GT22-8 Modifying GT14 to 8 speed and 22hp Predator

[fast88pu 3,324]

On May 22, 2018 at 7:34 PM, Aldon said:

Not sure on backspacing. Work has been extreme for past several months and is trending worse. Have not had time to touch the project in a long while. 

 

@fast88pu has an 8 speed with standard axles.

 

If he sees this, he can give feedback on the pros/cons of the longer axles. I know he is planning on modifying his at some point.

8 speed with stock axles is not a safe go. My hubs are slid out and still have to space the wheels out too. Longer axles will be in the future. 

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

@fast88pu      Thanks! 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[Aldon 4,826]

Finally had a spare moment to actually work on this thing today.

 

have not touched it since Fall other than to fab a belt support post for where belt exits the drive pulley.

 

I had done some research and planning for the belt drive system and ordered new belt in november 2017.

 

The OEM Wheel Horse Belt that was same length as the aftermarket belt I had which was close to working but not perfect. Took me hours to cross reference multiple docs. But I sourced it.

 

My OCD tendencies would not let me proceed with the project until I was closer to perfect.

 

So today I spent a couple hours and installed.

 

It ran well but the brake and the clutch friction stop weren’t ideal.

 

today it ran like a scalded cat and brake works well. I’m pretty pleased. I can now move forward and maybe get some paint on this thing before show. 

 

Wont get it done though. But maybe before the Fall meet and greet in CT.

 

[Aldon 4,826]

Decided I’d rather finish the turning brakes and add hydraulics before I do complete tear down and paint.

 

I made some headway this afternoon.

 

It’s a bit difficult to see but the calipers are mechanical and the engagement lever is normally low and when pulled in upward direction will brake.

 

I fabbed up brackets, threaded rod and pulleys to route the brake cable today.

 

 

[19richie66 17,500]

Looking good brother!

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Details!  More pictures please!  Perhaps I missed the sourcing of the brake parts?

This is going to be interesting!

 

Nice work Aldon!

[Aldon 4,826]

Thanks. @DennisThornton

 

Pretty sure i detailed the basic brake parts I started with.

 

The calipers are mechanical Cub calipers which I modified. The discs themselves I made from eBay blank steel discs.

 

There are dozens of ways to skin the proverbial cat. If I were to do again, I’d likely go hydraulic. But once I get these mocked up and built, they should be bullit proof.

 

 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Cub Cadet came to mind when I saw your pictures. 

Anxious to see more! 

[Aldon 4,826]

So I’m still toiling away today and may update more later but I took a brake to eat early dinner.

 

I made significant progress towards mocking up the turning brake hand controls. Had to run Intersil town to get the materials and then I needed to weld and realized that I had changed the 220 plug to allow me to backfeed my Generator this winter/late spring. Had to make a short adapter. So significant non wrenching time but made the most of the rest of day.

First I had to determine the right location for the support shaft, then fab up custom handles and so forth. Only had rough idea of what I wanted to do. Designed on the fly....

 

[19richie66 17,500]

Looks good my friend. 

[Aldon 4,826]

Wish I welded more than once every year. Welds look like absolute crap when I start. Then about the time I am wrapping up the last weld looks almost amateurish is instead of like a blind man did it. Oh well. It functions and will be under the seat and fenders:-)

 

i have the fab work done for the turning brakes now. Need to drop by the hardware store and get mini turn buckles or some other hardware that allows me to adjust tension of the steel cable.

 

I doubt it will be obvious but I took some pics. 

 

To engage the Brake, I will pull the handle back towards the driver slightly. Left handle Left tire receives brake etc.

 

 

[wallfish 16,994]

7 minutes ago, Aldon said:

Wish I welded more than once every year. Welds look like absolute crap when I start. Then about the time I am wrapping up the last weld looks almost amateurish is instead of like a blind man did it.

 

Same happens to me. For some reason welding is NOT like riding a bike. It's nice once you finally do get in that groove so the grinder isn't needed to clean'em up.

