I'd also decided to try out a new product from ARC, which is a billet chrome molly billet crank. Just as I got started on the engine they came out with it. For years we've had a dilemma where the old heavy cast iron counterweights that came with these engines not only presented an issue of having to deal with more mass, but on occasion these have come loose, smashing through the crank case. The solution was to get an old-style 80's or early 90's crank with removable eccentrics and install lightweight brass counterweights. ARC developed a billet crank with the counterweights machined into the piece- thus its all one piece. I opted for this part. One of the main advantages of refurbished garden machinery and power tools is the cost. Because these tools have already been used, they are generally much cheaper than new models. This can be especially appealing for those on a tight budget or for those who only need the equipment for a short period of time. The Racing 6196PR boasts a compact 61cm cutting-width that not only makes it easy to work around and between obstacles, but also makes it possible to gain access to areas beyond narrow gateways (unusually for a ride-on mower, the Racing 6196PR will fit through a standard 28" garden gate).

Exclusive to MowDirect in the UK, the Racing RACT90EA Lawn Tractor is a high-quality but affordable machine offering best-in-class performance and features at a price that won’t break the bank! Having owned several commercial compact ride on mowers I know very much about the manoeuvrability that they offer. Many ride on mowers can be rather cumbersome, however, a ride on mower this size can almost go where a walk-behind machine can go. Next up is the installation of the steering shaft running along the front of the frame. This mower has an unusual setup where the steering linkage runs over the top of the engine. An a arm runs from the steering wheel pitman arm to a shaft running down the front of the frame to the radius arms of the front axle spindles. First, I got some 1/1/4" steel pipe and cut some lengths about 2" long. On each end, I placed a bearing in which the steering shaft fits through. New engine with a plethora of high performance parts. This includes a billet rod, billet ARC flywheel, High-torque starter, billet crank with built-in lightweight counterweights, a high performance cam, Higher strength valve springs and better valve keepers. That and the rings would be filed to an absolute close tolerance to increase compression. Other considerations would be porting and polishing. The old engine was a very mild build. This new engine was a total build-out. As this was my first major mod job of an engine, there was a lot of learning.I had previously gone to a scrap metal yard and gotten a piece of channel iron to extend the frame 6". The frame on mine is a simple box frame with a tubular frame up top. Thus I was able to extend my mower versus something like a stamped steel machine, which would be more problematic. The channel iron was cut and the frame was sliced near the front. The idea was to preserve the more complicated rear of the machine which has the engine, transmission, and brake system mounts so it could be used as-is without modification. These new pieces of angle iron was welded into place. Refurbished garden machinery and power tools can be a great option for those looking to maintain their outdoor and indoor spaces on a budget. These tools and equipment have often been previously used and then restored to their original condition by professionals. They can be a great alternative to buying new, especially for those who are only looking to use the equipment occasionally or for a specific project. So, don't lose your plot - instead ready, set, mow on a ride-on lawn mower. As we've mentioned, there are petrol or battery-powered models. If it's petrol-powered take note of the engine size and fuel tank capacity. Some of these nifty machines can reach 8mph which could put pay to any lawn croquet taking place - so be careful. With battery-powered models, much like cordless lawn mowers, be aware of the battery life and charging time. In general, you should get a solid 150 minutes of mowing done before the lawn mower needs a recharge. The only thing that really lets this machine down is the fact that it has a gearbox rather than hydrostatic transmission. It may be worth looking at the Mountfield 827H compact ride on with hydrostatic transmission.

