"Super" Cadet RER 1785
 

first off, if this is in the wrong spot, please direct me :beerchug:

Well, this whole idea/project started out with my parents OT Craftsman rider. It shelled out the deck, and they really enjoyed the tractor because it had foot control hydro. When the tractor broke I took them my nice 682 and they don't seem to like it a much as the Craftsman. So, I looked on CL and found a nice little pile of junk for $100 and the Craftsman tractor had a good deck that went on the parent's tractor. It also needed some tires off it so it all worked out there.

Now, I have had this sad looking Cadet 85 for over two years with intentions to part it out for my Cadet 60 (tires, rims, and odds and ends). But, looking closely at the tractor this week, it is nearly flawless in the fiberglass body, the tires are decent, and I just plain like these old RER's.

Im going to try to put the 17hp Briggs engine into this Cadet 85. I guess I really wouldn't know what to call it if/when it gets finished:biggrin2: Things started out tonight by removing the engine front the Craftsman to the RER. The bolt holes DO line up, but will need to be drilled to 3/8" for the motor. Wiring should not be difficult, but finding a nice, convenient spot for the gas tank might be. I have not tried to fire this motor; I was told it ran three years ago. If so, great, if not, whoop-deeee-dooo, shouldn't be that hard to get going.

The overall goal of this project is to maintain the original look of the RER, with the very large motor, while making it a functional machine. Yes, I realize that people do this all the time to these, rip the decks off and make them into go-karts. This isn't the case. This will be a fun custom project that I will try my best to do a professional job with the knowledge and experience (and tools) I have. Heres a few beginning pics, not much so far :beerchug: Feel free to pitch in ideas!

Looks good Ryan!
Interesting project. Keep us updated!:beer2:

I agree.:beer2:

Sounds like a cool project. :beerchug:

Are you at all concerned with the risk to the transaxle?

I'm looking forward to your project, Ryan!

Honestly, no, I'm not too concerned. Its going to do what it was desinged to do, which is mow grass. No heavy pulling, no plowing, etc. It may burn up some belts, which I thought about, but wont know until I try it. If I found a nice C-32 snowthrower for it, I might use it for snow removal (which would be a good test for driveline stress). I'm not saying that it won't break, and if it does, oh well! It'l be fun while it lasted! :beerchug:

The transmission is a chain drive to the axle I believe and by the pic I have seen the trans looks like a peerless 700 which are very good transmissions a lot of people use them for racing mowers and carts and they speed them up with pulley swaps, so if you dont speed up the trans I'm sure it will work perfectly.

I think you are right, I dont think I will have a ton of issues. Especially since this wont be a racer of any sort.

Didn't get anywhere tonight...I had a lot of customer jobs to complete tonight!

Cool project, looking forward to your progress:beerchug:
I just so happen to have me an 85 also:bigthink: