John Deere Snowmobile Lawnmower

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:11 pm

Hey all,
I'm sure you have all seen the photoshop picture of the JD lawnmower with skis and a track, well, I am making one! I now have a cleated '79 trailfire track, and 2 skid frames, from either that trailfire or a first gen liquifire, a complete 1980 liquifire 440 engine, a 210 JD Lawnmower, and a trailfire and liquifire tunnel. I plan on chopping a tunnel down, and mounting the JD 210 lawnmower body on it, while reusing the front steering system from the lawnmower. Anyone actually seen this done before? I am in design stages right now and I have all the major components, so I am looking for any feedback in the form of ideas that could make this project turn out really well. I will be having all the parts powder coated JD green at my work and I have access to pro-e, mill, lathe, brake, roll, and laser cut parts from 20ga to 1", so there is no reason why this should not work!
Thanks guys, look forward to seeing what you have to say!

Attachments:

deere_2.jpg (17.33 KB)

tmartin · Post by **tmartin** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:47 pm

What type of steering system does your lawnmower have? I would not suggest using a rack and pinion setup or anything similar for that matter for safety sake. I would either use handlebars and a system like a snowmobile or use the steering wheel with a system like a snowmobile. It would be awkward trying to corner and having to turn the steering a full turn or what ever it is. If this were my project thats what I would do...but its not. Just my two cents worth. Good luck!

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:53 pm

That's a good point and I have been thinking about it, I would like to keep the steering wheel for looks and novelty, but I agree, the steering on it is loose, but I do not have it in my garage yet so I don't know what type of steering it has in it. Either way, I don't think I will go all that fast on it, prob get the lowest gearing I can so it can pull and not tempt me to kill myself at 60mph on a lawnmower!

kenwaters · Post by **kenwaters** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:53 pm

wycrumb,

I like the idea of using a late model setup say out of a crash sled, (similar to the photochop) cruising around a vintage sled show with that one of a kind creation would be neat. I don't think it's so hot of an idea to consume a trailfire track for the project. Obviously the thing wouldn't be trail friendly, but a foot pedal for gas and one for braking would keep the hands free to navigate the wheel. This would be real cool with some vintage Cat clothing, say the purple shag coat!

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 5:15 pm

Well I know a good trailfire track might be better used elsewhere and has alot of value to us JD guys, so I would entertain the idea of trading it on a newer one, worn but not shot, like a 121 x 15, I also like the idea of a newer suspension for it with more travel, but I am just looking at using what I have available. Let me know if any of you guys have a used track and maybe a used suspension, or parts of one that you would like to trade!

Rodimus Prime · Post by **Rodimus Prime** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:44 pm

actually using track setup from a 300 ( bogie wheel ) would be a bit better. If its just a showy ornanment in winter to make people turn heads there is some other short tracks available. showy ornament you could hide a fair amount of track in the mower deck if done right.

The photoshop pic looks cool i like the front suspenion since thats actually possible the back inst though.

That is doable overall however an aluminum frame would have to be made the wieght would make steering an arm killer.

The steering would be unique anyways.

Mr. Deere · Post by **Mr. Deere** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:51 pm

Can't wait to see this complete.

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:55 pm

I would like to keep the track up inside the tunnel from drive axle to the back, and then have a modified skid frame with lots of travel, like the picture, but it all depends on the length of track and how it all looks. As for finding a short track, that would prob. be out of my budget as this is only going to be a winter ornament, and maybe a workhorse of sorts with low gearing.

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:23 am

Hi all,
Time for a quick update, I have begun laying things out for this project. I am planning on using most of the LF including steering and rear suspension. I have most of my parts for it and I will be putting alot of the LF together so I know exactly what I need to work around. Anyone know if I can use a suspension out a '79 trailfire with a kamoplast replacement LF track?
More to come....

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:57 pm

I belive it can/has been done by drilling new hole for the suspension and swapping out the drive shaft to the 3.29? pitch sprockets. If you search I have seen the measurements on here somewhere

Liquifire 4/6 · Post by **Liquifire 4/6** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:34 pm

wycrumb wrote:. I plan on chopping a tunnel down, and mounting the JD 210 lawnmower body on it, while reusing the front steering system from the lawnmower. Anyone actually seen this done before?
Attachments:
deere_2.jpg (17.33 KB)

This is gonna be an awesome project. I think the steering box on your 210 is very similar to the old 110 model. If so, they are a pretty rugged box with about 1.8 turn lock to lock. I used a 110 steering box on the twin track groomer I built and it seems to work very well. I did completely rebuild the steering box with all new components before I installed it. Here's a couple pics of how I have it mounted.

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:36 am

Thanks for the info guys, I already have some LF drivers so no worry there, I am also looking at giving the rear end more clearance, maybe it will be fairly easy to do? Aside from maybe adding brackets to lower the mounting holes on the suspension, I would like to make some different arms that would be longer. Anyone done this? I also have a set of coil-over shocks from my motorcycle that I could work into it.
As for the steering, Thanks for the info Liquifire 4/6 but I decided to keep it more simple than the original plan (above in this topic). I am sticking with the LF steering setup, that way my only limit of speed is how fast I can go without tipping over (higher center of gravity), and everything will fit in the tight space around the motor. This will also make the throttle and brake lever issues go away. I have found that the area where you normally have the clutch and brake petals on the mower will have to be cut away for the chaincase and secondary clutch.
As always, shoot me your ideas if you have any.
I will be posting pics on my snapfish site and vintagesledders.com as the project progresses.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare ... =snapfish/

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:45 pm

Hey guys, I find it dificult to post pistures on this site because I have to resize them all, so if you are interested in seeing my progress on this project just follow this link! http://www.vintagesledders.com/forums/i ... opic=966.0
Enjoy!

Mr. Deere · Post by **Mr. Deere** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:50 pm

Holy Cow!!! Nice work.

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:45 am

Hey guys, also made this to aid in storage and working on my sleds. Made it out of a free power rack a fitness store was giving away, 2x3x11ga. tubing. Rolls right over my 300 in the garage.

(Does this image get cut in half for everyone or just me?)

Was made from this....