Old meets new

[adsm08 2,032]

Ok, I have been told this can be done. I have even seen some pictures that suggest the same. But nobody, so far, has been able to tell me HOW it is done.

 

I have a 1971 800 Special. I have a newer deck and mule drive from the late 80s.

 

The deck mounting is straight-forward, if less than perfectly correct. My mounts don't have the bar for the fork, I can fix that if I really want to. But this thing has no brackets for the mule drive, and every picture I see of the same body-style tractor with this setup mounted conveniently leaves out that particular picture.

 

So what's the great secret? Do I need to find a set of brackets from a later tractor and get them welded on? Was this an optional accessory piece that could be bolted on? Are people swapping frames?

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

This may be what you are describing

Garry

[adsm08 2,032]

It may be.

[Stepney 2,325]

Every 800 Special I have ever seen had a different sort of front driving rig.
Instead of a tach-a-matic mule drive, or the late 1960's adapter bracket which allowed a newer mule to be used, they had a single U shaped piece of heavy steel. The pulleys were hard mounted to this bracket, and one pulley was on a spring and lever set up. 
It also usually had a guard up front, and sure looked like a bumper.. often used as one. I have one in the basement, which is twisted, like every single one of them tend to be.

I'll get a photo come morning, but here is one off an internet sourced photo.

 

[Lee1977 6,648]

I don't see why you can't bolt on one of these. If you can make the 3/4" hole line up make a new longer axle pivot pin.

 

That bar is there that the fork goes on to stop the deck from going forward when you tighten the mule drive. The deck mounting is hinged and would  go forward and lift up with out the bar.

Edited May 11, 2020 by Lee1977

[adsm08 2,032]

On 5/10/2020 at 10:56 PM, Stepney said:

Every 800 Special I have ever seen had a different sort of front driving rig.
Instead of a tach-a-matic mule drive, or the late 1960's adapter bracket which allowed a newer mule to be used, they had a single U shaped piece of heavy steel. The pulleys were hard mounted to this bracket, and one pulley was on a spring and lever set up. 
It also usually had a guard up front, and sure looked like a bumper.. often used as one. I have one in the basement, which is twisted, like every single one of them tend to be.

I'll get a photo come morning, but here is one off an internet sourced photo.

 

 

That looks nothing like the tractor I am working on.

 

 

On 5/10/2020 at 11:25 PM, Lee1977 said:

I don't see why you can't bolt on one of these. If you can make the 3/4" hole line up make a new longer axle pivot pin.

 

That bar is there that the fork goes on to stop the deck from going forward when you tighten the mule drive. The deck mounting is hinged and would  go forward and lift up with out the bar.

 

I don't know if I have anywhere to bolt that to. I do have a set of frame holes that look right for the brackets posted by @gwest_ca

 

I know what the bar and fork do. In my afro-engineered setup I "solved" that issue with a ratchet strap hooked to the deck in two places and wrapped around a bar in the plow mounting brackets. It held the deck back, but that wasn't my biggest issue.

[adsm08 2,032]

OK, so I found and bought the 8-5551 kit, it showed up tonight and I have it all mounted up already.

 

 

Now to begin in earnest the search for a deck and mule drive. Ideally I'd like to just buy a 310-8 with a good deck and transaxle and blown up engine, steal the deck, mule, and axle, and part the rest, since my 3rd gear is also about shot.

Edited August 26, 2020 by adsm08