New hustler project - bucket of bolts

[dirtdobber]

I've bitten the bullet and joined the ranks of Hustler project owners. I bought it literally as a bucket of bolts - a big plastic tub full of parts - so I have no operating history. Even the transmission was all to pieces. BUT, thanks to this site I've gotten a quick and great education. I have a few questions if someone out there knows the answer...

First, what model is this?20160321_175036_resized.jpg20160321_175013_resized.jpg20160321_175050_resized.jpg20160321_175104_resized.jpg20160321_175129_resized.jpg

Next, has anyone installed a Briggs 20 horse opposed engine (not v-twin) in one of these machines. This engine has never been installed but my my measurements its going to be really tight!

[dirtdobber]

20160321_182451_resized.jpg20160321_182451_resized.jpg
My next question relates to transmissions. Someone left this T20 in water and one of the drums is pitted pretty bad (see pic). Others are slightly pitted. Does anyone know the tolerances for turning the drums. How small can the diameter become before the bands are unadjustable? I measured the bands last night and I have about .030 inches of liner material on them.

[Dan67]

I've bitten the bullet and joined the ranks of Hustler project owners. I bought it literally as a bucket of bolts - a big plastic tub full of parts - so I have no operating history. Even the transmission was all to pieces. BUT, thanks to this site I've gotten a quick and great education. I have a few questions if someone out there knows the answer...

First, what model is this?[ATTACH=CONFIG]14509[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14508[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14510[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14511[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14512[/ATTACH]

Next, has anyone installed a Briggs 20 horse opposed engine (not v-twin) in one of these machines. This engine has never been installed but my my measurements its going to be really tight!

Congrats on what looks to be a 950 model.. HDPE body, and a good condition rear seat/ engine cover. the original engine was an opposed head 18hp briggs. look to make sure you have the engine mount. should kinda look like this.. mine is modified from stock.

[Andyman]

Sweet project keep us up dated

[Mike]

Congratulations on the Hustler. That drum looks to be well past the salvageable stage as far as just turning it down. I believe one member had the drums turned down and then welded a sleeve onto the outside of the drum. They then turned the sleeve down to the proper diameter. Another member msafi65 was looking into welding the drums and then turning them back down but I don't remember if he ever got that far. Unless you just like projects like that, it would probably be better for you to post a wanted ad in the forum for the drums that you need. If you need more than one or two, you may be better off buying a used T20. They can be picked up in the $500 range.

[dirtdobber]

Thanks for the info guys. Dan, my machine has no engine mounting plate whatsoever, so I'll have to fab one.

Mike, I've thought about trying to pick up a different tranny, but I might instead weld it up and turn it back down. The worst is the spot in the photo. Coincidentally, it looks like someone did a partial repair on that spot before. It looks like it was filled and turned. Surprisingly, the drum material is quite soft (meaning a file will cut it pretty easily). I'll let ya'll know what happens.

[dirtdobber]

Miracle tool....
Was having a great deal of trouble unfreeze the sprockets from the axles. All the heat map gas would generate was no good.
I took an air Chinle and scored the hubs and they loosened up wonderfully. You don't have to score very deep.

[dirtdobber]

Sorry. That's supposed to be air chisle.

[xbunsenx]

Congrats on what looks to be a 950 model.. HDPE body, and a good condition rear seat/ engine cover. the original engine was an opposed head 18hp briggs. look to make sure you have the engine mount. should kinda look like this.. mine is modified from stock.

Dan,
Where did you get those isolation pads?

[dirtdobber]

Here's what I accomplished Friday
Frame body.jpg

And I was not excited to find the tub busted, I had to learn to weld plastic right quick, which I did today.
Tub crack 1.jpgTbu crack 4.jpgTub crack 5.jpg

Luckily, my machine had a piece of scrap plastic bolted behind the dash that I used as a donor for my filler material. I wonder if they all came with this??

[Dan67]

Dan,
Where did you get those isolation pads?

I got the isolation pads second hand from a friend who worked at a machine shop. They got them from McMaster-Carr.

I use a pad on the bottom and on the top of the engine mount and tighten it down. It works good sofar, been on there for about 3+ years now.

[Mike]

Nice work filling in the hole. You remedied that issue pretty quickly.

[dirtdobber]

Thanks Mike. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

[dirtdobber]

Got the T20 together and i modified the case to accept a bolt for the U channel pivot point. I am a little concerned because the plungers are pretty deep in the case (recessed from the face), about half to 3/4 of an inch and they are pulled forward. Is it possible to put it together with a band overlapping itself? I can always crack it back open if I need to double check. I'll try to post a pic tomorrow.

Soon to be headed to the sandblaster with the frame. I can't upload a pic right now for some reason.....

[Dan67]

Make sure you get the frame cracks repaired afterwards, You wont see they until its clean. Also once it is clean would be a good time to reinforce the stock t-20 mounting holes. They get loose after time and is a major weak point. Go through the other hustler rebuild topics to get some ideas.