It's so nice and bright in your garage.
So with the tensioners- what happens to the original tensioners that is bad? I just have zero experience with thrashing on a Hustler. Do they just twist and go out of adjustment or what? I need to fix whatever the problem is now, not after paint!
I don't have any experience with them, as this is a first for me. The originals look weak in that they rely on that little threaded plate to hold them in place. My C channels were bent so I could tell they had problems in the past.
20160718_205122[1].jpg20160718_211332[1].jpgSlowly but surely making progress. Got the frame and axles in along with 5 of the 6 chains. Set the engine in last night and breathed a sigh of relief when it fit. I was afraid it would hit the back of the tub but I have about an inch of clearance. Still haven't made a decision on tires/wheels. Have to get key switch, amp gauge, build wiring harness, get choke and throttle cables....all I lack is finishing!
Looking sharp
ST400R ATTEX(Smiley)
500 Super Chief
I love the smell of Blendzall in the morning
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Still slowly making progress, but here's what I've done since the last post:
Fabbed up a front bumper
Built wiring harness (new key switch, amp gauge, all wires and connections, rectifier)
Got headlight covers polished up and reinstalled
Rims sandblasted and painted
Got some Rawhide III's to go on it
In the process of fabbing the floor pans and exhaust system. I'm going to add a partial body band that will wrap around the front. I'm adding a winch and I will feel better if it is anchored to the bumper and body band, since it all plastic.
Got the rawhides mounted (it took 30+ psi to seat them) and made me a tire caliper to get each tire's diameter just right.
Tire Caliper.jpg
Getting pretty close to riding.
Close to finished.jpg
I had some carpet left over from a pontoon boat project..... I may be the only goober with carpeted floorpans in a machine that lives in the mud.
Finally finished!!!! Its been a slow process but this thing will boogie!! Here's some shots of the finished product.
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Had a little debacle with the fuel tank, but thanks to ArgoJim it's all good.
To recap, this machine has:
New transmission bearings, seals and thrust washers
New drive clutch and belt
New engine mounting plate and vibration isolators
12 new wheel bearings
New Rawhide III's
New wiring harness, new key switch, new amp gauge, new solenoid, new battery
New fuel line, shutoff valve, filter
New bumper and partial body band
New winch
33 feet of new chain
6 new chain tension idlers
New throttle and choke cables
New floorboards with luxurious carpet
New padded front seat bottom and back
Powered by a twin opposed cylinder 20 horse Briggs.
Now, when I get my 4 wheeler fixed, me and my boy are going down the road to the Sardis Lake recreational area for a ride!! I'm sure I'll have some fine tuning to do after a good ride.
Sardis Lake, now your talking my language for some crappie fishing / feast, as well as a ride in a nicely restored Hustler.
She turned out nice, after a ride or 2 you could rejuvenate the upper body with a heat gun to loose the chalky fade. I'd take it easy on any ditches until you find the angle that exhaust may hit. Great job on the seat.
My new beer holder spilled some on the trails - in it's hair and down it's throat.
Joe Camel never does that.
Advice is free, it's the application that costs.
Nice work! You should have a machine now that will give you lots of trouble free riding. Have fun with it.
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