racing mower

[Keaton 453]

hello all and thanks for your time, I am just a dumb kid with dumb ideas, and i have had a honda GX630 v-twin that someone gave my dad because it leaked oil, and I recently got it down and it spun right over, must have hooked up the wright wires, LOL, it wouldn't start and wouldn't start, I was told to "delete" the fuel shutoff selonid and today I took it apart and it fired right up. it was louder than loud, so now I saw how fast this engine was spinning, originally I was going to go a chain drive from the engine over a jackshaft to the chain rear axle that was origonally on the mower, and now I'm thinking it needs geared down a bit at least and I was thinking maybe a belt drive from the engine to the jackshaft. 

 

so what would you do because I just saw that the idle rpm was 1400 rpm Wich would be a great deal of a death trap. I was wondering what y'all would do if your were dumb as me? I'll put a picture of what my idea was, the blue represents the chain and the green is my "Jack shaft"

[kpinnc 12,548]

That’s a 20.8hp engine, and the horizontal orientation would really go better with a “bigger” Wheel Horse tractor. 
 

20hp was the upper end of the range of tractors offered, but it was fairly common in both 8-speed and hydro models. There were 420LSE, 520-8, 520-H, and even D-200. I probably missed a couple. There have also been several people who repowered tractors with that same engine. I’m sure there are threads somewhere here with those builds. 
 

I built a 23hp V-twin engine and built up my own “523-H” machine a couple years back. It’s nice to have the extra power if you need it! But I suggest harnessing that power to a stronger frame and transmission than what you’re considering. 
 

 

Edited November 21 by kpinnc

[Ed Kennell 38,686]

8 hours ago, Keaton said:

I'm thinking it needs geared down a bit

With three sprockets in the drive train, by selecting the correct size, you can set any axle/engine rpm.        Where is the clutch?

[953 nut 55,834]

9 hours ago, Keaton said:

I am just a dumb kid with dumb ideas

No your not.   You are smart enough to ask questions before you do something that could end disastrously.

If I were a kid again and wanted to build a racing lawnmower the first thing I would do is attend a couple of lawn mower races and see what others are using.  The steering on your mower is never going to be adequate for higher speeds and you would want a lower center of gravity. I know that money is an issue but we don't want you to end up in the hospital.

A centrifugal clutch on the engine would be the way to go. Wide tires for traction and stability would also be a must-have.

Keep us posted, we love to follow along.

[Ed Kennell 38,686]

Don't forget to build in some stopping ability.     A rotor and caliper on the jack shaft could work. 

 Or even an air anchor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Keaton 453]

thanks all 

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

Don't forget to build in some stopping ability.

i have breaks on my list of parts, and wow that is a machine 

 

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

The steering on your mower is never going to be adequate for higher speed

I know that I will make my own, could I keep the spindles? I will get wheels with roller bearings, it will take a bit to get it done, and I was thinking a configural clutch or a v belt maybe, wouldn't want my left stolen by a chain. 

I will go look it up some more, I fired that engine last night and that scared me a bit, but I think the engine may have went straight to the limiter

[Keaton 453]

and all the "racing mowers" I see are go-karts sometimes with a mower engine and mower hood and mabye fenders 

[Keaton 453]

another question, should I do a go-kart type steering, instead of a gear and sprocket steering like it has?, the bottom of the frame is completely hollow, besides bracing I will put in 

[Oldskool 6,653]

3 minutes ago, Keaton said:

and all the "racing mowers" I see are go-karts sometimes with a mower engine and mower hood and mabye fenders 

This one is all mower, no kart involved. LOL.

Not a Wheel Horse but the next will be

 

[953 nut 55,834]

1 minute ago, Keaton said:

and all the "racing mowers" I see are go-karts sometimes with a mower engine and mower hood and mabye fenders 

That is what I was getting at.

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

attend a couple of lawn mower races and see what others are using.

If you plan on building one to race you need to keep up with the big boys and girls.   If you are just building a fun buggy to run around with then it will be a whole lot less expensive and we are here to help figure things out. I'm not sure what the steering system you have is (probably stamped steel) but since you are building a new front axle I would go with new go-cart type steering.

