i do, i have too many projects at hand to begin even THINK of new projects...

 

[AndyUK]

Nice work !! You must have more time on your hands than i do, i have too many projects at hand to begin even THINK of new projects...

well work is a bit quiet at the moment, just working half days gives more toy time lol

whats this volvo 440 dirt buggy l see in your signature ???

Andy

 

[AndyUK]

had a hunt about in the scarp bin looking for some thing to use as a pivot point on the back axe, came up trumps l think
l found some think that will do the trick l think

l had to chop off the breather for the rear axle so l could plate over the top to beef it up, sure l can relocate it somewhere else

bit of 1/4" plate over the top of the diff to mount the pivot on

and a piece behind it for the hyd steering ram to mount to

 

[woodsmith]

A really good project, and from another UK member! :thumbsup:
That is how I wanted to build mine except I was encouraged to start smaller. Initially I was thinking of using two Land Rover axles and a Lada Niva transfer box but I ended up going two wheel drive in the end.

This is my project build thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/175321-electric-tractor-project.html.
I also have the full build thread on the diyelectriccar forum.

Having broken my second transaxle due to the motor being more powerful then I expected I am changing my plans to narrowing a Land Rover Salisbury axle to replace the Wheelhorse axle I am using now. However, injury has stopped me progressing for a while.

If I can get the Salisbury under the back of mine with the Lada transfer box I can then look at adding a front drive axle and equal sized wheels at a later date.

 

[AndyUK]

A really good project, and from another UK member! :thumbsup:
That is how I wanted to build mine except I was encouraged to start smaller. Initially I was thinking of using two Land Rover axles and a Lada Niva transfer box but I ended up going two wheel drive in the end.

This is my project build thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/175321-electric-tractor-project.html.
I also have the full build thread on the diyelectriccar forum.



Having broken my second transaxle due to the motor being more powerful then I expected I am changing my plans to narrowing a Land Rover Salisbury axle to replace the Wheelhorse axle I am using now. However, injury has stopped me progressing for a while.

If I can get the Salisbury under the back of mine with the Lada transfer box I can then look at adding a front drive axle and equal sized wheels at a later date.

hi Woodsmith

nice build, l just read your build up thread, manchester, rainy city or at least it is every time l go there lol
niva transfer boxes are good and strong l started this build using one and an inline engine and box but after a month or so l decided l dident like all the box section l was using and was a little concerned about all the weight l was building into it so l decided to start again, all l am using this time round is the wheels and tyres
a couple of pics of the aborted start lol

have you looked at jag back axles ? might fit easier than a cut down landrover one
the diff is good and strong comes with an LSD wont need narrowing and has drive
flanges and disc brakes already fitted

best pic l could find Jaguar IRS axle, 3.07:1 powerlock, LSD. Cobra, Kitcar, hotrod, trike etc. | eBay

Andy

edit: more jag diff pics

 

[AndyUK]

hey woodsmith you shouldent have posted that link to the diyelectriccar forum l have been on there most of the day lol,
your 3 wheeler thread is very good l am about half way through it
l have all sorts of ideas for my buggy swirling round my head now,
l might need to pick your brains later lol

Andy

 

[woodsmith]

You'd be welcome to any brain I can offer!
I am admin over there so I can help point you around if you need.

I thought about a Jag diff but I want a much lower ratio and 36" between the wheel hub faces. It is easier, I reckon, to make a Salisbury narrower then a Jag wider. I have made wider Salisbury axles in the past, with long half shafts each side. Narrow is just going the other way. Also I want steering brakes and so that means either an open diff or an air locker, LSD will get in the way.
I don't mind weight on mine as I want to use it as a winch anchor and a tug, rather then garden or agricultural.

The trike is on hold for a while as I am out of spare cash and good health for the time being. It will progress very slowly now as I also don't need it for a commute either.
Have thought about getting a small old classic car to convert as a quicker project, but we'll see.

 

[chad22]

looking great. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Chad

 

[brin]

Hey Andy....hello...Say if you want to come to see me here in the states...you know across the pond....and build a mower like that with me....come right ahead, I mean after you build yours , you may be bored and looking for something to do....and the 2nd one would be easier than the first....Good eats...Biscuits and Gravy, Fried Chicken, country fried steak, Chitlins....you name we've got it so you won't go hungry...

Really a neat project ..you have lots of talent and will end up with a great machine...keep the pics of your progress coming...they look bloody good.