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As promised, here is the rundown on my restoration project.I must start by saying that this was not my first amphib project.Several years ago I restored a Max IV and put a 1/8" aluminum skid plate on it,that ran the full length of the tub from just under the lights to the rear trailer hitch.I didn't consider that the recessed area between the tub chain channels would make that much difference in the machines performance.-WRONG-
[If there was one smilie dummie-kicking another I would put it here butwill have to do]It was easier to make it flat than to bend it or cut and have someone weld it (I now have a Lincoln Mig , but I'm still not set up to do aluminum) I had a hustler 950 at that time and for some reason (I think it was because there was more room in the max ;my wife and I have triplets)I went with restoring the max.Anyhow to make a long story even longer I sold them both to a guy for $2600 to get in on a sweet land deal with two of my brothers.Well that went down the creek,the land was very prone to flooding and I found myself without a toy or land 
so I bought a Honda 4x4.I missed the Tank and vowed to one day amphib again.
A few years and a different job later ;while dropping off one of the guys from work,I saw this dejected looking 950 Hustler basket case sitting under a shed.I exercised considerable restraint and made no inquiry as to its disposition or buyability.Then while telling some of the guys at work about the Max IV Tank a new hire told me about this 6x6 near my home.Turns out that it was the same one and I bought it for $150 what a bargain...right.
I started the rebuild with a frame-out cleaning to see what I had and what I would need.Here is a list of new stuff:
1 - 6 22" rawhideIII's (shoulda got 22.5 vampires at least)
2 - all chain
3 - 8 sprockets ( only 2 were useable )
4 - all bearings ( don't even try to reuse old ones except as emergency
spares )
5 - wiring harness
6 - choke cable
7 - spark plugs for the 18hp briggs ( not new )
8 - new coil ( this went out while in a swamp near home-heavy rain eminent-
emergency parts run, my friend laughed so hard I told him his butt was
gonna fall off and someone would have to go in the swamp to get
it
9 - hour meter
10- amp guage
11- bilge pump
12- warn 3000rt winch
13- drive belt
14- fuel lines ,filter , primer bulb
15- light switch
16- key ignition switch
17- carberator rebuild kit
18- re-man trannie from Richard Clarke
and the other bolts,nuts washers and so on...
Now for the upgrades.I have stated in other posts that I had the frame in and out several times-5 or 6- I think.This was so I could check angles, dimensions,fit and so on for my winch/brushguard bracing and also the yoke to attach my dozer/brushcutting blades.Also to weld up the pieces for the Boncrshr chain tensioners;these are a must have.Then the "Quarter of Fate"
(heads ye shall--tails ye shall not) well anyway mine decreed that I should build a split shifter so I did.It uses but does not change the original shift handle and works by pulling a seperate lever/cable which seperates a mechanism on a heavier linkage crossbar.
Then a combination winch mount/brushguard was attached to a full circumference angle iron band and the machine was assembled.A few adjustments here and there and after 14 months or so of work, at 9:40 pm on a saturday night and no seats or floor boards (those were done the next day) I became amphibious again!!! I sure wish there was a mad scientist/evil genius/maniacal laughter smilie to put here! good riding to all...Brushcutter out.
[If there was one smilie dummie-kicking another I would put it here butwill have to do]It was easier to make it flat than to bend it or cut and have someone weld it (I now have a Lincoln Mig , but I'm still not set up to do aluminum) I had a hustler 950 at that time and for some reason (I think it was because there was more room in the max ;my wife and I have triplets)I went with restoring the max.Anyhow to make a long story even longer I sold them both to a guy for $2600 to get in on a sweet land deal with two of my brothers.Well that went down the creek,the land was very prone to flooding and I found myself without a toy or land so I bought a Honda 4x4.I missed the Tank and vowed to one day amphib again.A few years and a different job later ;while dropping off one of the guys from work,I saw this dejected looking 950 Hustler basket case sitting under a shed.I exercised considerable restraint and made no inquiry as to its disposition or buyability.Then while telling some of the guys at work about the Max IV Tank a new hire told me about this 6x6 near my home.Turns out that it was the same one and I bought it for $150 what a bargain...right.
I started the rebuild with a frame-out cleaning to see what I had and what I would need.Here is a list of new stuff:
1 - 6 22" rawhideIII's (shoulda got 22.5 vampires at least)
2 - all chain
3 - 8 sprockets ( only 2 were useable )
4 - all bearings ( don't even try to reuse old ones except as emergency
spares )
5 - wiring harness
6 - choke cable
7 - spark plugs for the 18hp briggs ( not new )
8 - new coil ( this went out while in a swamp near home-heavy rain eminent-
emergency parts run, my friend laughed so hard I told him his butt was
gonna fall off and someone would have to go in the swamp to get
it
9 - hour meter
10- amp guage
11- bilge pump
12- warn 3000rt winch
13- drive belt
14- fuel lines ,filter , primer bulb
15- light switch
16- key ignition switch
17- carberator rebuild kit
18- re-man trannie from Richard Clarke
and the other bolts,nuts washers and so on...
Now for the upgrades.I have stated in other posts that I had the frame in and out several times-5 or 6- I think.This was so I could check angles, dimensions,fit and so on for my winch/brushguard bracing and also the yoke to attach my dozer/brushcutting blades.Also to weld up the pieces for the Boncrshr chain tensioners;these are a must have.Then the "Quarter of Fate"
(heads ye shall--tails ye shall not) well anyway mine decreed that I should build a split shifter so I did.It uses but does not change the original shift handle and works by pulling a seperate lever/cable which seperates a mechanism on a heavier linkage crossbar.
Then a combination winch mount/brushguard was attached to a full circumference angle iron band and the machine was assembled.A few adjustments here and there and after 14 months or so of work, at 9:40 pm on a saturday night and no seats or floor boards (those were done the next day) I became amphibious again!!! I sure wish there was a mad scientist/evil genius/maniacal laughter smilie to put here! good riding to all...Brushcutter out.
I also liked your version of a split shifter. Even though its made quite different from the factory split shifter that came on the Hustler Big foot I bought , it still works the same in function , and thats what counts.
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