Mud Mower 101= Front Axle Reinforcement.

In this video I reinforce my front axle beam, while trying to retain the stock appearance. (My Mud Mower is a 2006 Craftsman lt1000).
This is a start to finish build video.
Since there are hundreds of different styles of front axle beams out there This is more of a theory based video than a how to, unless you happen to the the identical front axle beam as the one in the video.
This is another installment of my total front end revamp - improvement series .
So dont forget to SUBSCRIBE to my channel for all the other installments of this series along with other garage life, fabrication, and custom one of a kind builds.

[@redzz02]

I wish I had an ounce of this patience for this amount of attention to detail, I give mad props to guys like you that put 110% into everything they fab

[@muddstir]

Thanks man. I all ways say if your building parts or projects and your already going to spend an hour on it why not spend two and spend the extra time learning a new technique, or just clean it up better by rounding corners and sanding edges, ect. Small stuff can make a big difference in the final outcome. But I'm also a firm believer "that the first one is always a prototype".

[@redzz02]

Muddstir my answer would be pure laziness or lack of drive lol

[@brianstractorshed2759]

Excellent work man this is by far the best reinforced stock axle I've seen! Most guys would swap it for a cast axle but here you are doing the "built not bought" thing in the true spirit of the sport! The only improvement I would add is to replace the nylon bushing with an Oilite so it's bombproof! Lol.

[@muddstir]

Thanks Brian's tractor shed, I've never been a real fan of running the cast iron front axles. This tractor is more of a use what came with it and make it work / last. I should've did the bronze bushing swap but didn't want to spend the money on them. Thanks for watching man.

[@ewastemike7700]

Dropped it to show support.

[@prancstaman]

WOW, that was alot of sanding, LOL. Looks great though!

[@muddstir]

Thanks man. Really the longest part was the little triangle sander thing. The pads that I bought for it were junk, not ment for metal but I suffered through it .

[@hillbillyatvs1064]

Awesome video’s very informative and well done , hope to see lots more vids from you

[@muddstir]

Thanks man. I feel like they still need some work (the videos). I do plan on trying to post a video every 1 to 2 weeks on my channel. Thanks again.

[@creepycrawler43]

Looks great man, top notch fab work

[@muddstir]

Thanks man. The camera hides alot of the flaws, but was a good learning experience on sanding/shaping a double curve.

[@jasonng9676]

Great channel & video Muddstir...love it...im new here..smash the like button for you .

[@andrewbrinker4791]

Looks great, on my axle I welded heavy wall pipe where the spindles go , so I could use bronze bushings. Envious of your talent.

[@muddstir]

Thanks man. The spindle mounts are probably the worst point on this style front axle. I agree Bronze bushings would be the best way to go than the super thin walled Plastic bushing in a sleeve welded inside the axle beam. On a side note Spindle slop repair vid is coming soon but not sure if I'll be switching I've to bronze or not trying to work with factory setup.

[@Tampaboys]

so awesome that front end will be unstoppable bud

[@muddstir]

Thanks Tampa

[@bamamowersgarage8937]

Great upgrade on it I need to do that to my craftsman

[@bamamowersgarage8937]

#SMALLENGINATION

[@muddstir]

We'll see if it holds up to some jumps in the future. The upgrade is worth doing but it's borderline with building a complete front end from scratch.

[@bamamowersgarage8937]

@@muddstir I like see

[@ckmudmowers140]

Love the vids! Keep it up! Great quality 👌

[@muddstir]

Thank you. I've got more to come just been kinda slow at doing this youtube thing.

[@nachodadsgarage1159]

Saw ya in twisteds live and came to check you out. You made building that look too easy bud.

[@ericanderson8133]

Do you think I could use angle iron to reinforce the axle instead of using the round pipe like you did. Keep up the great work,your really helping keep my project going. Great job to say the least 👍👍

[@muddstir]

Angle iron will work. The only thing that I'll recommend is to test fit everything (when it's tacked together) just to make sure every thing articulates like it should with no interference to axle housing and frame. The top side of the axle beam is the side that needs close attention. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.

[@ericanderson8133]

Muddstir thank you 🙏

[@AlexanderSmith21]

#smallenginenation raid much love brother come check and join us

[@dirtrider1877]

My craftsman has the cast iron front end

[@blackjackal2156]

I am in no way hating on this reinforcement (I hate the weak ass stamped steel Axles), but that seems like a lot of work for a $40 Cast Iron replacement

[@muddstir]

Yep, it was a lot of work but it was really done to see if I could do it along with retaining the factory axle shape. One wouldn't need to grind it completely smooth or follow the arches of the beam but it was a good way to improve on some fabrication skills. There are some good front axle swaps that can be done to gain strength over other factory ones, but they come with there own issues too. Black Jackal, thanks for watching and commenting.

[@tandmbros5877]

How does that motor treat you being an ohv i have the same engine on my wheel horse

[@muddstir]

The motor really is not to bad on that mower, considering all things. It's a pretty light mower and I'm a fairly lightweight person. Along with running the motor ungoverned and not having super aggressive rear tires it performs real good.

[@futuragridu62]

Salut tu les a eu ou tes pneus a crampons

[@gebwv84]

Nice job fixing a poorly designed axle that has failed on thousands of mowers. I decided not to fix mine, I bought the replacement cast iron axle off ebay used. Part # 195968

[@JeffreyStrader]

some?...Some??...SOme???...SOMe???...SOME????.............you lost 2/3 of your axle articulation.