Extend the length of the frame. Why? The original frame was around 38" long. The width from wheel to wheel? 36". The problem was that when you're basically driving a square, you have very poor handling. I decided to lengthen the frame to the maximum length permitted for Mod-X machines: 42". Thus I would add 6" to the frame. A high-capacity 196cc (6.5hp) four-stroke overhead-valve engine - with electric start - provides dependable, fuel efficient power; five-step blade-height adjustment (35-75mm) ensures there’s a setting for every eventuality. One of the plus points with the Racing 62PR compact ride on mower is that it has a large collector which holds 150 L of grass. The collector can be operated from the driver’s seat. I see many ride on mowers that have collection bags that must be emptied manually. This is time-consuming and totally unnecessary. If I’m using a ride on mower, I do not want to have to keep getting on and off the machine.We’ve made searching easy! Using our filters, you can choose by ' Manufacturer', if you have one in mind. Alternatively, if you have a budget to work to, search our ride-on lawn mowers by ' Price'. Now that the chassis and other vitals are now complete, now its time to work on the engine. The engine I'm using is a 12.5 HP Briggs and Stratton with a cast iron sleeve. These are one of the most common engines on riding mowers. Mine in particular is what's known as a "flathead" because the other variant has overhead valves. These engines are extremely simple and inexpensive. The flathead takes up less space too.

Lastly, you will need to install what are known as "stops", which are basically welded on rods or bolts to prevent the wheels from turning too far. If they turn too far, the steering wheel will turn completely over, thus reversing your steering! Not good! For this build,. all I did was weld two 5/16" pieces of steel rod to the front of the axle, right where the spindles swing in and out. The spindle arms simply hit the stops. I held the wheels in place at the correct position and placed the stops at exactly where the spindle arms hit, then welded them into place. The Racing ride on mower has a five-speed gearbox, four forward gears and one reverse gear. This is fine for a budget mower; however, many machines have hydrostatic transmission which is almost like an automatic car. Adjust the toe-out. As mentioned before, toe-out means how much the wheels splay outwards- as in they turn away from the mower a bit. It doesn't take much. Only 1/8" on each side. Doesn't sound like much but this will greatly help the mower become far more stable.

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With all of the sheetmetal painted the mower was fully assembled. Pretty nice looking if I don't mind saying so. Now there was only one thing left to do- which was to race it and see what it would do. The first race was actually what we call our "Test-n-tune" day where all the new "mowchines" are brought out and tested... and tuned up. Some mowers come with two, while others offer super-fast chargers. Mowers with the latest sensory technology can sense the load on the motor and operate at the optimum level for each task, boosting power for long/damp grass and extending battery run time during lighter cutting tasks. What is cutting width? The Racing 6196PRRS boasts a compact 61cm cutting-width that not only makes it easy to work around and between obstacles, but also makes it possible to gain access to areas beyond narrow gateways (unusually for a ride-on mower, the Racing 6196PRRS will fit through a standard 28" garden gate). The rebuilt engine has held up great this year. Its now broken in so the synthetic oil stays almost crystal clear for a good 2-3 races.

The Chipperfield C25-7 is a compact ride-on lawn mower with a cutting width of 61cm, Its compact width is ideal to work around obstacles and work within tight gateways and passages. Unusually for a ride-on mower, the C25-7 will fit through a standard 28" gate and features a high-capacity 196cc (6.5hp) engine. A new fully adjustable steering system. The old setup wasn't adjustable at all. The new one is fully adjustable and the caster and camber can be carefully tweaked. This is important because no matter what engine you might have, a mower that steers poorly and plows into corners will be impossible to handle. Undertaking a complete manufacturer’s PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) in accordance with the manufacturer's established guidelines

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A high-capacity 196cc (6.5hp) four-stroke overhead-valve engine - with electric key start - provides dependable, fuel-efficient power; while five-step blade-height adjustment (35-75mm) ensures there’s a setting for every eventuality. With a petrol four-stroke engine overhead valve engine the 196cc engine develops 6.5 hp. It comes with electric key start and an engine from Racing themselves. Although the engine is not particularly large, it should be enough to power this budget compact ride on lawnmower. Another step is to determine the angle of the wheels. Generally, it is better to have the left wheel turn in more than the right. I usually have the left wheel turn in @ 10:00 and the right at 2:00.