Export thread

Hi guys, I am new to this forum and I am looking for some advice. I have been into building things with engines for a long time now and I can do a lot. I am in need of a job and think now is a good time to put my skills to use. What do you guys think I could do to make money? I was thinking making racing mowers out of typical Craftsman 6-speed lawnmowers, or even making a shifter-kart with a old dirtbike, but it seems as if there is not a good market for that. Any advice is appreciated :thumbsup:

WELCOME to LMF..

Maintaining equipment is usually not a problem when done as a commercial venture....
Modifying something for a purpose that the manufacturer did not intend will take on a Lot of end product liability... An owner operator can modify almost anything ... and they by doing so will assume the risk... Doing it as a business could become very costly (liability wise)... :smile:KennyV

You are a genius! Or maybe I am just dumb... But maintaining equipment sounds pretty good :biggrin: Any other ideas??????????????????? (by the way I am willing to spend money on equipment and tools) :smile:

Or also.... how about refurbishing equipment? Is that a big market now?

If you can get "non working" things for little or nothing... then referb to usable... there is Always going to be a market for working "older" equipment... (there are a lot of folks, right or wrongly, thinking older is better than new) ... In many things I have to agree...

If you have the space to collect old equipment and just remove usable parts... selling them on eBay is always working.... There is a thread going now about mower 'bone yards'... salvage sales can add up because, like has been mentioned, a good used component will bring half the price of a New part... with almost No cost to you .... If you have the space and the drive to treat it like a business and keep at it... good luck, :smile:KennyV

Refurbishing basically sound equipment can be a money maker, especially at the peak of the season in climates that change to a real winter. You'll need some space (hopefully behind a privacy gate) for mower carcasses and stuff, but once you get the junkyard mentality going, and some experience working on different brands and models, you'll find out what you like working on and what you can make quick money doing. For me, probably 70% of the junk I fix (or try:ashamedis a fuel related issue.

Hmm, I like both the ideas, but I do not have much room to use in the garage. And also I can fix or make pretty much anything electronic or make cool light fixtures and LED's are extremely fun too :biggrin: But lets keep the ideas rolling because I need a job :laughing:

motorrefurb said:

Hmm, I like both the ideas, but I do not have much room to use in the garage. And also I can fix or make pretty much anything electronic or make cool light fixtures and LED's are extremely fun too :biggrin: But lets keep the ideas rolling because I need a job :laughing:

Click to expand...

You're coming into snowblower season, (presumably) maybe getting one or two dead ones might be worth a try.:wink:

I'm diggin' it benski :thumbsup: Still need more ideas though! And also, should I make a website to put all of my refurbished things on? Don't worry if I do I'll let everyone here post their items on it too :wink: BUT MORE IDEAS!!!!

motorrefurb said:

I'm diggin' it benski :thumbsup: Still need more ideas though! And also, should I make a website to put all of my refurbished things on? Don't worry if I do I'll let everyone here post their items on it too :wink: BUT MORE IDEAS!!!!

Click to expand...

I just use Craigslist. Easy, fast, good coverage.:smile:

Benski, your right, but it only deals locally, and it doesn't look as professional. And how much do you think I would make a year if I do it full-time? :smile:

motorrefurb said:

Benski, your right, but it only deals locally, and it doesn't look as professional. And how much do you think I would make a year if I do it full-time? :smile:

Click to expand...

How far are you or your customers willing to pay for shipping?
How much time or money are you willing to pay or take to hire a webmaster or be one yourself after a day of wrenching?
I have no idea of how much money a single individual can make doing this; it could vary immensely, from a slow, painful death like mine (self-induced), to getting some financial backing and opening a dealership, having the manufacturer floor their equipment, and have a staff that is under your direction. How much you'd get to keep after all that, I still don't know!:wink:

Well, I love computers too, I am trying to get a huge computer desk set up with servers for my customer info and web and email servers and getting old hard drives and RAIDing them together for a super computer :biggrin: I can make a site and if I end up not wanting to, my friend designs sites so I got that covered :smile:

Any other ways for money!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile:

Any modifed tractor you build and sell id say would be a definite liability issue - with my mod projects, theyll be taken apart and sent to the scrap yard first before id sell them to anyone .

Alot of people 'flip' lawntractors - buy them cheeper, spend some money rebuilding them and reselling them for a modest profit - sometimes thats a crap shoot tho- if the economy is bad, then youd be stuck with alot of tractors - could do the repair business tho, but youd have to estimate jobs right to get decent money and work comming in.

Alot of people do the EBAY thing - part out tractors and stuff piece by piece, could make back what was paid for a tractor with only a couple pieces, better if its a rarer tractor with hard to find parts- youd need to set up an account with a paypal , that could be something to keep some cash comming in while working on other income sources.

