t-20 twist in the husler

[structureman]

Greetings Gentlemen,
i am still in the rebuild process of my huslter, its not quite there yet...has anyone experienced the t-20 twisting in the frame to the point where the belt is misaligned. Last winter climbing on a frozen slippery bare hill - while spinning the tracks walked/jumped over and into the tires digging in and locking the whole thing up. The excessive torqueing while bound must have caused the trans to twist. im thinking now to heat and straighten and add some top braces to hold the t-20 on top as well. Any thoughts?

[hydromike]

Believe it or not, it's a pretty common malady. The T20 mount in my 980 was tweaked horribly. When I took the machine and went through it, I straightened it back up, and braced the bajesus out of it. I don't think I took a picture of it, but I tied the two sides of the cradle together in three spots, connected the cradle to the frame a bit better beneath, and incorporated an addition to the mount that uses the top two front T-20 mounting holes. It really holds it a lot better.

I know that JP and Raceronethree have done basically the same thing on their mounts. If you can take the transmission out and straighten the existing mount out the best you can, weld in some additional supports to stop the flexing/twisting. It's tough to do with the frame in the body, but you can do it.

[racerone3]

Yep, seems to be a common Hustler thing. On the 950 I had, one of the mounting bolts was sheared off flush with the case.

In my 980, the trans was ripped right out of the frame. all bolt holes in the case were destroyed, and the mount on the frame was beat! After replacing the case, and beefing up the lower mount, I added an upper structure to take advantage of those bolts too.

[gearhead1937]

I know I've seen a pic of someone who put their t-20 in a romovable craddle. Looked pretty strong, I think it had turnbuckles to tighten it down and everything.

[hydromike]

In my 980, the trans was ripped right out of the frame. all bolt holes in the case were destroyed, and the mount on the frame was beat!

When I picked up my 980, the transmission was held in with a ratchet strap.

A *ratchet strap*, for goodness sake.

[cclingma]

I'm working on a 980 with similar tranny issues. Mine originally had four bottom studs and used the two mounting holes on the passenger side top. I beefed up the original cradle a little that also let me get the bottom mounting holes back to original position and not all slopped out. I then added a 1" by 1/8" metal band that goes over the top center of the trans and bolts to the original cradle in front of and behind it. I'm hoping this will hold it down. I read somewhere that somebody else used the band method. Anybody have any experience with that trick or think it will/will not work?

[racerone3]

I'm working on a 980 with similar tranny issues. Mine originally had four bottom studs and used the two mounting holes on the passenger side top. I beefed up the original cradle a little that also let me get the bottom mounting holes back to original position and not all slopped out. I then added a 1" by 1/8" metal band that goes over the top center of the trans and bolts to the original cradle in front of and behind it. I'm hoping this will hold it down. I read somewhere that somebody else used the band method. Anybody have any experience with that trick or think it will/will not work?

I'm pretty sure Jerseybigfoot is using the same method in his 950. He loaned it to me on a Busco night ride a few years ago and all the original bolts worked their way out, but the trans was still held in well enough to limp it back to camp... although making some awful noises

[Dan67]

I think all hustler owners have had this issue at one time or another. My 950 was constantly working itself loose in the cradle and wallowed the bolt slots out. Mine was upgraded to 1/4" hardened steel plate, slotted out like the factory mount. Welded uprights made from more 1/4" hardened steel plate with top bars to fully hold the twisting T-20 in its place.

[FarwestHustler]

Well, I tried a somewhat "strange" fix that was only atempted due to lack of bugdet and time... a water heater earthquake strap cut down to size and ran under the cradle and up over the center of the t20. Holding up pretty well. I can hear it now... "a water heater strap!" Yup... $10 an hour doesn't buy much else.