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Tech => Home Brew => Topic started by: micahbayless on March 25, 2020, 08:59:22 PM

Title: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: micahbayless on March 25, 2020, 08:59:22 PM
Thought I'd share the neatest useful toy this side of childhood: I was in the hunt for a simple small tractor to do some home site grading and general rip-out of incessant blackberry bushes. Found a shoulda-been-running 1946 Gibson Model A garden tractor at a home along the Santa Cruz mountains with a frighteningly steep and narrow barely wide enough for a trailer... driveway. Brought it home, not running, with a spring hook implement.

I gave the gasser one go with a new spark plug, and within about 8 hours decided that's the end of the Wisconsin motors duties and set about removing it and the foot-lever belt-drive clutch mechanism.

Let's say after the Pikes Peak effort, I had an FX powertrain available... bolted it on, added a 530 x-ring chain where a 520 previously hung, mounted a battery with all-thread and the balance of the electronics with some Al angle. Throttle is actuated by a primo hinge pulling a rip-cord to rotate the throttle.

Shifting gears without a clutch is normally done after coming to a stop or rev matching. In over a month of weekend use, I've charged it once.

Let me recommend that everyone endeavor to find a tractor.  I never knew that work around the house could be so much fun.

I don't have many pictures, but i'll attach what I do have. 
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: micahbayless on March 25, 2020, 09:00:09 PM
pic3
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: willbrunner on March 25, 2020, 09:54:10 PM
Nice work, Micah.  Looking forward to taking it for a spin.
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: Crissa on March 26, 2020, 12:53:44 AM
Adorable resto-mod!

Would love to see it in action some time.

-Crissa
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: micahbayless on September 21, 2020, 10:21:32 AM
transmission ground to a halt today... new opportunities.
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: MVetter on September 24, 2020, 10:05:08 PM
We're gonna need pictures if you crack that back boy open.
Title: Re: Garden Tractor with an FX powertrain
Post by: micahbayless on November 08, 2020, 04:09:54 AM
$40 later, I have a donor T96 transmission. Old one is out... but, another project beckons.  When I get to the broken bits, I'll be sure to post 'em.