Yeah I guess selling them with mods would be a bad idea......... I would do the repair, but I'm pretty sure all the lawnguys do that themselves there has to be something you guys can think of! Also how about if I just bore out the cylinder and get rid of the governor but put on some type of rev limiter and a flywheel guard in case if it explodes, do you think anyone would buy that?

Removing the governer w/o modding the rest of the motor is a bad idea - lawntractor motors were designed for 3600 RPM's - any higher and the motor can explode as well as the cast flywheel shattering - i have pictures somewhere of a cast iron flywheel that exploded on a pulling tractor - it tore the frame of the tractor up, went thru the guy's leg standing next to it and lodged into a steel beam of a nearby barn.

Youd need to invest in very expensive billet flywheels, upgraded internals ( rod, piston, crank)- might as well upgrade the valves.... a few thousand dollars to do it right.

I have a lawntractor that i got free, the PO's son over revved the motor, flywheel didnt explode, but the counterweights broke a nice large hole in the back of the motor.

I dont think itd be a cost effective venture modding motors- most people wont trust someone that tinkered with a motor that isnt with a machine shop or tractor builder.

Dangeroustoys56 said:

Removing the governer w/o modding the rest of the motor is a bad idea - lawntractor motors were designed for 3600 RPM's - any higher and the motor can explode as well as the cast flywheel shattering - i have pictures somewhere of a cast iron flywheel that exploded on a pulling tractor - it tore the frame of the tractor up, went thru the guy's leg standing next to it and lodged into a steel beam of a nearby barn.

Youd need to invest in very expensive billet flywheels, upgraded internals ( rod, piston, crank)- might as well upgrade the valves.... a few thousand dollars to do it right.

I have a lawntractor that i got free, the PO's son over revved the motor, flywheel didnt explode, but the counterweights broke a nice large hole in the back of the motor.

I dont think itd be a cost effective venture modding motors- most people wont trust someone that tinkered with a motor that isnt with a machine shop or tractor builder.

Click to expand...

It doesn't take any time at all to invest $4000.00 in a racing lawnmower engine.

Yeah upgrading an engine is not an option!

I meant more like upping the rev a little bit and keeping all stock parts, or maybe getting a snowmobile or dirtbike engine and sticking it on. Is that legal and will anyone buy it? Also whats a good shop setup, any specialty tools? :confused2:

For sanctioned events, your engine needs to be based on a lawnmower engine. Of course, if you just want to have fun, you could stick just about anything into anything if you've got the money and talent.:wink: You will still absolutely need chassis,transmission, tire, brake, and steering system improvements , no matter what powerplant you decide on, if you don't want to end up a grisly statistic. Remember that these things were originally designed for about 5 or 6 mph, and are designed to meet that speed target as cheaply as possible. This doesn't bode well for ham-fisted, poorly thought out attempts at making them do 25 to 60 mph or more.:frown: Just my $.02.

Transmission upgrades?!?!?! I know I would have to switch belts to chains... but why transmission? :ashamed: Hmm how should my shop setup be? :confused2:

motorrefurb said:

Transmission upgrades?!?!?! I know I would have to switch belts to chains... but why transmission? :ashamed: Hmm how should my shop setup be? :confused2:

Click to expand...

You'll typically have to at least remove reverse out of the peerless tranny for durability reasons. Also, seals and bearings get upgraded. More info at www.heymow..com
As for shops; the sky is the limit! My dream shop would have a couple of old forklifts, converted to run on electricity to get machines up in the air, a big bench grinder, blast cabinet, powder coating equipment, all the welding equipment, a steel rack, tire machine, lathe, milling machine, small spray paint booth, two or three large MATCO toolboxes with all the hand and power tools, good lighting, heat, painted concrete floor...well, you get the idea by now.
:licking::biggrin::wink:

Benski: "You'll typically have to at least remove reverse out of the peerless tranny for durability reasons."

Yes- good idea. When first had my murray together I tried to find neutral , hit reverse and then forward and flipped the thing over ... on concrete. Ouch.

After that, i used a c clamp to block reverse in the shift gate.

Transmissions should be properly setup as Benski mentioned, to handle the extra speed, depending on what type is being used, some transmissions already come with berings inside them ( i have a couple craftsmans with them in it) , cleaned out and heavy gear oil installed ( seals to hold the oil in).

On my murray i filled the trans with lucas oil, i never had an issue with it.

I have a 700 peerless and a right angle gear box - plan on using them on a couple different machines - those will use straight rear axles.

Shop setup? Skys the limit - youd want a lil of everything , drill presses, cut off saws, tools.

One of my dad's freinds has this huge barn - he's tinkered with cars for years, has his own paint booth, lift , ton of tools and power tools ,welders, even has a loft with a 'man cave' in it . He has like motors, and a bunch of other assorted car parts around .

His shop also has AC and furnace - along with a microwave, fridge, kegerator and gas grille outside.

