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I can't help but agree chaps, it's nice doing a joint project and even cooler that the person in question is Nigelwith the same warped thinking when it come to fun builds... I think we have spent hours just standing back looking with a big grin.. Horse Gut just looks so right A bit of an update for you all. The steel rod that holds the pedals in place was missing so a new one had to be made. To make it easier the engine was taken out. Working out the length of the new rod. A posh tractor this Horse Gut, it has fiddle brakes on the rear Clutch pedal and the brake linkage on the left side. Nigel cut down and re-welded the Gutbrod fender pan mounts yesterday.. Which got the new fender pan sitting closer to the wheels, it won't sit perfect until I straighten the fender pan out as it's rather dented and twisted.. But it was free

Wow, quite a conversation.... Th uni-drive patent refers to the combined 3 speed transmission and reverse. I've not heard of the autos being referred to as unidrive, but equally wouldn't be surprised if they all fell under the same name... Think Hoover! Personally I would go for an 8 speed, less prone to failure and easier to pull apart. You can rebuild one in a weekend with a few bearings and seals. A hydro can be a pita, and they take some knowledge and patience, a few of us have pulled them apart. Agree with Alain though a good hydro is great, however a weak hydro is not. They can leak, groan, lose power when warm...

Ive been using a mid 70s Raider 12 with 8 speed unidrive manual transmission and find it more than capable for ploughing, I'm just about to set up another C series to do the job with the Kohler 8hp engine and 3 speed unidrive transmission. This is only my opinion I've never used a hydro box simply because i was warned off them and quite happy with the manual tranny. At the end of the day its a matter of choice

Hi all, I've just found myself this old BSA unit. I'm trying to figure out what it would of been used for as the fuel tank sits high and unusually it has no recoil but a kick start. Any ideas out there?

I think it is funny as well. Interpreting it and considering how it was meant are different than how it is taken and how to react to it. I try to wear it as a badge of honor bestowed by one that might not have as much knowledge as myself, or may have more, but simply likes to cut to the chase and not expound on the discussion. It means for one reason or another I have slowed the brain and revved the mouth, lol

have you ever had a stick shift car or van alain? i would say 99% of ours are over here

I think jackass is really funny or am I misinterpreting the word jackass

alain i have to be honest and say i've never had a hydro on the workbench and don't know all there is to know about them, what i do know is that the pulling comunity prefer the geared trannys for shear pulling power. anyway, imma go shut up now and do some research on the subject

Just a point while on the subject of trans. If possible, get the rear wheels clear of the ground and see if you can lift each wheel. If you can, then the needle roller bearings are worn. That could lead to big problems. See my C120 refurb thread.

I think it is easy to have misconceptions about things that are unfamiliar. I know it is for me. I do not know much about geared tractors, because I don't own any and I have never worked on any. Taking that into consideration is important, but not as important as actual research and if you do statistical research I believe you will find significantly higher rates of geared tractor issues than hydrostatic tractor issues in tractors made before 1980. I have owned over 75 pre 1980 garden tractors, all but one or two were hydros, and not a single one of those hydrostatic transmissions has ever gone down. In doing that research the actual number of geared versus hydro tractors produced would be extremely import to verify my belief. Many if not most of the hydro parts used in older GTs are still available because they still make these hydros for use in zero turns and other pump related jobs. The Eaton 7 and 8 hydro pumps that graced such tractors as the little Montgomery Wards Hydrostatic 8 from the early 1970s and the late 1970s Cub 382/482IH vertical shaft tractors were still used on many zero turns like the Grasshopper, at least up until a few years ago. As to vertical shaft tractor strength the older models with good peerless rear ends are very solid tractors compared to the newer zinc cast rear ends in today's LTs, that cannot support ground engaging equipment.

yep, as long as the hydro is in good condition it wont matter. i think the hydro's give the ghost when not properly maintained before the abused geared trannys. a good way to test the hydro is putting it up against something solid that wont move and try to push it, do try this when the trans is nice and warm from driving it around for a while. if the wheels dont move while doing this walk away. on the geared ones just listen for weird noises and see if it shifts nice and easy, cant really go wrong with the geared ones, parts aren't as hard to get as the hydro parts i think

yes that's why i said any unidrive would do, thinking hydro's were also called unidrives. since lots of the lawn tractors had peerles transmissions. but then again i think there were one or two vertical shaft tractors with a stronger trans than the others

As I say, it is a personal preference. I like a hydro because I can apply throttle and get power, no need to shift up or down, but if you are comfortable with a geared tractor that is good also. I think more importantly that he chooses a GT with a horizontally positioned engine over a lawn tractors vertical positioned engine, if he is going to plow.

Well okay, so Wheel Horse called all transmissions a unidrive, is that right? How do you know which is which? To answer the posters question as to which would be better for plowing, geared or hydro, you say it doesn't matter as long as it is unidrive, is that right? I think it is a personal preference as both will work fine and are very durable. *Further research says Unidrive is a 3 speed geared tractor not a hydro. Quoting Wheel Horse History "A new model was produced in 1958, which included a three-speed transmission. This transmission is called the Uni-Drive transmission that Elmer Pond designed"*

Unidrive=Hydrostatic, and either transmission will work fine. I find less maintenance and issues with Hydrostatic transmissions and they sem to work better in conditions where you might need a varied power curve as you do not have to stop and shift gears. I would look toward models made between 1968 and 1980 as these are a more modern and able machine than earlier primitive machines and built stronger and more durable than later machines. Look for a engine that the engine crankshaft is horizontal with the earth, not vertical. If possible pick one that already has agricultural bar lug tires.

any wheel horse with a unidrive will do for plowing

Got my front hubs today, very happy with how they turned out. Total cost of all parts and machine work £60. Now that i can measure the width of the front axle i can make a start on narrowing the rear axle. The Vitara axle has a offset diff so i need to remove 280mm from one axle tube and 320mm from the other. Once cut i will add a sleve to strengthen the tube and the half shafts will be sent out to be shortened. Need to go now and get a lend of a slide hammer to get the half shafts out and then the cutting can begin.

I've got to say it is a great feeling working together on this project we both seem to be on the same page and learning from each other considering we both have warped minds it will be very interesting to see what the end project will be, but I am certain it will be a very good working tractor built on a budget of less than £100

I agree with you there, Neil. I've always found when you have someone to work with, it is much better than working alone.

The best part of this project is not the tractor itself ,it's that you two guys are doing it together . Have lotsa fun chaps

I actually like the horse,guts stance ,Nigel Ian , especially with the narrow ags , look forward to watching this grow

Gonna look nice when it's finished, I'll be watching the progress

Gut-Rod

Sounds interesting

lets name it fuggly

Still ugly even with make-up on! We used to call them Gurtrudes! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUTBROD-TRACTOR-1030-IMPLIMENTS-SPARES-ETC-VINTAGE-MOTO-STANDARD-/281848887623?hash=item419f80b947:g:tJ4AAOSw5VFWO46n