953 twin stick conversion question?

[HorseWhisperer 243]

I have a question I'm hoping leads to an everyday worker.I love the 953 but want to update it with an 8 speed with drilling,taping or only using 3 bolts.Is it possible to pull the right-hand transaxle housing off the original 953 and slide it on say a 74 complete 8 speed tranny?I hope it's that easy!Thanks in advance.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

That's a negative.

[HorseWhisperer 243]

Why Terry why.......          

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I'm not actually wise on the 953/1054, but I would think drilling the holes in the tranz mount plate to match the 8 speed pattern is possible.

You would need to make (or have made) axle or wheel spacers because of the length of the original 953 axles.

[HorseWhisperer 243]

Adapt long1 1/8 953 axles to an 8 pinion center,slide into eight speed left case and slide right side 953 case to complete?Ya following me?

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

A 953 tranz case does not have any provision for the hi-low range components, it has a different size input shaft, etc. so it's still a negative.

 

An 8 pinion differential has two equal-length axles and I believe the 953/1054 bevel gear differential has a short & long axle. One side would stick out more if you use them with the 8 pinion differential.

I would keep the stock axles in the 8 speed and use wheel spacers.

[sorekiwi 761]

I'd listen to Terry's advice Kevin - even when he doesn't know what he is talking about, he still knows twice as much as the rest of us!

 

I agree that 8 speed internals wont go into a 4 speed case.

 

I actually have a 1054 here that has been fitted (badly) with an 8 speed.  I haven't had a chance to mess with it much, so I'm sure I haven't seen all the problems with the swap yet.  FWIW my tractor doesn't appear to have any spacers fitted to the hubs (I've never pulled off the rear wheels).

 

Caution:  Pics of ugliness follow.

 

Pic of holes slotted in the trans mounting plate:

 

 

The axles are about 1 1/2" too short.  I haven't pulled the hubs to see where the setscrew sits on the key:

 

 

Axle length from underneath:

 

 

My plan at this stage (keeping in mind I really don't know what I am talking about either!!!) is to switch in a set of D axles.  If I had a 953/1054 4 speed I'd use that in a heartbeat, but I would probably switch in an 8 pinion differential.

[racinfool40 202]

or Build you an 8-speed 8-pinion and use D-Series axles would be another way...4-speeds use a 3/4 input shaft and 6-8 speeds use a 5/8 input shaft so you will have to use an aftermarket pulley..or midify the Belt guard to go around the bigger diameter 8-speed pulley.

[jeremi3210 735]

I did that to my 953 i used the short side of the 8 speed and the long side of the orginal trans put in a 8 pinion diff. Had to grind the teeth on the drive gear to make it fit also had to grind a grove in the axles fot a snap ring. Then i drilled and taped 1 hole in the case. There is a post on rs that tells you how to fit the 8pinion diff. And yes you will need a new input pulley.

I also switched the parts for the brake also. Been this way for over a year now with no problems.

[953 nut 55,856]

I did this on one of my 953s several years back. I had to drill one new hole in the trans mount plate on the 953 and drill and tap a hole in the 1267 trans. Made up a templeat of each bolt patern and went from there. I used the axle shafts from the 953 in the 8 speed and used a smaller input pulley (otherwise it would have been too fast with the taller tires).

 

Not too bad of a job, but please post pictures as you do it.    

[HorseWhisperer 243]

Can't thank You all enough for the input.I just love these machines 953/1054 but they need to be more flexible,user ready for all chores and with an 8 they would be great.I put an attach a matic on the front and mid so with a k301 in it it will do all but mow.I will be tackling this project soon.