My first Hustler!

[dirtdobber]

Dan,

I'm putting in the mail today 3 planetary gears, 1 sun gear with C clip, and a driven clutch. The bearings in the planetary gears look and feel good, but you will need to clean them out good. They have been laying around and are dirty, so take some carb cleaner and spray the bearings out really good. This should wash out any grit. The driven clutch is ready to go. I took it apart and cleaned it before I ran it, and it has 3 brand new shoes on it.

Good luck.

[Dw89xj]

Dan,

I'm putting in the mail today 3 planetary gears, 1 sun gear with C clip, and a driven clutch. The bearings in the planetary gears look and feel good, but you will need to clean them out good. They have been laying around and are dirty, so take some carb cleaner and spray the bearings out really good. This should wash out any grit. The driven clutch is ready to go. I took it apart and cleaned it before I ran it, and it has 3 brand new shoes on it.

Good luck.

I can't thank you enough dirtdobber, I'm going to try and get the welding finished tomorrow, as well as paint the frame and the parts Martin already had primed. Then I need to figure out if it's worthwhile to have 6 1-1/4" axles made or have new made for the really bad ones. They aren't all horrible but one or two appear to have been welded before and are egged pretty severely, along with the sprockets on those axles. It will be a big investment, I just don't know if it's worth the coin or just upgrade as they break? I think for now the old briggs oppy will be last priority since they are simple enough to rebuild, heavy old beasts though. Thank you again for the help and support, every little bit makes that light at the end shine a bit brighter. Have a great weekend all, I will report back with more later.

[Dw89xj]

The more I think, the more I, uh, think? If the 50 chain is more than adequate, and these machines seem to be somewhat overbuilt, or at least built heavier than a max, is it even worth spending the money on 1-1/4" steel for axles? I know a 1/16" isn't going to change much price wise, until I add sprockets and tube and pay my welder buddy to machine and weld them. These 35+/- year old axles really aren't the worst I've seen in my short experience, but definitely need attention. What kind of steel would you guys recommend? I'm just going to have two at a time made starting with the worst. Then as maintenance comes and bearings need changed I will do the rest.
I'm really glad I learned alot from my max, it's making planning so much smoother. And I'm glad for you guys input and help. Thanks again.

Also, how many hustlers do I need to be a hustlemaniac?🇺🇸😜

[dave phelps]

I use 1144 stress proof shaft material.

[Don]

Bud's 950 race machine (Alice) still has the 1 3/16" axles, which have been extended by 1", plus have 2" spacers at the wheels, putting lots more stress on them. We've only bent one in years of racing, and he's not real gentle with it. I'd guess new 1 3/16" axles would do your 980 fine, especially if you use 1144 steel.

[Dw89xj]

Me being fat is what will probably be hardest on this machine, but I don't see myself ramping or anything like that, full speed on the straights, and the rocky stuff hunting along with mud and snow. I'm probably most prone to trashing an axle in the snow on a hidden stump or rock more than anything, the more I think about it. Thank you very much for the input and advice.

*Edit* I don't mean full speed on the rocky stuff, but that's just some of the terrain that might be a little more stressful.

[Dw89xj]

Woohoo! Got my package from dirtdobber, thank you again over and over. Also got my valve stems in today so the tires and wheels will only take half as much space until they go on the Bigfoot. Slowly but surely this old beast is coming back to life. If I don't hit any major snags I should easily have this one in the woods for Pennsylvania archery. If I'm lucky I can even get in a few ponds before fall.
A member of the fb group for 6x6 reached out to me with a hustler parts machine. He said most everything is rusted tight and it's been out in the weather for a few years but it is complete. He said he thinks it's a 950 but after looking the pictures over I think it may be a 900 based on what I gathered on 6x6world. It has a Kohler k440-2AM. It also has cable shifters. It doesn't appear to be customized from what I can see but my phone screen is like looking through a broken windshield. I am hell on phones, I drop them then in trying to position to pick them up I run them over with my wheelchair. I'm hoping this machine isn't bad because then I will have a machine for my wife to run. If it's in too bad of shape I will likely make a trailer and if there's any good stuff left pass it on to a member in need.

[dirtdobber]

Ha. You're welcome. Does your parts machine have a transmission?

