Author Topic: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...  (Read 20573 times)

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Offline Kokamo

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BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« on: September 02, 2016, 01:42:25 am »
Well, I figured I'd post up the build of this mower. I'm a long time follower of this forum and I finally bit the bullet and built a machine of my own from learning all the tips and tricks of the many wonderful people here on Heymow. I have a long history of many builds from a crazy 1200cc street bike powered 4 wheeler, to drag cars, classic show cars and even a custom 4-wheel drive Chevy Nova! It's been a few years since I built anything and I had an itch....mower racing is something I've been wanting to do since the early 2000's, so....I did lots of research and I started with a BRAND NEW machine off the showroom floor. I kinda wanna keep it stock-ish looking because it has good potential to be a big part of advertisement for my outdoor power and repair (I'm a Cub Cadet and MTD dealer) A 2016 Cub Cadet XT2 with a Kawasaki 18hp twin. I don't have current plans for the motor just yet as I can't find performance parts support for it, but I do hope there will be one day....I'll just set that motor asside until I find a good use for it.

On to the build. This is what I started out with....brand spankin' new.....I don't think I even turned the blades on....



Pre tear down pic...



Took about an hour to tear it down. It's so nice to not have rusty bolts and greasy crap to deal with....





From here, I have a long way to get to that 4" limit....



Bare frame to start with. It looks a bit narrow but it's a full 13" across...



Got the front axle mount cut out and ready for an EC style setup....



Nice frame to work with....C channel frame isn't as rigid as you'd think tho. It's is pretty heavy gauge but with all the upper and lower cross braces from the factory removed, it's pretty darn flimsy....



Welded everything I thought would be ideal to have a weld on it. The engine plate was spot welded in only 4 places!  :dunno:





Once all welded up, I took some flat plate and welded it up on the inside of the frame to "box" in the frame....



Much stiffer now!!






Until next time!

~Joe
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2016, 02:22:30 am »
Now this is a pile of brand new EC parts!


With the frame all welded up, it's time to start adding all those new parts...


Got the axle bearings mounted, trans plate mounted and the trans assy....I built a frame around the factory seat pan tower for some added stiffness....




Somewhat of a mock up for the tail end.....




A few more parts came in the mail....


Caliper mounted....




Now on to the front axle build...thanks to the late great Mr. George Herrin, along with many others from this amazing site, this axle was easy to understand how to build and how to adjust...








All welded up. Went ahead with some reinforcement added to the frame where the axle is welded in....




Turned the frame over to close/box in the front of the frame and make clearance for the tie rod....


Seemed to do the trick....




Subtle mock up....I have some trimming to do on the hood.....




A little photo shoot after the frame work....




Stay tuned.....
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2016, 12:15:16 am »
Started working on the steering column, battery mount and fabricating a frame for the steering mount instead of relying on that thin metal to take the punishment of hanging on the wheel all the time (frame not in this pic)...


After that, I flipped the mower over to start on the guts....clutch, pedals, brakes, etc.....




Found the right length belt and added some belt guides....the belt will be completely destroyed if it ever comes out of those stays!!!






Got a good majority done....


Finally....after a bunch of go parts....got some whoa parts!!


Flipped back over, mounted the extra brake master cyl, and got the brake bias mounted and setup for a remote knob on the dash,...also mounted the motor to ready it for the fabrication of the header.....


This took a while to get right, but this is equal length and tuned....






After a little home powdercoating the steering standoff frame, the header, the wheel and the front axles......


Coming along....
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2016, 12:32:15 am »
Tore it all down to bare frame and got a good coating of some commercial type epoxy. Looks good and it's stoOpid shiny and hard as a rock...


Finally going back together for the final time....






Custom fuel tank cap....I couldn't find a different one in this size that was blank....but I guess this will have to do  :rocknana:






Brake lines routed to the front....


Most of the dash done....oil pressure gauge, tether kill switch and bias adjuster....also an hour meter and throttle lever that don't work  :tard:

"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2016, 12:57:38 am »
Got started on completing the exhaust.....this was one of the funnest parts of this build....


Started on a pretty custom "muffler"...this is based off a nascar "boomtube"....






All powdercoated and mounted....


Another shot of the underside.....


Aaaaaand she's gettin' close.......








SHE GOOOOOOOOOOES!!!!!!!


"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Tazz914

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2016, 03:55:13 pm »
Looks good man i like it
Thomas Thompson

#3 wheelhorse/widebody hybrid sportsman/sp
#23 mtd mod-xrt/gpt

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2016, 11:15:07 am »
Looks good man i like it

Thank you sir. I've worked my tail off on it. I know some things could be different, but after spending lots of $$$ and time on it, it'll just have to do until I can regroup to make it better. The next thing on the list is to get a different seat and lower it into the chassis for better handling....BUT, I like the looks of the seat it has because it's the factory one and it helps keep an overall "stock" look, but I'm betting it won't be practical for racing....I'm currently working on a butt bar for it....anyone have any good ideas that will look presentable and practical at the same time?

Thanks
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Tazz914

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2016, 11:26:31 am »
Joey nahas aka flipper has built some really awesome mower and has a pretty good idea on the butt brace. He a real nice man and probably could help you out
Thomas Thompson

#3 wheelhorse/widebody hybrid sportsman/sp
#23 mtd mod-xrt/gpt

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2016, 11:33:55 am »
Joey nahas aka flipper has built some really awesome mower and has a pretty good idea on the butt brace. He a real nice man and probably could help you out

Thanks, I"ll check him out!
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline crazycraftsman

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2016, 11:49:57 pm »
Really nice job.
owen
Lawnmower Racing in B.C   Canada
WMWS points cup winner BP 2016
Wmws points cup winner CP 2017
Wmws points cup winner CP 2018

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2016, 11:35:11 pm »
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2016, 12:12:58 am »
Well, I finally was able to get her all adjusted out...15 pounds heavy on the front left, she drives strait and seems to be as ready as she can be. Got her geared for around 50mph.....will have a race with LSMRA this coming weekend....sadly I was never able to get it out on a real track for testing.....hopefully she's close, or at least in the ballpark for the setup....we will see!

Here's a little clip of her idling (click on the pic for a video) TURN IT UP!!!!.....



And some extras I took after I got the seat bolster fabricated...hopefully it'll hold together for a few laps!!!











"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

Offline birdman_express

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2016, 10:42:15 pm »
Just so yall know he has some good stuff..... 2 races... 2 wins.
It handles well, and when he tunes the chassis more, he will be
even better.
Marc Baker

ARC Dealer

Marc from ARC.... "Billet Billet"

Powered by a Full Bug E.C. 20HP Vanguard!!!!

Offline robcones

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2016, 10:22:56 pm »
Very nice! You have some great ideas here I would like to incorporate into mine. I still need to finish my post...been slammed at work.

Offline Kokamo

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Re: BRAND NEW 2016 Cub Cadet B/P build...
« Reply #14 on: October 27, 2016, 12:34:52 am »
Just so yall know he has some good stuff..... 2 races... 2 wins.
It handles well, and when he tunes the chassis more, he will be
even better.

Thanks Marc. And thanks for the hints and tips along the way. It def helps!

Very nice! You have some great ideas here I would like to incorporate into mine. I still need to finish my post...been slammed at work.

Thanks Rob. Get on it! The season is coming to a close very soon!

~Joe
"Mow" Joe Hopkins
Liberty Hill, Tx

 

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