Ian

Lets see all your Ariens built machines, ride on's, walk behinds, etc.

You should have seen it when I said I'd got a Billy Goat.

I'd like to see your wife's face when you say, "here's your new hoover darling"

This Billy Goat is something else I brought back from down south. Although I've rotated the first photo the right way up, it keeps coming up like this.
 

 

 

 
  The engine is a 5hp B&S. Had a bit of a look at it today. Compression is good but no spark. Plug ok. Tried it on one of the tractors. Pull start freed up and working. Also height adjustment now working. I need a puller for the flywheel to get at the points. Till then I'll remove and clean tank and carb.
  Once I get it running and see how it performs, then I'll decide what I'm going to do with it. I doubt it'll stay as is.
 
 

Looking a real menacing beast. Just the job for going to church Sunday morning.

Afternoon all, for one reason and another progress as been a bit slow again but as long as something is happening then the build is going in the right direction..
 
The frame now has a removable member to aid getting the engine out when needs be.
 

 
 
A close up of the joins that only need a little tidying up.
 

 

 
 
The plan was to get MadTrax off the bench so I could have a seat to feel how she felt at ground level, the pull the engine out so the frame could be fully welded in the places the engine wouldn't let me reach...
 
Well that was the plan..
 
Off the bench she came..
 

 

 
 
As you can see from the above photo's there is something missing from the front end to balance it out looks wise.
Nigel and I had been wondering what could be done to even it out until I dug out the big army type spot lamp, gave it a very quick coat of black and hung it off the front with a bit of welding wire...
 
Yep, just the ticket and about the right size compared to the fuel tank  
 

 

 

 
 
This bracket used to hold the front bodywork/bull bar but not only was it not needed it also looked ugly!
 

 
 
So it was cut out and replaced by some more steel tube.. That looks better
 

 
 
The front two tubes were left open from the factory which didn't look right, so I extended them down into a point.. Much better.. The welds will be ground down when MadTrax  goes back up on the bench.
 

 
 
The big lamp was mounted using a bracket at the top which bolts onto the head stock.
 

 
 
And a smaller one at the bottom which will look better with a little trimming to shape.
 

 
 
And that chaps brings this build thread up to date again other than I like the look from this angle sooo much I'm going to put the pic up again
 

Afternoon all, for one reason and another progress as been a bit slow again but as long as something is happening then the build is going in the right direction..
 
The frame now has a removable member to aid getting the engine out when needs be.
 

 
 
A close up of the joins that only need a little tidying up.
 

 

 
 
The plan was to get MadTrax off the bench so I could have a seat to feel how she felt at ground level, the pull the engine out so the frame could be fully welded in the places the engine wouldn't let me reach...
 
Well that was the plan..
 
Off the bench she came..
 

 

 
 
As you can see from the above photo's there is something missing from the front end to balance it out looks wise.
Nigel and I had been wondering what could be done to even it out until I dug out the big army type spot lamp, gave it a very quick coat of black and hung it off the front with a bit of welding wire...
 
Yep, just the ticket and about the right size compared to the fuel tank  
 

 

 

 
 
This bracket used to hold the front bodywork/bull bar but not only was it not needed it also looked ugly!
 

 
 
So it was cut out and replaced by some more steel tube.. That looks better
 

 
 
The front two tubes were left open from the factory which didn't look right, so I extended them down into a point.. Much better.. The welds will be ground down when MadTrax  goes back up on the bench.
 

 
 
The big lamp was mounted using a bracket at the top which bolts onto the head stock.
 

 
 
And a smaller one at the bottom which will look better with a little trimming to shape.
 

 
 
And that chaps brings this build thread up to date again other than I like the look from this angle sooo much I'm going to put the pic up again
 

Afternoon all, for one reason and another progress as been a bit slow again but as long as something is happening then the build is going in the right direction..
 
The frame now has a removable member to aid getting the engine out when needs be.
 

 
 
A close up of the joins that only need a little tidying up.
 

 

 
 
The plan was to get MadTrax off the bench so I could have a seat to feel how she felt at ground level, the pull the engine out so the frame could be fully welded in the places the engine wouldn't let me reach...
 
Well that was the plan..
 
Off the bench she came..
 

 

 
 
As you can see from the above photo's there is something missing from the front end to balance it out looks wise.
Nigel and I had been wondering what could be done to even it out until I dug out the big army type spot lamp, gave it a very quick coat of black and hung it off the front with a bit of welding wire...
 
Yep, just the ticket and about the right size compared to the fuel tank  
 

 

 

 
 
This bracket used to hold the front bodywork/bull bar but not only was it not needed it also looked ugly!
 

 
 
So it was cut out and replaced by some more steel tube.. That looks better
 

 
 
The front two tubes were left open from the factory which didn't look right, so I extended them down into a point.. Much better.. The welds will be ground down when MadTrax  goes back up on the bench.
 

 
 
The big lamp was mounted using a bracket at the top which bolts onto the head stock.
 

 
 
And a smaller one at the bottom which will look better with a little trimming to shape.
 

 
 
And that chaps brings this build thread up to date again other than I like the look from this angle sooo much I'm going to put the pic up again
 

i think you missed one ian

Great work Chris n Norm, I look forward to seeing the graders tomorrow

Next on the hit list was to tweak the frame so the engine could be removed.. So out came the hacksaw
 

 
 
Now you see it..
 

 
 
Now you don't..
 

 
 
It's back again..
 

 
 
But this time with a notched joint..
 

 
 
To stop the bolt crushing the tube some half moon steel bar was welded in place..  When I cap the ends it will also fill the gaps you can see in the photo above..
 

 

 
 
One join almost done, one to go..

Looks like a great show Noel, thanks for posting the photo's

more great pics!   next year....