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Is it possible to make a craftsman lawn tractor into a 4x4 tractor? Some higher end tractors have it like the toro groundsmaster. Would it be easy and cheap or hard and expensive to do?

with a torch and welder anything is possible i cant help but think its not going to be easy or cheap but it would be alot of fun

I have always thought that taking 2 belt driven axles and welding one of them to the front of the machine and run a belt through both transmissions and use a belt tensioner and it might work. I dont know about how this would affect using a deck or attachments but again I have never done it personally....Although I do have a couple parts mowers out back and a mig welder.....

You would have to put the front one on with the pulley on the bottom. There are a few videos on you tube

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That would make since Ill give it a try this weekend when I have a few hours I have an old yardman 6 speed and an old MTD 6 speed that are mostly just rotting. I can pair it with a 12.5 B&S engine. Would I need to use 2 shifters? or is there a way to link them together. Also if the tranny is upside down would it get proper grease to handle the strain? Sorry about all the questions I am excited now

exotion said:

That would make since Ill give it a try this weekend when I have a few hours I have an old yardman 6 speed and an old MTD 6 speed that are mostly just rotting. I can pair it with a 12.5 B&S engine. Would I need to use 2 shifters? or is there a way to link them together. Also if the tranny is upside down would it get proper grease to handle the strain? Sorry about all the questions I am excited now

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The MTD rear end is only a two gear forward and reverse the 6 speed is controlled by a variable pulley the two belts ride on together.
I would say make a way to hook both to one shifter.
Not sure about the grease but in my mud mower I filled the tranny full of bearing grease.

Your best bet is to use a old murray frame as they where built out of C channel very tough.

My craftsman will do 40 mph ride wheelies sling mud. Not 4wd. Found out to late not a good frame to use as it has cracked and bent.
This was the first one I have built lots of fun but not real safe.
Only way to do a MTD is to double the size of the engine pulley

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I want to try it some day but I don't have a welder if there's was a tranny in the front, there would have to be something there to allow the wheels to turn. Also it might not even fit in front and the whole tractor might lack power.

I think the hardest part will be the steering

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Carscw said:

I think the hardest part will be the steering

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Thats what i was looking at tonight before I got on. Looks like its not going to work well as both axles and trannys appear to be different sizes. The shifter would be to difficult. But yes the steering will probably make the entire front axle have to be custom :/

Just buy a ventrac it is already 4x4. But then again it does sound like fun to make your own. GO FOR IT :thumbsup:

Could always just do something like this not 4wd but very cool



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Ventrac are expensive :/ And looking at this project it is looking like this will be a lot more involved than welding an axle and running a belt >.< am quickly losing motivation and probably wont do it. The whole front axle will need to be custom because of the steering and the shifting would need some minor but still fabricating. Although i have not lost all motivation ill grab a beer and head out there in a little while

Go on you tube and look up FEARLESSFRONT He can build any thing out of a mower

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He can but I don't think he ever made a 4x4 tractor

boston said:

He can but I don't think he ever made a 4x4 tractor

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Maybe not but the mowers are cool.

Is this big enough for you?? :laughing:
(video by RamblinAround)

lawn mower fanatic said:

Is this big enough for you?? :laughing:

(video by RamblinAround)

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Good for parades and such.

The hard part building a 4wd mower is getting the gears to be right. You can take the rear and front ends from a ATV bit then it's not really a mower any more. You can take the rear end and put it on the front and make the whole thing pivot but you would have to mount it upside down so the wheels would turn forward. And run a double pulley off the engine.

I have all the parts going to start on it next month I will post pics of the whole build.

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Carscw said:

The hard part building a 4wd mower is getting the gears to be right. You can take the rear and front ends from a ATV bit then it's not really a mower any more. You can take the rear end and put it on the front and make the whole thing pivot but you would have to mount it upside down so the wheels would turn forward. And run a double pulley off the engine.

I have all the parts going to start on it next month I will post pics of the whole build.

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Can't wait to see it! :thumbsup:

Carscw said:

The hard part building a 4wd mower is getting the gears to be right. You can take the rear and front ends from a ATV bit then it's not really a mower any more. You can take the rear end and put it on the front and make the whole thing pivot but you would have to mount it upside down so the wheels would turn forward. And run a double pulley off the engine.

I have all the parts going to start on it next month I will post pics of the whole build.

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Me too can't wait.

What if you weld a pulley on top of the back tranny pulley to run from the motor and run a belt from the back pulley to the front pulley.

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go find a couple of those mowers where all 4 wheels turn and mod one of the axels into the other then you can have a 4x4 with 4 wheel steering