Do Lawn Mower axles have differentials?

montanaman · Jan 26, 2009

I would look for the cheapest MAX six wheeler that you can find. They have a "skid steer" tranny in them designed for exactly what you want to do. If you pull a lever back just slightly, it will drop the drive power to that side. If you pull it back harder, it will engage the brake on that side to cause it to turn sharper. The input and output are chain drive, so it would be easy for a "home brewed" project.

I think they were built by Borg Warner??

Heywood Jannockitov · Jan 26, 2009

I would think a differential and rear axle from a gas powered golf car would be a lot more robust than a cheap garden tractor transaxle, and would also provide a better chassis to build a half track from. You benefit from having a heavier duty front end and steering components to utilize as well.

RobJ · Jan 26, 2009

Stimw said:
I drove a D-9 dozer in the ARMY for two weeks and it was set up with two levers R & L and R & L brake peddles. The levers disengaged that sides drive. You pull one lever and the Dozer made a slow turn. If you pulled the lever and hit the brake it would piviot hard.

My BIL has a early to mid 60's jd350 crawler. Maybe an updated design to the D-9. This one still has the levers, but you pull it half way it just disengauges the steering clutch, pull it all the way and it engauges the brake. The brake pedal on the floor stopped both tracks.

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RobJ · Jan 26, 2009

Tig said:
The Bolens would not be fun to maneuver around trees in the woods.

Agree!

Iplayfarmer · Jan 26, 2009

For cost and ease of working, I would think that the mower transaxle would be the best. You should be able to pick up a broken down MTD mower for cheap if not for free. Any that I've ever looked at have a transaxle.

If you were making another tank there may be concerns, but I think a mower transaxle would handle anything a scaled down half track could do to it. If not, just get another one. There are thousands of broken MTD's out there.

Great project, by the way!! Keep us posted as you start the build. What other aspects of it have you figured out? You mentioned Snowmobiles. Are you going to use snowmobile tracks?

Ryan03 · Jan 26, 2009

How about a pair of hydraulic drive motors that can be controlled individualy. Perhaps you could canibalize an old zero turn riding mower for the drive motors and controls.

Stimw · Jan 26, 2009

RobJ- you might be right about the levers, it was only 38 years ago, I should easily remember that!

The hydrostatic is a good idea. Would be a lot easier to control and fabricate.

dex3361 · Jan 26, 2009

An older Cub Cadet Axle would be heavey enough and they had disk brakes on each side that could be rigged into cutting brakes. The 70S models were cast Iron and if you could find a hydro it would be a great platform for the halftrack. I also made a go cart out of a Harley davidson golf cart as a father and son project a few years ago. That axle was Identical to and aotu differential but it was the first and only one that I have ever seen. Have fun with the project.