[Dw89xj]

Ha. You're welcome. Does your parts machine have a transmission?

Yes, the down side is he said it feels pretty frozen. I won't know for sure anything until next month, it's another roadtripper, I'm just hoping it's worth the 600 he is asking I hate to make a trip like that to come home empty handed. If nothing else I will meet another 6x6er and knock lake Erie off my bucket list, and work my wife's nerves a little more. She's really hoping it's a savable machine, as I am too but I won't know until I can look it over. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[dirtdobber]

If that machine is all rusted, and the transmission is rusted to the point its stuck, then it probably isn't worth $600 or the road trip to get it. To make it a dependable machine you're looking at a complete overhaul - bearings, chains, frame inspection, transmission (and there's a good chance the drums are rusted beyond use), control cables, etc. You really need some good pics of this machine to see just how rusted it is. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I am trying to make sure you understand the reality of a rusted machine.

[Dw89xj]

If that machine is all rusted, and the transmission is rusted to the point its stuck, then it probably isn't worth $600 or the road trip to get it. To make it a dependable machine you're looking at a complete overhaul - bearings, chains, frame inspection, transmission (and there's a good chance the drums are rusted beyond use), control cables, etc. You really need some good pics of this machine to see just how rusted it is. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I am trying to make sure you understand the reality of a rusted machine.

That does all concern me, although, I don't mind a total restore. The transmission is what I am most worried about because it's really the big piece of the puzzle. And I guess two broken transmission are no better than one broken transmission.
Any 6x6 near me that seem like a good deal are gone almost as soon as they get listed. I may have had a curse or a blessing by this member reaching out to me with this other hustler. I know my max was something that after I bought it I was in way over my head but pushed through til the end. It took alot longer than I wanted but it got done. I made alit of mistakes on that one and spent way too much money. It needed new frame rails bearings chains trans rebuild tires wiring harness and I did a 4 stroke swap. The axles and wheels were good though. But that transmission in this other machine does really concern me. The body looks to be in really decent shape though. I'm really hoping he will let me unhook the cable shift to see if the diamonds will move free and if I can get it to spin by hand.

[Dw89xj]

Pictures of possible parts/project

More pics of possible parts/project machine. I hope it's worth picking up whether it's just for the t20 or if it's solid enough to save.

It's hard for me to tell on my phone screen but the driven clutch looks to be a belt eater, I can't get a zoom in clear enough and the cracked up screen doesn't help.

[dirtdobber]

If you're lucky its been sitting with the plug removed and hopefully things haven't been submerged. Transmission could be ok, but who knows. You're definitely looking at chains and probably bearings and tires. If that is a 2 stroke engine and you want to change over to a 4 stroke, you will either need a different drive clutch or modify the existing.

[Dw89xj]

If you're lucky its been sitting with the plug removed and hopefully things haven't been submerged. Transmission could be ok, but who knows. You're definitely looking at chains and probably bearings and tires. If that is a 2 stroke engine and you want to change over to a 4 stroke, you will either need a different drive clutch or modify the existing.

It's a gamble, but except for meeting Martin for the big foot I've been couped up since October, that's why I figure if nothing else I will at least rude up and see Lake Erie and meet another 6x6er. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed. Unless I find a real good deal closer to home I'm gonna at least look at it.

[Dw89xj]

Despite the off and on rain all day yesterday, I managed to get all six tires mounted, and although crude, I knocked the centers out of the wheels that had plates welded in, I will clean these up before final assembly as the best tools I had on hand to complete this was a set of varibits and a sawzall, but in the end I was able to get the wheels to mount on my crappy little hf tire machine. These tires look like monsters compared to the 22x11-8 on my max ii, and I mocked the body up to match the holes in the wheels and must say it is very clear why it's called a bigfoot lol. I spoke with my best friend and just gonna hold off another two weeks or so to weld the frame, so hopefully he can get his spring gobbler. Then it will be on to big things.
Which axles are you experienced big foot owners finding to be toughest to replace? I figured up that it will be right around $500 in materials for all 6 of the axles, then $35-50 an hour for my welder friends machining and welding expertise, but his work is always top notch and I've always felt good giving him my business. He might be able to get me cheaper prices on materials that's just prices I was finding on average nationwide.