What to do with 2 old riding mowers?

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm sure there'd be a lot of benefit to donating or parting them out; but if you just want to have some fun here are some ideas.

1) You can make a ride-on dump cart by turning the rear axle around. Build a tilting dump box where the rider used to sit, and put a seat over the engine. You may have to stretch the frame to get everything to fit, and you'll have to work out the steering.

2) There are unlimited possibilities for go-carts. You have a ready-made chassis. Just build a body to fit. You can put a smaller rear pulley on that geared craftsman and have a machine that moves faster. I've wondered how hard it would be to re-position the front axle and put rear wheels on it to build a go-cart that looks like a monster truck.

3) There's always the racer/puller option.

4) A lot of guys have taken old lawn mowers and added mini loaders or backhoes. I actually have an old Johnson loader that I'm getting ready to sell, but you're probably far enough away it wouldn't be worth it to you.

5) Search TBN for a portable welder build by bobodu. If you can scrounge up the right alternator from somewhere, you have have a DC welder that is not only portable, but driveable.

6) Out of shear curiosity, I once bought an old Craftsman mower at an auction that had been converted to a monster lawn sweeper. There was a big aluminum cone out front with a rotating brush, a vacuum blower on the side, and tubing between it all going to a very large box mounted on the back. The box had a hydraulic dump on it and everything. The best part was the golden eagle hood ornament. I even still have the box.

7) There are a few Yahoo groups dedicated to Garden Tractor implements and projects with lawn and garden tractors. Some of my favorites are the guys that build replica antique tractors out of lawn mowers. One guy even took two old garden tractors and built a mid articulating tractor out of them.

8) There was a lady at a local fair one year giving rides on a "train". It was an old mower that had been fitted with a fabricted locomotive body. It was pulling a bunch of "cars" made from 55 gallon drums.

I could probably go on all week. These old lawn mowers are so easy to adapt and modify. You're only limited by your imagination.

 

[Travelover]

When I was a teenager, one of my friends' grandfather died and left him a little old Wheelhorse tractor. We took off the mower and reversed the little pulley and the big pulley between the engine and the transmission. That thing would do about 25 to 30 mph.

 

[studor]

Take one and strip everthing off it but the deck and motor, weld on an off-setable hitch and -- voila - rough cut trail mower

 

[roadhawk]

Dang these are some good ideas! I knew putting that question here would get me a lot of things to think about!

The dump cart is intriguing so I'll have to think that one out a bit. A fast fun go-cart big enough to fit a "real" person would be a blast. The portable generator idea is a good one but since I have a generator big enough to run mine I don't really need one although having it all in one piece that was more mobile would be nice- when I get back to my "home" computer I'll post a picture of how portable it really can be boat and all.
Side-cutter would be a winner. Small engine repair class is how I learned so would be a good use for them...but then I would want them back all fixed up .

You got me thinking outside the box now too...since I live on a lake that has some shallow spots, maybe I could add a shaft extension and a prop and some way to steer it and end up with a Go Devil type mud motor.

I just looked again and the backhoe idea would be a handy tool to have too.

Like I said there are a ton of great ideas here. Now I need to find some more motors! Well, maybe after I get these two properly used.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Dang these are some good ideas! I knew putting that question here would get me a lot of things to think about!

The dump cart is intriguing so I'll have to think that one out a bit. A fast fun go-cart big enough to fit a "real" person would be a blast. The portable generator idea is a good one but since I have a generator big enough to run mine I don't really need one although having it all in one piece that was more mobile would be nice- when I get back to my "home" computer I'll post a picture of how portable it really can be boat and all.

Boat?? I've got to see this.

Side-cutter would be a winner. Small engine repair class is how I learned so would be a good use for them...but then I would want them back all fixed up .

You got me thinking outside the box now too...since I live on a lake that has some shallow spots, maybe I could add a shaft extension and a prop and some way to steer it and end up with a Go Devil type mud motor.

Now you're talking. An amphibious go cart would be a youtube winner.

I just looked again and the backhoe idea would be a handy tool to have too.

Like I said there are a ton of great ideas here. Now I need to find some more motors! Well, maybe after I get these two properly used.

I did some more digging and found the site that sells the plans for the mini backhoes. This guy's plans are probably the best for a garden tractor attachment. His hoes are very light. There are a ton of sites out there selling plans for towable backhoes too that could likely be adapted to a garden tractor.

I'm serious about wanting to see pictures of that generator on a boat. I'll be watching for them.

 

[roadhawk]

The picture of the mower with the FEL is hilarious!

It'll be a few days until I get back but I'll be sure to post those shots for sure.

 

[roadhawk]

Boat?? I've got to see this.

I was replacing some rusted out pieces on my boathouse after a big lake draw-down and needed a way to weld them up, and since I had a welder and generator already I needed to find a way to make it work.
I bought this little plastic boat from Otasco a gazillion years ago (LOVE it and use it all the time still) and the lip on the sides were a perfect snug fit. I just dragged or pushed the boat around to where I needed it and welded a bunch of supports all over the thing.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I was replacing some rusted out pieces on my boathouse after a big lake draw-down and needed a way to weld them up, and since I had a welder and generator already I needed to find a way to make it work.
I bought this little plastic boat from Otasco a gazillion years ago (LOVE it and use it all the time still) and the lip on the sides were a perfect snug fit. I just dragged or pushed the boat around to where I needed it and welded a bunch of supports all over the thing.

That just proves once again that there is always a way.