Completed the FSA swap on my C-161

[WildmanC120 613]

Finally had some time to finish the swap.  I think it came out pretty good.  Ended up making an adapter plate for the steering so I didnt have to swap it out and could use the stock 520 tie rods. I also painted the wheels and installed 4 new tires. This thing is just about ready for the 60" deck I have. Just gotta install a new plastic slider for the motion control lever as I stole the one off this a week ago for my C-160 as it broke while in the middle of mowing. 

[JAinVA 4,619]

Looks good! Let us know how it does.

[ebinmaine 67,257]

9 hours ago, JAinVA said:

Looks good! Let us know how it does.

[WildmanC120 613]

Installed the 60" deck yesterday.  Really impressed with how well it cuts.  Even for having dull, rusty blades because I wanted to use it so bad I didn't sharpen them yet.  I did grease it though.  

A few small growing pains so far.  The 1/2 x 103" belt from PTO-Deck is too big.  I had to drop down to a 1/2 x 101" and that seems to work OK.  I can still get that to slip a little in the heavy grass.  I think I may jump up to a 5/8" x 100" or 101".  That should do the trick and the pulleys are big enough to support it. The 22hp predator really handles it well.  I was surprised actually at how well it runs for a cheap Chinese engine.  It definitely runs much better now that the oil is not full of gas from the vacuum fuel pump going bad. 

Now if only someone has a motion control pin for me. Mine is broke so I have to babysit the hydro lever as it drifts all around.  I have a wanted thread BTW.....

Wheel Horse C-161 Twin with Front End Swap & 60" Deck - Video is kinda crappy as I really needed 3 hands since I constantly have to adjust speed.  I'll get better video later but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

Looks great!! That wide front end with the Vrerdsteins are begging for 10.50's though!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[WildmanC120 613]

7 minutes ago, RandyLittrell said:

Looks great!! That wide front end with the Vrerdsteins are begging for 10.50's though!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy

I was thinking the same thing. I have some small spacers on it now.  It works. I'm kinda broke lol, new house and 1 income. 

 

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

OH, I know! I filed for disability in Oct, so no income for me yet. Luckily my wife is a teacher, so its all good! 

 

 

 

Randy

[DrabHorse 2]

Nice job on that, looks good.  I know it has probably been gone over before, but is the electric clutch the best way to go on the predator engine?  Are you using a wheel horse clutch or something else?  If you happen to already have a post about it or other info, could you refer me to it, thanks.

Edited July 5, 2019 by DrabHorse

[Pullstart 62,782]

1 hour ago, DrabHorse said:

Nice job on that, looks good.  I know it has probably been gone over before, but is the electric clutch the best way to go on the predator engine?  Are you using a wheel horse clutch or something else?  If you happen to already have a post about it or other info, could you refer me to it, thanks.

 

The Predators aren’t set up for a side load on the crank bearings, like a PTO bell would do.  The electric clutch is the safest way to go

[Pullstart 62,782]

@DrabHorse here is Wildman’s swap post...

 

 

[WildmanC120 613]

13 hours ago, DrabHorse said:

Nice job on that, looks good.  I know it has probably been gone over before, but is the electric clutch the best way to go on the predator engine?  Are you using a wheel horse clutch or something else?  If you happen to already have a post about it or other info, could you refer me to it, thanks.

It is a real wheel horse electric clutch. It's a 1 1/8th ID and the predator is a 1" shaft.  I picked up a sleeve to make them fit. 

 

I'm having a hard time getting belts to work.  It's supposed to be a 1/2x103" belt but I had to use a 1/2x101 and could probably even go to a 100" due to engine being mounted slightly different and the shaft lower. 

 

I'm actually testing a 5/8x100 right now. It seems to work better as it was kinda easy to slip the 1/2 belt.  

 

I was using a real 60" deck mule drive but have found for this setup that a stock one works better.  I think I'm gonna heat the shaft that holds the pulleys and bend it a little as to make some clearances between belt and deck better.  The belt is real close to top of deck.  

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

On 6/28/2019 at 1:41 PM, WildmanC120 said:

Installed the 60" deck yesterday.  Really impressed with how well it cuts.  Even for having dull, rusty blades because I wanted to use it so bad I didn't sharpen them yet.  I did grease it though.  

A few small growing pains so far.  The 1/2 x 103" belt from PTO-Deck is too big.  I had to drop down to a 1/2 x 101" and that seems to work OK.  I can still get that to slip a little in the heavy grass.  I think I may jump up to a 5/8" x 100" or 101".  That should do the trick and the pulleys are big enough to support it. The 22hp predator really handles it well.  I was surprised actually at how well it runs for a cheap Chinese engine.  It definitely runs much better now that the oil is not full of gas from the vacuum fuel pump going bad. 

Now if only someone has a motion control pin for me. Mine is broke so I have to babysit the hydro lever as it drifts all around.  I have a wanted thread BTW.....

Wheel Horse C-161 Twin with Front End Swap & 60" Deck - Video is kinda crappy as I really needed 3 hands since I constantly have to adjust speed.  I'll get better video later but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

The few times I seen your mower spindle/pulley spinning it seemed that it was the spindle belt slipping not the PTO belt, but it also could have been an optical illusion.

[WildmanC120 613]

11 minutes ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

The few times I seen your mower spindle/pulley spinning it seemed that it was the spindle belt slipping not the PTO belt, but it also could have been an optical illusion.

 

It very well could be that one too.  It is in need of replacing. I just need to figure the size and order one