Topic: George's NEW BUILD for 07

[money89tractors]

man george, that things really comin together! looks great amd the clearance on the fenders is so close!! keep up the good work.

-Phil

[George Herrin]

Thanks guys glad you all like the pics and postings. Nomowjunk depending on the year of the murray it could be way different yet build on any chassis is very similar. The basics are all the same.

[Squidd]

Here is my rod mount for my clutch pedal. I make the arm then weld it to the 5/8 lock collar. I them slip it over the end of the pedal and uuse a bolt instead of the set screw to lock it down. I drill into the pedal and tap it so that I am screwing not only thru the collar but into the pedal also. Makes for a sure tight fit.

Good tip..I have a use for that...was looking for a way to mount a removeable steering arm on my front down shaft...was thinking cutting a keyway and "top bolt" but this should work as well..

[mowmanscott]

George do you use 9/16" belt pullys and 1/2" belts? Scott

[George Herrin]

Mowmanscott quite honestly they are supposed to be 1/2 pulleys yet the belt sits very deep in them which leads one to think they are a/b pulleys. But in reality these mock up pulleys have more than 2 seasons of BP racing on them and this has actually spread the pulleys apart some giving the appearance they are bigger than what they really are.

[64Vair]

George,
This seems like a good place for this question.  I have a Sears "Companion" mower.  I am sure the steering is very similar to others.  At the base of the steering column is a gear, (like a window regulator gear), and it meshes with an identical gear, and from there goes to the front wheels.  Now the second gear in this set up is just stuck into a stamped hole in the frame.  Lots of play.  I will be making a new shaft for the gear, and bushings for the frame to eliminate the play.  I will also use heim ends intead of the stock ball joint ends.  My question is this, "Is there any stronger gear that can be used on these?"  That little stamped steel gear just seems a little weak to me.  I figure you are the guy to ask.
Thanks, and I am really enjoying this thread!
Tom

[Tom Fox]

Thanks George for the update...I'm falling way behind!!!!......But sent one of my 350 tranny's out to Don for some of his mods and will be picking up another 40CI opposed twin tomorrow to become the EXPERIMENTAL modification motor (Thanks MOWRON1)!

Anyway.....I do have a question about your build.....You say that you leave your seat set-up so it still can be "ADJUSTED" for better handling..I understand that 100%......Can this be done with a mower that originally did not have this set-up?
My Craftsman from the factory had no provisions for moving the seat forward and backwards the amount that yours will move.......also....

AS stated per the 2007 USLMRA rules...

...Q) No offset or stagger. Body must be mounted in the center of the wheels. Tires must match in size per axle. Lawn mower seats only, in the stock location, no lower than the tops of the fenders or exposed rear tires and on centerline. Offset measured from centerline to the outside of tire sidewall. Wheelbase may not be altered.

Can the seat be offset to the chassis centerline and be legal?
Thanks!

[George Herrin]

64vair I just come in for breakfast (I ate a pickle well 2) I am doing the steering setup now and should have pics tonight. I would never use a gear setup on a mower I was gonna race. Seen to many in accidents jump teeth and no matter how hard you try it won't go back without diassembly. Thus you are out of the event. With direct steering, you have no gears to jump may bend something but hey a hammer and ya back in. Just my thoughts.
Now to mowmans question technically no you cannot make the seat adjustable if it didn't come that way. And no you cannot offset the seat in the chassis either.

[64Vair]

Thanks George, this is exactly the info I am looking for.  While I am not planning on racing a mower, (still working on my car, will be racing that first!), I want my mower to be as safe as possible.  A buddy of mine is a deputy sheriff, and will bring home one of the radar guns for us to have fun with next summer.  I am a bit fearless, so I have to really make sure I have things right.  I am one of those guys who will push things to the limit, and maybe a bit beyond, and since there is not a lot to protec you on a mower, I need to have everything working as well as possible.  I look forward to seeing your direct steering set up. 
Also, what do you do about the front wheels?  Mine are on bearings, and the bearings are a rather loose fit on the front spindles.  I don't know if I should machine new spindles that are ground to a tight slip fit, or if there is an easier way.
Thanks
Tom

[mowmanscott]

Thanks for clearing that up for me George and sharing your build with us. I am watching very closely.  Scott

[money89tractors]

tom, the easier way would be to just buy new bearings for your rims with the right size center to fit your spindles. this does bring up another point tho, are you using the stock spidles that came on the mower? if so i advise you change them, the stocks are not ment to handle the kinda of speeds you may be applying to this mower.

-Phil

[64Vair]

tom, the easier way would be to just buy new bearings for your rims with the right size center to fit your spindles. this does bring up another point tho, are you using the stock spidles that came on the mower? if so i advise you change them, the stocks are not ment to handle the kinda of speeds you may be applying to this mower.

-Phil

I am leaning toward your idea.  I look at the stock spindles, and there is really not a lot there.  I think a much better design could be made without a lot of trouble.  After all, if something goes wrong with the front end on this, things will happen fast, and all the things that will happen are bad.  At least in my car I have a 4 point 3" harness and 8 point roll bar.  On the mower I will have a helmet and the bones that God gave me.  And to be honest, I don't think God was thinking about high speed mower crashes when He gave me those bones!
Tom

[money89tractors]

you can custom fabricate yourself a front axle and spindles, or you can buy them, g-team sales everything you need to set up a mower, they have a fully ajustible front axle and a standard front axle.

http://www.g-team.us/FAST.htm

-Phil

[George Herrin]

E.C.Distributing also sells a complete fully adjustable axle. Give me a call anytime 615-446-6807

[George Herrin]

Ok all body work is on and chassis is a complete roller. Pics comin It didn't get out of the shop spent most of the day on a honey do list. The fridge went out we found a sweet deal on a used one looked new but she said the water and ice maker didn't work. Got it home and fond the water lines were rotted, So I took it apart and replaced them through out and she is working. SO I only had a couple hours to work on the chassis.