[leolav]

What is the best item that you have added to your largely stock lawn and garden tractor to improve your machine? Performance, comfort, safety, maintentance or other.

My favorites are a hour meter and gator blades, I already had a cup holder.

 

[tisenberg]

Best thing added... for performance: Gas

I haven't messed with mine yet to add anything other than the bagger (which works AWESOME) and the plow (unknown, haven't used it).

 

[guest]

no way... The best thing is the chrome, man!!! if only i had a rear view mirror i could put some dice up...

 

[leolav]

You think you have chrome, check out my avatar. I got the cost today on what its gonna cost me to get the chrome redone on that thing. About $2,300 for all of it, including polishing my stainless steel hood and trunk lid pieces!!

You Simp looks too cool with the dog dish hubcaps. really clean too.

 

[guest]

2300$ Jeezuz thats a lot of chrome...

 

[PeteNM]

Electric lift, ATV tires and conversion from hand to foot controls on my GT 3000.

 

[Argee]

:truth:
Bearings on the front axle spindles; exhaust pipe to reroute exhaust gases out the back of the tractor; oil pressure gauge; improved throttle control on Kohler V-Twins; adjustable carbs.

 

[tisenberg]

Argee... tell me more of the exhaust re-route.

 

[Argee]

Re: Exhaust reroute

tisenberg,

Basically, it's taking your exhaust pipes where they lead into the muffler and extending them through or under the frame to exhaust out the back. You'd have to break them somewhere along the route to install a muffler.

 

[Styx]

Here's one I'm interested in doing.

http://www.p.f.engineering.50megs.com/

 

[JerryO]

PeteNM added: "conversion from hand to foot controls"

and

Argee added: "Bearings on the front axle spindles"


Both of these would be tempting.

Can either of you add a little detail so I could try to add these.


JerryO

 

[PeteNM]

JerryO

I really didn't have any problems with the hand controls and they work fine. However I've got lots of trees to mow around and most of the work I do with my tractor requires the use of my hands (moving limbs, hand held spraying, moving dirt and rock).

I unbolted the OEM controls and built foot controls mounted on the right running board much like OEM. I had to build a lever to replace the removed hand control that would attach to a adjustable rod connteted to the foot pedal. It wasn't much of a project and if I were only mowing an open area I wouldn't have bothered. I can bolt the original OEM back like new should I decide to sell it. It works well for me. I suppose you could buy replacement parts for a different model instead of making your own. I had the job finished before they would have arrived.

Sorry, I dont' have any pix, yet.......

 

[Argee]

Re: Bearings on the front axle spindles

JerryO,

I personally haven't done it, but I saw some progressive pictures of it being done on a Case GT site. As I recall, they welded tapered stub shafts to the existing assemblies and used tapered bearings similar to automotive.

My guess is something like that would add maybe $50 - $75 to a new machine, and would be one hell of a selling feature. I know I would have popped even $100 for something like that, especially after seeing the problems, I believe it was leolav, had on one of his machines.

 

[PeteNM]

Originally posted by Styx
Here's one I'm interested in doing.

http://www.p.f.engineering.50megs.com/

Styx

These are interesting attachments that I've considered myself, at least a front end loader. IMHO these Sears tractors have front ends that are a bit lite duty for real heavy work that I'd do. Some other brands make much heavier ones. However since I make buckets anyway I have considered a loader. As mentioned in the post from Agree, they should have at least had bearings, and heavier spindles new. His thoughts on bearings are still a good idea for just mowing. Seems to me it would extend the life of the tractor.

I'm turning out new spindles in the lathe for bearing use. I've about decided to buy a Skidsteer for the heavier work when I find one worth the price.

 

[tjw in kans]

oil pressure gauge

anyone added an oil pressure to their gt5k with kohler motor? i have the electronic gauge purchased, just waiting to take the tractor out of service to install. the sender is about the size of a golf ball, just curious about clearance problems if i use the stock mounting hole in the motor. thanks.

 

[Styx]

Pete, you might be right about the front end being to light. The front end loader is what I was interested in too. I have a 97 Craftsman GT hydro I was considering adding a loader to. The PF Engineering web site shows some spindle upgrades that can beef up the front end. I'm just no sure if that will be enough for my Craftsman.

Maybe a older JD or Cub GT would be a better platform to work from. Something with a heavier front end.

 

[leolav]

That would be a great upgrade. I know I would use it all the time. The spindles and axle would be my greatest concerns.

I have toyed with that idea for some time, and probably will attempt it next summer.

I did however finish my dump cart last week. Uses a hand pump I found at the scrap yard and a piston (also found at the scrap yard. Welded them in place and they worked awesome. Total cost was around $15.

 

[tjw in kans]

reply to old post re: add ons

got my electronic oil pressure gauge and adapter to install, waiting to get out of the 0 degree deepfreeze here to install, also would be interested in running the exhaust off both front header pipes out the back side with no muffler, i read on another site it sounds better than a harley, only problem i cant find flexible exhaust tubing less than 1 1/2 inch diameter. i would love the noise as long as it was behind me. anyone done any other add ons yet?

 

[Juggler]

The last thing I picked up for my WH was a clevis hitch. Haven't installed it yet. I'd like to get a Brinley back blade to drag limestone this spring/summer. I'd like to make a pad to set my travel trailer on, next to the garage.

 

[Ingersoll444]

Missed this thred the first time.

Number one best add on??? AG tires. Now I can go places where it wold just spin before.

Number two?? Wheel weights.Why?? see number 1