[JPWH 6,033]

Looking good Aldon. I'm in the same club as you and @wallfish. My son tells me I'm a grinder / sometime welder.lol

[19richie66 17,500]

One day I’ll get my kid to show me the right way to weld. By then I probably won’t be able to see much at all. 

[R. L. Addison 299]

If I may share a thought about tire spacing, I have a set of "D" series axles & am toying with the idea of having 1/4" key-ways cut in them & using two sets 1 1/8 " hubs to run dual wheels (6") on the unit. Dunno whether it would work or not, but I'm thinking about giving it a look-see if I live long 'nuff.

 

Would like to look into putting a dump bed on a "D" series frame with that set up if I am granted enough time & money By our Creator.

 

Would it work? I'd like to find out if I'm  bright enough to over-come the problems that could present......................someday. 

 

Wondered if this might give some "food for thought" on some other project problems by others. Ron A.

Edited June 2, 2018 by R. L. Addison

[19richie66 17,500]

10 hours ago, R. L. Addison said:

If I may share a thought about tire spacing, I have a set of "D" series axles & am toying with the idea of having 1/4" key-ways cut in them & using two sets 1 1/8 " hubs to run dual wheels (6") on the unit. Dunno whether it would work or not, but I'm thinking about giving it a look-see if I live long 'nuff.

 

Would like to look into putting a dump bed on a "D" series frame with that set up if I am granted enough time & money By our Creator.

 

Would it work? I'd like to find out if I'm  bright enough to over-come the problems that could present......................someday. 

 

Wondered if this might give some "food for thought" on some other project problems by others. Ron A.

@R. L. Addison Look up “D Man” “Building a 23 automatic lse” thread. I think that is right. He is running duals on his D but he had wider axles made. He would be a good one to ask as he is there also. Good luck!

Edited June 2, 2018 by 19richie66

[Aldon 4,826]

Well I was scheduled to fly out west for business after church. Would have been a grueling long day had it actually gone as planned.

 

Instead, I got to airport this afternoon and my flight was cancelled. 4 hours early. Crazy! 

 

Chicago is a difficult place to travel through at least it has been for me.

 

good news though for me as I was able to tackle the turning brakes again. And since I was supposedly flying all afternoon, I was able to work uninterrupted. Yea!!!

 

I took pics but other than the rubber grips on the handles, not really easy to see the work I did as it’s under the fenders.

 

I will likely improve on it a bit when I tear down for paint eventually.

 

next project is the jack shaft for the independent hydraulic pump.

[19richie66 17,500]

I like that crossbar setup on the 3 point

[Aldon 4,826]

7 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

I like that crossbar setup on the 3 point

Good eye Ritchie.

 

That is actually a reproduction of the wheel horse 3 point brace that was used for GT14 tiller set up.

 

Thanks to @DTOM for doing it for me. He works crazy hours but he managed to get it done for me.

 

It came out great!

 

[19richie66 17,500]

I’ll have to eyeball it so I can make me one ☝️ 

[Aldon 4,826]

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

That is a tough looking Beast Aldon from any angle but especially from that one with those weights!  I think that the red looks especially good against the grey.

 

Can’t wait to check this one out in person next week...

[Aldon 4,826]

4 minutes ago, PeacemakerJack said:

That is a tough looking Beast Aldon from any angle but especially from that one with those weights!  I think that the red looks especially good against the grey.

 

Can’t wait to check this one out in person next week...

It looks as good as when we discussed silver and red while you were working on your plow tractor. Thanks for the consult!

[19richie66 17,500]

I’m loving it.

[Aldon 4,826]

My GT22-8 started pouring smoke like a mosquito fogger at the Ct meet and greet. @fast88pu suggested I add an oil catch can to separate blowby oil from air from crankcase that is routed to the carb thanks to our illustrious EPA. 

 

Soent half the morning tackling that project. Can our greet and runs slightly more powerfully. I’d swear I gained a HP.

 

installed custom jackshaft to power the hydraylaulics. Have pump but that will be a POST big show project.

 

mounted the winch. Recycled a mule that the threads were shot for the mount so I can remove if I wish.

 

Need to wire it up tomorrow.