Another resurrected Hustler...

[Hazard85]

Well I am officially a 6x6 owner as of today. I picked up this project for $100, and had to drive about an hour to get it. It has no engine, one broken axle (Right Rear), and a bad case of rusty frame. I'm hoping that some of you will be able to tell me what model it is, as well as how to find the year (I'm sure there is a serial number on it somewhere). The original engine was a single cylinder Kohler 4 stroke. This is going to be a frame-out job, with all new chains and bearings.

[Stonewall]

I think that the models with the Kohler K341 (the 4 stroke single you speak of...) were the 950 and the 945. I don't know how to tell the difference, but your frame is different from my 950. It's probably an earlier model that had the yellow K341. I happen to have a K341 I'll sell you if you want one, I'm about an hour and a half from Memphis. Is that set up for a split shift? Could you post up some more pictures of the shift linkage?

[Hazard85]

The original engine is yellow, so it could be the K341. What was the HP rating on that? I would like to run around 18hp. Here are a few more pics of the shift linkage, as well as the broken axle. Yes, it is set up for split shift; I was surprised to see that.

[turtlecrawler]

Hazard85......Nice project you have there.....I do believe you beat me in the rust department but I think we might call it even after all the grease, oil, mud ,trees, leaves and critters I am cleaning out of my little rig.......LOL

[mudbug3]

The original engine is yellow, so it could be the K341. What was the HP rating on that? I would like to run around 18hp. Here are a few more pics of the shift linkage, as well as the broken axle. Yes, it is set up for split shift; I was surprised to see that.

I,m pretty sure that the yellow engine is a 16 hp model.

[Hazard85]

Haha yeah we'll call it even. How capable would it be with the original 16hp? The PO still has the original engine; he removed it to power a welder, but never did.

[Stonewall]

Mudbug is right, the K341s (both yellow and red) are 16 HP stock. There are some pretty slick performance mods out there though...

[Hazard85]

I'm pretty sure there is a way to coax 2hp out of a K341...

[jpswift1]

I'm pretty sure there is a way to coax 2hp out of a K341...

There certainly is. 6X6World member, Meinfeld ran a K341 Kohler in his Hustler 980 BIGFOOT for a little while. He built it up a little and I believe it was somewhere in the 20HP range, so it's certainly do-able.

[Hazard85]

I have read a few posts about people going from 21x11x8 tires to sizes up to 25". I'm guessing this will work on mine? There doesn't seem to be a lot of clearance, though. I'll have to replace my 8" rims with 9"...any suggestions?

[turtlecrawler]

Hazard85.....I too have seen on different threads that people have gone with 25" tires.....my concern is tires are not cheap and I don't want to buy the wrong size. I will be going with 24" tires this should give me enough room not to rub when driving at faster speeds.....not sure I am thinking correct but it makes sence to me right now....lol

[Hazard85]

That makes sense to me.

[mudbug3]

Brandon Price mounted some 24" inch ,Carlisle tires on a Max II. He told me that at faster speeds the tires would heat up and grow. This caused him to make lots of steering corrections , because when ever the tires touched , the Max would change directions.

[Bazooo guy]

Bigger tires put more stress on the drivetrain.
I'd keep that in mind during the build.

[Stonewall]

I'll be putting 25" Vampires on mine, the Hustler axles are spaced enough to run 27's but only if you have a 980 tub. There are a couple of other members with 25's on their 950s. I think that they also had 1/2" spacers though.