Dang- i wouldnt even leave the shop if i had something like that.

I'm going to get heat! It gets so cold in the winter and I always get sick from being in the garage in the cold so much. But besides that, I have a computer desk set up, a decent size engine repair desk, a electrical desk, a lot of pegboard space, getting a compressor, 10 screwdrivers, 120 something piece socket set, Ridgid plugin drill, 7" right angle grinder with a ton of cut off wheels that I ordered by accident :tongue: , some pliers, jaw puller, putting a chair by the desks, and hopefully at some point soon, MORE SPACE! :laughing: Like that will ever happen............................:frown:

But anymore projects I can do with my setup for profit? :confused2:

I have been repairing small equipment, motor cycles, ATVs for the last few years as a part time job. If I had to live off of it I would not be able to feed myself much less made any money. Its more a hobby then a job. So what I am saying if you are going to do this to make a living put all you have into it or forget it. Make it a full time business and pay all your taxes and make sure you charge enough to make money at it. Another thing is if you can't afford to advertise you can't afford to be in business. Hope you the best of luck on this.

Mate if you are as cleaver as you say why waste your time building racing mowers ? Heaps of fun for sure but probably not alot of cash in it .. I read an artical online about machine shops starting to specialize in building small engines for junior drag racers I think it said that these guys will drop 5k on an engin and then look for somewhere to spend the change .

I think if you wanted to make something that be fun would be bolt on fule injection..

I would buy that ..

If I wasn't so cheep ..

Marcusk, I wish I could do that, but I have no money :tongue: I am trying to make some cash by doing whatever I can with mowers to make some, and then I will buy some cool tools and make something clever :biggrin: More ideas are more than appreciated!!

Ah I see .

Well I agree with the other guys . Either repair and flip or place and add in you local paper advertising mower repairs. Here in Australia the thing now is people sell service contracts .. I haven't seen them on mowers but for yard care and pools and such so what theydo is say for so many dollars you will go the there house twice a season and service there equipment check belts change oil sharpen or swap blades . This is way better than having them bring things to you because you can charge a premium price and you don't need a workshop . If they have a part that is broken you buy it wholesale and charge them retail and you get to bill them to come back and replace it .. And because you don't have people walking in askingif you have a part you don't lose their business when you don't have it once you have the customs you will have all there business. Just think how much of a pain in the back side it is to take your dirty oily mower to have it serviced worse if it is a ride on . The key is to get them to "purchase the service contract " up front this is the cost for the 2 basic services for theseason one at the start and one half way through.. You will have to figure out what is best for the customer and your back pocket.

In my history as a service person if you. Recommend something to a customer with even the slightest justification 90% of the time they will take that option .

Hi mr bob I just did your mower service and our blades are looking a bit old I can change these for you now for 40 bucks or when I come back for your next service or 30 because ident have to come back ..

O gee mate how bad are they what happens when they get old ?

Well mr bob cutting with blunt blades puts extra load on your machine and causes execess wear and we both know that will shorten the life of your mower ..

And blah blah blah ..



Actualy I might do this here .. Hmmmm

Seems like Mr. Bob doesn't know much about mowers :laughing: Hmmm service contracts..... sounds good, but I like working in shop :ashamed:

motorrefurb said:

Hi guys, I am new to this forum and I am looking for some advice. I have been into building things with engines for a long time now and I can do a lot. I am in need of a job and think now is a good time to put my skills to use. What do you guys think I could do to make money? I was thinking making racing mowers out of typical Craftsman 6-speed lawnmowers, or even making a shifter-kart with a old dirtbike, but it seems as if there is not a good market for that. Any advice is appreciated :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

I'm building these.....
Einachser,Bucher,MAG - YouTube

These are fun and they would probably sell...check them out on You tube


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=PwL3t_sSJd0
Einachser,Bucher,MAG - YouTube

I am Looking for someone to build a front mount Thatcher for me 50 inch's 3 rows of tines swivel wheels in front

Dtchweed said:

I am Looking for someone to build a front mount Thatcher for me 50 inch's 3 rows of tines swivel wheels in front

Click to expand...

If you go to this site and look at the dethatcher here you will see that it is quite easy to remount the tongue and wheels.
I think you can bolt these parts on.
I would help you out but we are so far apart that the shipping would make it very expensive for you.

putterman46 said:

If you go to this site and look at the dethatcher here you will see that it is quite easy to remount the tongue and wheels.
I think you can bolt these parts on.
I would help you out but we are so far apart that the shipping would make it very expensive for you.

Click to expand...

what is the site name?? Thanks Gary

Dtchweed said:

what is the site name?? Thanks Gary

Click to expand...

OOPS I forgot something. Here it is..... Just copy and paste. Those front casters for it are available at Menards, Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply.

Brinly Hardy Dethatcher Tow 48in Width | A.M. Leonard, Inc.