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Hi everyone. This might sound a little weird, but Im gonna convert my 1996 MTD mower into a off road vehicle. Id like some of you guys to tell me how to make it pretty fast without spending too much money. what I need to buy, what I need to get rid of etc. Any help is greatly appreciated.

MTDman1 said:

Hi everyone. This might sound a little weird, but Im gonna convert my 1996 MTD mower into a off road vehicle. Id like some of you guys to tell me how to make it pretty fast without spending too much money. what I need to buy, what I need to get rid of etc. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Ok first is don't use a MTD mower.
I like MTD but not really good for what you want to do. But you can make it fast just takes more work then say a Murray or a craftsman.

The only pulley you will change will be the engine pulley. You will have to take the plate off that goes around the pulley and do some cutting on it so it will fit around the bigger pulley.
Go to tractor supply and get a 8 inch pulley.
Now the drive works off of two belts you only going to change the front one that goes to the engine pulley. Get one that is 3 inches bigger

This is just a guick reply there really is more you can do.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

The MTD is the only mower I can use. Also, do I take the deck off?

and how fast will it go?

Yes take the deck off.

It should do around 25 mph and still give you good take off power.

If you want to play in the mud go with a 6 inch pulley if you want to just go real fast go with a 10 inch pulley.

Just so you know
YOUR GOING TO GET HURT

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

What do you mean Im going to get hurt?

MTDman1 said:

What do you mean Im going to get hurt?

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Mowers are made to go 5mph not 30 mph
If you get on it and go as fast as you can your going to crash

You have to learn how to turn
Oh and the brakes don't work at that speed
I have built a few and always let my dumb brother Inlaw test drive it. He gets hurt every time

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Look me up on you tube


Carscw65

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Was that Craftsman supposed to be a racer or just a little mud toy? I know the title on this thread says offroad, but I want it to go at least between 30 and 35 mph.

MTDman1 said:

Was that Craftsman supposed to be a racer or just a little mud toy? I know the title on this thread says offroad, but I want it to go at least between 30 and 35 mph.

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The craftsman topped out at 47mph
But to go off road and play in the mud I slowed it down. It's more fun the play in the mud and ride in the woods than it is to go to fast.
You need to understand that the faster you make it the slower it will take off
So if you want to play in the dirt do donuts ride wheelies then keep your pulley to a 8 or 6 inch.

If you just want to go as fast as you can down a dirt road then go with a 10 inch.

I think the first thing you should do is put a gas pedal on it so you can control your speed.

I use a brake lever off a bike connect it right to the governor so you can get max RPMs play with it a while like that then go with a bigger pulley

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

I spent the last hour taking the deck off and its off now. So you said A 10 inch pulley in the front and stock in the back? also on yours when it went 47 mph, was the engine all stock and what h.p. was your engine?

MTDman1 said:

I spent the last hour taking the deck off and its off now. So you said A 10 inch pulley in the front and stock in the back? also on yours when it went 47 mph, was the engine all stock and what h.p. was your engine?

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Just had a old 12.5 off a old snapper.


Because of how the drive works on the MTD you don't change the back pulley.

Ok this is how I am feeling right now it took you a hour to take the deck off. Only a two min job.
Maybe this is something you should not be getting into. You really should know more about mowers before you you start trying to go fast

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

If u want to learn how go to YouTube an look up fearless front he has video how to do everything an also yes the deck dose need to come off :thumbsup:

Carscw said:

Yes take the deck off.

It should do around 25 mph and still give you good take off power.

If you want to play in the mud go with a 6 inch pulley if you want to just go real fast go with a 10 inch pulley.

Just so you know
YOUR GOING TO GET HURT

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Click to expand...

I take it you are talking about the 6" and 10" pulley's on the transaxle? Please explain why a 10" pulley would make the mower go faster than the 6". Wouldn't the 6" spin faster and make the mower go faster? I can see where the bigger pulley on the engine would increase speed. I was thinking along the line of a bicycle 10 speed system. Thanks.

Can I use a pulley off the deck?

DaveTN said:

I take it you are talking about the 6" and 10" pulley's on the transaxle? Please explain why a 10" pulley would make the mower go faster than the 6". Wouldn't the 6" spin faster and make the mower go faster? I can see where the bigger pulley on the engine would increase speed. I was thinking along the line of a bicycle 10 speed system. Thanks.

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I believe Carscw is talking about the pulley on the engine spindle, not transaxle.

DaveTN said:

I take it you are talking about the 6" and 10" pulley's on the transaxle? Please explain why a 10" pulley would make the mower go faster than the 6". Wouldn't the 6" spin faster and make the mower go faster? I can see where the bigger pulley on the engine would increase speed. I was thinking along the line of a bicycle 10 speed system. Thanks.

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that's why on a ten speed you go faster with a big sprocket in the front

I did say your only going to change the front pulley. Remember I said your ONLY going to change the engine pulley.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Carscw said:

Mowers are made to go 5mph not 30 mph
If you get on it and go as fast as you can your going to crash

You have to learn how to turn
Oh and the brakes don't work at that speed
I have built a few and always let my dumb brother Inlaw test drive it. He gets hurt every time

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

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You really don't like your brother-in-law do you????LOL:0)
And you're pretty smart to enlist a test driver too!!!!