Topic: John Deere 180 Build

[Burwell555]

Ok I will be building a John Deere 180 to USLMRA prepared rules and race in the Ohio LC as well as to fit a local organization we are tryin to get going around home. I am undecided as to SP or CP with US but will be runnin a V twin intek for the other. This mower will incorporate a live axle for which I have all the parts as well as a home fabbed fully adjustable front axle. Anything I missed just ask away and we will cover as I move along. I will post progress as it is made and when I get access to my buddies wireless internet as Im on dial up.
    I have done quite a bit of reading on here and talked to Howie and Frank the Tank and received quite a bit of advice as well as front end stuff from Chuck Miller. So moving on to a little bit of history of the mower and then pics!!
   The Deere was setting out back with everything minus deck and was being used for a spare motor on the grass cutter after it donated the freshly rebuilt deck. Dad took the motor and said race it or junk it, so I saved it!  

Here it is as I drug it in








So all in all its in pretty good shape...fenders are rusty but thats a given and I need to find a headlight lense but at the moment them are minor details  So I have about three days worth of work rolled into one big posting session....sorry guys!

Her it is in the stripping stages:





It came factory with the push pull cluch alraedy so I will be relocating it and usin it again. A friend of mine has with really good resultsWell I got it mocked up to start putting rear axle in. Runnin Turf Pros on 8x7 Douglas wheels. I have regular 3 bolt cassettes, nothin special, that will hold free spin bearings. The axle is 1.25 moly. I have the EC multi pattern hubs as well as their sprockets and quick change hub to be shown later. I am up in the air on brakes.

The fenders are a little close to the tires so I will be raising them with 3/4 square tube. I am looking to incorporate a cross bar to weld seat bracket tabs to. then cut into the fenders to lower the seat a little, but not below the tops of the fender! Is this legal US guys?


The frame before choppin and lowering





Cassetes bolted in and frame cut to allow for easy removal of axle of need be. I learned the hard way on my old MTD.


Axle, wheels tires and EC hubs


Axle all bolted in settin on the stands still.


Complete and on the floor.


Shot from the rear.

So other than personal preferences from some cuz its a Deere, what do ya guys think? Any questions?

[Flipper]

You are definitly on the right track. I would get EC's large tranny plate. That will clean up any fex in the weaker rear portion on the frame. And make a removable cross brace of under that area too. That should make it quite rigid. I have heard the some guys use and modify the stock steering on these. This series has BIG 1" cast iron steering gears that look indestructable. I would like to see what you come up with.

[George Herrin]

That trailer hitch can be cut off square with the frame in all sanctions which would allow you to go 4" front and rear with no chassis rake.

[racingjohndeere55]

Its lookin real sweet, take your time and do it right your gonna be something to contend with out there

[Burwell555]

Thanks guys, and George i plan on choppin it just aint made it there yet. i am making a trans plate just waitin on the EC bushing cuz they are out of stock. Flipper the steering looks stout I do agree but I prefer the feel and simplicity of direct personally. Hopefully I can get after it this evenin or tomorrow as I aquired a ton of parts at the springfield swap meet today

[ctown75]

You still gonna paint it purple and call it plum crazy deere?  I think you should for sure!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Tank]

I need your tech support hotline burwell Flipper you are right it is a beefy steering, I'm still using mine. If it hadn't been so beefed I'd never used it but I trust it and happy with how it turns.

[ctown75]

I need your tech support hotline burwell Flipper you are right it is a beefy steering, I'm still using mine. If it hadn't been so beefed I'd never used it but I trust it and happy with how it turns.

Must be nice....these dang craftsmans I'm playin with have a plastic bushing in the steering gear that warps the first time you tug on it and lets the gears jump.  Found that out the hard way.  Got lucky I was in the middle of a wide open field.

[The Tank]

Lol I know whatcha mean ctown, I've found out that steering is a very touchy thing when it comes to making the direct steering, I got an MTD I'm working on and the steering was prolly the hardest thing to satisfy myself, I know enough now I don't want another one like this.

[Flipper]

I need your tech support hotline burwell Flipper you are right it is a beefy steering, I'm still using mine. If it hadn't been so beefed I'd never used it but I trust it and happy with how it turns.

Cool, Those Steering gears are heaviest I have seen yet, 1" Thick cast iron.
I have been collecting some sets from used mowers. I was going to try to use them on the L Series or STX series but have not figured out the engineering yet. Cast iron gears are a little hard to weld. Looks like I'll have to machine up some holding flanges for the gears. But they look like they will work, and they are beyond heavy duty. Looks like you can "Speed up" the turn ratio by making some of the actuators longer.

[The Tank]

But they look like they will work, and they are beyond heavy duty. Looks like you can "Speed up" the turn ratio by making some of the actuators longer.

Lol haven't tried that but they are really a beefed steering gear, I liked the looks of it so I decided to try it and see how it worked, so far I've been happy with it and don't plan on changing it to direct.

[Flipper]

Tank...If you get a chance, send a pic of how your steering system worked out.
Thanks!

[The Tank]

K I will Flipper.

[Burwell555]

my stock gears will be goin to the junkyard if anyone wants em shoot me pm

[Burwell555]

Ok I have been a workin away but unable to post pics at home cuz of our crappy internet.  I managed to get my tranny plate built although I am still waitin on my tranny bushing from EC. It is made from 1/4 inch. It is 12 1/2 by 8 so I could get it in the frame. It also has the EC idler sprocket.







Pic of it all welded in place



I also managed to cut all the mower deck supports off the motor plate and did some lightning on it. The whole piece went from 13 pounds to 6.



Rear frame cut out for sprocket clearance. I built the cover out of 1/8th inch steel and welded it in place to keep the strength of the rear part of the frame.



This is the sprocket cover before wedling it in place.



All welded in place.



As she sets now on sawhorses...gotta raise fenders yet.


Me and some friends went to the Springfield swap meet last satuday and some of my mail order stuff showed up. I bought stepped spindles, hubs, front wheels, fancy castellated nuts, a 14 inch John Deere yellow steering wheel, and my mail orderin inclueas 1 5/8 inch 083 wall chromoly for my axle tube, 3/4 moly for steering shaft, and steering wheel quick disconnect hub.