[Oldskool 6,653]

7 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

That is what I was getting at.

If you plan on building one to race you need to keep up with the big boys and girls.   If you are just building a fun buggy to run around with then it will be a whole lot less expensive and we are here to help figure things out.

This.

 

Are you gonna race it or is it something to cruise around on?

[Keaton 453]

im not really gonna like "professionally race" it, just like a gokart to play with around the yard, but my friend did send me something about a outlaw race with a mower class, I may try that if I get the first version working in time.

24 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

but since you are building a new front axle

wasn't going to but I may have to eventually,

I was planning on getting a go-kart rear axle off amazon for now, probably not the best place to get a axle but it will be fine for now, then I can lower it a bit more 

Edited November 21 by Keaton

[kpinnc 12,548]

3 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Where is the clutch?

It will be “clutching” whatever seat he decides to add on that machine! 

[Keaton 453]

the pictures is just a mach-up of zip ties, and I have one to order 

[ri702bill 8,507]

1 hour ago, kpinnc said:

It will be “clutching” whatever seat he decides to add on that machine! 

 

Did you intermix the words "clutching" and "clinching" ??  

[kpinnc 12,548]

5 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Did you intermix the words "clutching" and "clinching" ?? 

 
No sir. Clinching is just the act of tightening up. Clutching means you are hanging on for dear life!  

 

…And I assure you both can be performed at the tractor seat with no hands! 

[953 nut 55,834]

8 hours ago, Keaton said:

go-kart type steering, instead of a gear and sprocket steering like it has?

If the steering is somewhat like the one pictured below you definitely want to get rid of it and go the Go Cart route.

[Keaton 453]

@953 nut it is exactly like that, I will change it, I've been looking into it 

[Keaton 453]

ive been working on this and i got some parts ordered, my steering parts are almost here and I will work on that, I got a go-kart rack and pinion and with some custom work it should work just fine, I was also trying to figure out how to brace the frame because its not strong, I was thinking 2 pices of angle iron and a x out of gas pipe to make it sturdy, or more, I'm putting a gokart axle in, I got all the parts on the way, its working slowly but surely. 

[Easton Rich 332]

Give me some suggestions when you are done, sadly I’m also a dumb kid with dumb ideas

[Keaton 453]

On 12/1/2024 at 4:05 PM, Easton Rich said:

Give me some suggestions when you are done, sadly I’m also a dumb kid with dumb ideas

trust me I will, I need to have it done by January 12th hopefully for a race at the state fair grounds, I dont need to but I want to, if not I'll go look at them to see how others build them , it is a crafts man, I'll put pictures of how its went so far,

 

but a few questions for anyone, I was going to mount my pillow block bearings on a 1/4 thick 2x4 pice of steel tubing, think that would be strong enough? 

I got my rack and pinion installed today and need to bould a bracket tomorrow. 

 

the last pictures kinda crappy, I had no room for tie rods so I welded the 2 nuts togother and its just tacked for mach-up, also got all new wheels and tires all the way around, the front ones weren't gonna cut it 

Edited December 7 by Keaton

[953 nut 55,834]

A very young inexperienced racer, high center of gravity, huge engine,          We want a video of this one!

[Keaton 453]

@953 nut hey,hey,hey i would not call myself inexperienced, I've rode a lot faster, we have a yahama 450r fourwheeler, that I rode so hard that I blew up, and I am figuring out how to lower down the front axle, give me a bit of time and it wont be as sketchy 

 

I also stole the belt guard off my 856 yard art tractor, so its part horse 

Edited December 7 by Keaton

[kpinnc 12,548]

9 hours ago, 953 nut said:

We want a video of this one!

Maybe, maybe not. 

 

@Keaton please be careful. You are mating engine power to components that were never meant to handle it. 
 

Folks modify Wheel Horses all the time because they are massively overbuilt and can handle some extra stresses. That Craftsman looks like it’s barely strong enough to stay together sitting still. 

Edited December 7 by kpinnc

[Keaton 453]

I will be carefully, and I will brace it once I see what will be in my wad, 2 pices of angle iron and a x-brace out of gas like, its gonna be heavy