lawn mower rear end?

[pimtool]

Is it possible to weld the rear end of a riding lawn mower?

I have an old mower that i use for snow removal and was wondering if anyone has done this.
Its an old craftsman 11hp rider.
Thanks.

 

[Todd]

Yes you can weld it. We have a cub riding mover, or did with a welded diff.

 

[Will]

Yep, I welded mine. Same as yours. Tears up the grass. Not much good for mowing anymore. Good for bush-hogging though.

You can also buy a tool through Gemplers that will let you fill the tires with fluid through a standard air valve. I filled mine with windshield washer fluid.

 

[koda6966]

Yep, I welded mine. Same as yours. Tears up the grass. Not much good for mowing anymore. Good for bush-hogging though.

You can also buy a tool through Gemplers that will let you fill the tires with fluid through a standard air valve. I filled mine with windshield washer fluid.

...why windshield washer fluid?

 

[wahlstrom1]

Glycol, doesn't freeze and blow your tires off the rims.

 

[np24]

the added weight helps with traction.
windshield washer fluid doesn't freeze and is only like $2 a gallon vs about $10 for antifreeze.

 

[Will]

Yep, and windshield washer fluid doesn't eat rubber. I put it in in 2000 and it's still there. I've never even checked the air pressure. You put 10psi over the fluid and that's it.

 

[koda6966]

Ah. I see. I figured it was something to do with freezing after I posted.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think a mower with a welded rear and someone sitting over the rear tires will be reluctant to do anything but go straight in low traction conditions.

Never done it with a lawn mower, but loading the rear tires of a tractor makes a world of difference. Chains help too, probably even more than fluid on snow.

 

[littleme13]

i know this is a little old but i was looking for lawn mower info. if you have a live(solid)axle in a lawn mower no mater what the traction is you can not turn, doesnt matter if your goin 5mph or 40mph. darn things just wanna go straight. and yes i have done 40+ on my lawn mower was actually over 45 before i ran out of road.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i know this is a little old but i was looking for lawn mower info. if you have a live(solid)axle in a lawn mower no mater what the traction is you can not turn, doesnt matter if your goin 5mph or 40mph. darn things just wanna go straight.

I would believe it, the only thing I have been around with a locker is my dad's 4020 tractor, and with the engine out of a 4430 diesel it is probably a little more nose heavy than a riding lawn mower. It will usually just spin a back tire when you try to turn sharp.

 

[Will]

Well, I could turn just fine with my rear axle welded. I had ATV tires on the rear and about 40# of weight plates on the front so I could go up the hillside without flipping over backwards. If you can't steer you just need to load up the front tires more.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I would believe it, the only thing I have been around with a locker is my dad's 4020 tractor, and with the engine out of a 4430 diesel it is probably a little more nose heavy than a riding lawn mower. It will usually just spin a back tire when you try to turn sharp.

Our Case has a locker and once it's engaged it's almost impossible to turn, even with copious amounts of front end weight... It just digs the front tires over the ground...

 

[Jrod-13]

The cub cadet I had with the welded rear turned just fine, even with my 330lb ass on the back.. even on black top it would turn just fine, you just had to lean to the outside a bit.. that helped alot.

The only real issue was in the snow, with chains on the rear.. But airing down the front tires would help a bit.

that, and, well, you can start breaking stuff in the rearend.. Like I did..