854 pulley swap

[MackBlack99 5]

I have an 854 restoration going back together and I'm just waiting for a few parts to come in to finish assembling. I would like to get as much ground speed within reason....Has anyone pulley swapped one of these before? If so what size pulleys and what was the result? I was thinking about just switching sizes from the trans to the engine.

 

I'm not looking to race but will be cruising on this thing at events, to the neighbors etc.... likley it will never cut grass again. see before and after pictures below.... forgive the messy garage....

[Achto 27,586]

 

@WHX?? did a pulley swap on his 702, think he went an inch bigger on the engine and an inch smaller on the tranny. this allowed him to use the factory size belt.

[Handy Don 12,232]

When swapping pulleys on the early 3-speeds, pay attention to how short the transaxle input shaft is and how closely the drive belt tracks to the frame. The narrow stock pulley has its setscrew hole in the valley of the sheave. A pulley with a wide hub might throw the drive line out of alignment affecting the clutch and the belt cover as well as engine pulley placement.

[ebinmaine 67,529]

 

 

Nice transformation!

 

Some things that come to mind for me..

 

On these tractors the belt is the clutch.

Remember that your belt GUARD is also your belt GUIDE. 

It Needs to be fully functional and in place.

If you go too big and or too small you will need to make up a new belt guard.

 

As far as cruising at shows, be sure to check with the leadership at the grounds you might attend.

Over here in the Northeast it's becoming more and more prevalent that folks are not allowed to drive around unless loading, unloading, or in a parade.  

 

 

[Pullstart 62,902]

nice ride Michigander!

[Handy Don 12,232]

9 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

On these tractors the belt is the clutch.

Remember that your belt GUARD is also your belt GUIDE. 

It Needs to be fully functional and in place.

If you go too big and or too small you will need to make up a new belt guard.

 Well said

[Ed Kennell 38,180]

1 hour ago, MackBlack99 said:

I'm not looking to race

Why not, go fast  or look fast.

 

 

 

 

 

to the 

 

 

 

 

[J854D 137]

Welcome aboard @MackBlack99! Nice looking restoration on your 854! I can’t give you any specific answers to your question but it calls to mind a funny story from years ago that a young guy who worked with my Dad at an implement dealer had told. Seems he lost his drivers license because of too many moving violations. Still needing adequate transportation to his job, he swapped the engine & transaxle pulleys on his Wheel Horse and drove it to work. I’m not sure what model Wheel Horse he had, but most likely it would have been from  the 50’s or early 60’s. I don’t know how fast he was going but he said he got a weird look and a head shake from a police officer as he drove past him on his way to work, driving much faster than garden tractors usually go! 🤣       -JD-

Edited September 26, 2023 by J854D

[squonk 41,121]

@rjg854 did a pulley swap on an 854.

 

Those Ag tires are going to be a riot in 3rd gear on pavement! 

Edited September 26, 2023 by squonk

[rjg854 11,367]

If I remember correctly what I did was to go 1/2" larger on the engine pulley and 1/2" smaller on the transmission pulley. I used the same belt that was originally on it. I just had to adjust the belt guard a bit forward for it to work. It did speed it up but not like crazy fast.

 

[MackBlack99 5]

3 hours ago, squonk said:

@rjg854 did a pulley swap on an 854.

 

Those Ag tires are going to be a riot in 3rd gear on pavement! 

Oh I know it. It was I had access too at the time. May switch up later for the exact issue you presented. 

[MackBlack99 5]

4 hours ago, J854D said:

Welcome aboard @MackBlack99! Nice looking restoration on your 854! I can’t give you any specific answers to your question but it calls to mind a funny story from years ago that a young guy who worked with my Dad at an implement dealer had told. Seems he lost his drivers license because of too many moving violations. Still needing adequate transportation to his job, he swapped the engine & transaxle pulleys on his Wheel Horse and drove it to work. I’m not sure what model Wheel Horse he had, but most likely it would have been from  the 50’s or early 60’s. I don’t know how fast he was going but he said he got a weird look and a head shake from a police officer as he drove past him on his way to work, driving much faster than garden tractors usually go! 🤣       -JD-

Hey I think I know that guy! 🤣

[MackBlack99 5]

2 hours ago, rjg854 said:

If I remember correctly what I did was to go 1/2" larger on the engine pulley and 1/2" smaller on the transmission pulley. I used the same belt that was originally on it. I just had to adjust the belt guard a bit forward for it to work. It did speed it up but not like crazy fast.

 

How was hunting down a pulley? Best places to look? 

[Racinbob 11,082]

I messed around with my 854 with a slightly smaller pulley on the input shaft and a bit bigger on the engine. Just had to tweak the guard a bit. It wasn't a race tractor but it sure brought some grins to the grandkids faces pulling them down the road. Now that the tractor is dedicated to a sickle bar it's back to stock. A good place to find the pulleys is Surplus Center. 

Edited September 27, 2023 by Racinbob

[rjg854 11,367]

13 hours ago, MackBlack99 said:

How was hunting down a pulley? Best places to look? 

Got mine from a seller on the Bay,  redsheller (16905)  I think it's the same person @Racinbob posted about.  Because it was him that told me how to do the swap.

[Racinbob 11,082]

I use their website. 

 

Surplus Center

[horseman with no horse 26]

I know the 855 offered an oem pulley swap kit. Not sure if they offered one for you style though.

[Racinbob 11,082]

54 minutes ago, horseman with no horse said:

I know the 855 offered an oem pulley swap kit. Not sure if they offered one for you style though.

 

What was the reasoning for the swap kit? 

[horseman with no horse 26]

51 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

What was the reasoning for the swap kit? 

For more speed I believe. There was a big pulley by default and a smaller one you could swap to on the trans. It took you from about 4.5-5mph to 6.5-7 mph from what i remember.

[horseman with no horse 26]

Also I have a pretty insane pulley swapped setup on my 855. I will post some pictures later.

[Handy Don 12,232]

 

22 hours ago, MackBlack99 said:

How was hunting down a pulley? Best places to look? 

Let us know how your search proceeds.

 

[Handy Don 12,232]

 

On 9/26/2023 at 5:29 PM, rjg854 said:

If I remember correctly what I did was to go 1/2" larger on the engine pulley and 1/2" smaller on the transmission pulley. I used the same belt that was originally on it. I just had to adjust the belt guard a bit forward for it to work. It did speed it up but not like crazy fast.

 

If you get a minute could you please confirm the sizes you ended up with? This thread has gotten me thinking...

 Going just a bit faster would make 2H better for mowing and wouldn’t hurt the low range appreciably.

Edited September 27, 2023 by Handy Don

[rjg854 11,367]

15 hours ago, Handy Don said:

 

If you get a minute could you please confirm the sizes you ended up with? This thread has gotten me thinking...

 Going just a bit faster would make 2H better for mowing and wouldn’t hurt the low range appreciably.

3.05"X1" engine pulley, and a 3.5"X3/4" transmission pulley @$17 shipped.

Seeing you have an 8 speed double check your shaft on the tranny, I believe they are the same.  

[Handy Don 12,232]

1 minute ago, rjg854 said:

3.05"X1" engine pulley, and a 3.5"X3/4" transmission pulley @$17 shipped.

Seeing you have an 8 speed double check your shaft on the tranny, I believe they are the same.  

Thanks!

[squonk 41,121]

6 speeds have a 5/8" input shaft FYI