Lawn Ranger for the grandkids #2

[dclarke 4,046]

The Ranger I built this summer for the boys has gone to a new owner so I’m starting on another one that will be basically the same build but with a few small changes. I’m hoping to have this one done by late spring. This ‘68 is gonna be red and an 8 speed like the last one and will have a K181 engine. I’m wanting to powder coat this one. Here’s a couple of pics of what I started with. 

[dclarke 4,046]

I only have one pic of teardown and this is where I'm at today, I've had the frame and tins blasted. I'm using a 5091 8 speed tranny that has 1-1/8" axles so I'm having the ends of the axles turned down to 1" so I can use the Ranger hubs. I decided to paint the rims rather than powder them so I don't scratch them up when mounting the rear tires. Like my last Ranger this Kohler will be recoil start. 

[Pullstart 63,271]

I’m surprised you got rid of the other one, but I’m looking forward to seeing your progress!

[ebinmaine 69,189]

Looking forward to another great build !

 

[953 nut 56,341]

9 hours ago, dclarke said:

I decided to paint the rims rather than powder them so I don't scratch them up when mounting the rear tires.

If you cut the fingers off an old pair of leather gloves and put them on your tire tools you will reduce the likelihood of scratching your rims.

[dclarke 4,046]

10 hours ago, pullstart said:

I’m surprised you got rid of the other one, but I’m looking forward to seeing your progress!

It was a good deal for both of us and it went to a good home. 

[ol550 830]

Have lost the picture, but when I put an 8 speed in a Lawn Ranger I turned the hub to fit the wheel and tapped the holes.

 

[dclarke 4,046]

3 hours ago, ol550 said:

Have lost the picture, but when I put an 8 speed in a Lawn Ranger I turned the hub to fit the wheel and tapped the holes.

 

Good idea, Mike... I needed to shorten the axles on this one and cut new keyways so I’m having the axles turned down. 

[dclarke 4,046]

I finally got the axles back from the guy that turned and shortened them for me. The tranny's back together with new bearings and seals and I have modified the fender pan support and tool tray to fit the 8 speed and cut a slot in the tunnel cover for the hi/lo shift lever. Once I get done modifying the frame and tins I'll take it back apart to paint it. I considered powder coating this project but decided to stick with paint instead. 

[Shynon 7,474]

Looking good Denny  Did you bead blast the differential and mushroom gear? look pretty clean

[dclarke 4,046]

2 minutes ago, Shynon said:

Looking good Denny  Did you bead blast the differential and mushroom gear? look pretty clean

Yes I did, Tom. Couldn’t stand the little bit of rust that was on it. Taped off the bearing surfaces first though. 

[dtallon 320]

Looks like another good project Denny.  You are probably going to get your second one done before I get my first one done.  I got to the point of trying to figure out how to do the brake band linkage and then other projects got in the way.  Make sure you take lots of pictures of that part.  

 

Dave

[dclarke 4,046]

1 hour ago, dtallon said:

Looks like another good project Denny.  You are probably going to get your second one done before I get my first one done.  I got to the point of trying to figure out how to do the brake band linkage and then other projects got in the way.  Make sure you take lots of pictures of that part.  

 

Dave

Here’s my brake linkage, Dave. 

[WHX?? 49,581]

On 11/21/2018 at 8:40 PM, Shynon said:

Looking good Denny  Did you bead blast the differential and mushroom gear? look pretty clean

Agreed Tom and just chiming in to follow... you decide to paint it pink Denny I have this little girl who thinks a pink tractor....

[WHX?? 49,581]

After look Denny that seat looks pretty good shape.... thoughts? 

[dclarke 4,046]

16 minutes ago, WHX21 said:

After look Denny that seat looks pretty good shape.... thoughts? 

That was a nice seat but I didn’t get it with the tractor. I may use an original seat pan for this tractor though. 

[Pullstart 63,271]

12 hours ago, dclarke said:

Here’s my brake linkage, Dave. 

 

Pink...  clear coat...  you could make any color look good Denny!

[dclarke 4,046]

11 hours ago, WHX21 said:

Agreed Tom and just chiming in to follow... you decide to paint it pink Denny I have this little girl who thinks a pink tractor....

 

1 minute ago, pullstart said:

 

Pink...  clear coat...  you could make any color look good Denny!

This one will be painted red to replace the one I had for the boys... The next one will be pink though!  

[dclarke 4,046]

The last few days I've been working on getting the running boards cut to size and mounted. I got the mounting brackets for those tacked in place, made some modifications to the belt guard then took things back apart to finish welding the brackets to the frame. On this project I decided not to use the original foot rests so I cut out the original mounting bar, moved the clutch pedal mounting rod back about 2-1/2" to the front of the running board and filled in the holes in the frame where the original bar was. I also wanted to be able to remove the 2nd clutch pedal and it's mounting bar as the kids get bigger so I had a bar made that is threaded and held in place with a nut.  While I had the welder out I welded a few nuts in place under the frame to run wire loom thru when I get to that point.  I still need to shorten the clutch pedal rod and make a rod to connect the two pedals. 

[dclarke 4,046]

Progress on this has been slow the last few weeks, I finished the linkages for the brake pedals, replaced the front wheel bushings with bearings and mounted those tires. My tie rods were shot so I picked up a new set from Lowell, I also added a front support bushing to the lower steering shaft and replaced the bushing in the rear lower steering shaft support. I cut the Tecumseh gas tank bracket apart and adapted it to fit the Kohler, got most of the bodywork done on the fender pan and have been working on mounting this seat pan. Hopefully in the next week or so I'll be able to take the seat pan to have new cushions made. The recoil on the K181 needed several new pieces to get it back into shape, boy I wish I knew the trick to rewinding that spring and getting that thing put back together. That was a chore. 

[ebinmaine 69,189]

1 hour ago, dclarke said:

boy I wish I knew the trick to rewinding that spring and getting that thing put back together.

Seriously.... I get my favorite Small engine repair place to do it.

I'll tackle most anything because we want to learn how to.

Recoil reconstruction and reloading is probably the shortest trip to insanity for most normal humans.

 

Making good progress there Denny.... Slow but sure is perfectly fine.

 

[Sarge 3,464]

I use welding clamps - F type, they fit down into those recoil heads nicely and prevent that thing from snaking up your arm like a razor blade.

 

Sarge

[dclarke 4,046]

Yesterday I had a chance to replace the 6200RS bearing in the drive belt idler pulley. I ground the heads off of the old rivets with a 2" cutoff wheel then drove them out with a punch and I set the new rivets with the 2 pound hammer. 

[WHX?? 49,581]

Nice Denny, you ever see my thread on doing those? https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/61433-pulleys-idlers-for-free/?tab=comments#comment-570677 I use bolts to put it back together but your way is more original. You have a problem with recoils let me know, I got the knack for rewinding them.

[dclarke 4,046]

45 minutes ago, WHX21 said:

Nice Denny, you ever see my thread on doing those? https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/61433-pulleys-idlers-for-free/?tab=comments#comment-570677 I use bolts to put it back together but your way is more original. You have a problem with recoils let me know, I got the knack for rewinding them.

Nice job on those, Jim. I have one of Brian’s stainless rings on one of my other tractors. The bolts make it easier to change the next bearing, that’s for sure.