Lawn Mower pulling sled?

dmiller · Mar 8, 2013

Our FFA was given permission to have the lawn mower tractor pull we have been working on.
We are in process on building a sled. Any tips, suggestions or plans out there?
How much weight is reasonable for a sled of this size?
Thanks,

43 m · Mar 9, 2013

Local one here used a 1 ton rear axle and for the transfer weight they used wheel weights. really slick set up easy to use and could be pulled by a 1/2 ton truck.

VicS · Mar 9, 2013

A long time back a friend and I make a sled to pull garden tractors. We had about a 12 ft track. Used 4 in channel iron, so the box can't jump off. Our box was 2 ft square. we used rail-road iron. Never added or took any out after had it figured out. Need good brakes on your box. We used no 80 roller chain. We found a worm drive like from a transport auger. Need to make a way to grab the chain and unhook from it at the top, or will break things at the top. We used a 3/4 ton rear. We had to pull it back. If I was making another one I was thinking about making it all hydraulic. There is a lot of hydra-static lawn mowers out there. Could make your track level and power it back with a engine, then be able to make it drag itself back under its own power. Make the box go back far enough so there is no weight on the sled. A brace or two and a tongue and it will be easy to hook up.

dmiller · Mar 9, 2013

We are thinking quite a bit smaller than that. We may be way off!!!
We were thinking using a lawnmower axle for the sled axle, about 30 inches wide about 5 feet long. Lift of 18 inches on the sled slant. We were going to use wheel weights in the box (have two rears off a farmall C). Had planned on making it a cable system that would just wrap the axle as the sled rolled with a pulley at the top front of the sled.
Sounds like we may be way off.

The Gambler pulling team · Mar 10, 2013

The problem with a cable system like that is you can only pull the sled to a measured distance then need to stop. If you don't stop the cable will stretch then break. If you have a email address I can send a description of our sled and pictures.

dmiller · Mar 10, 2013

Thanks for the offer of plans.
My e-mail is open

Are we close on our weights and size of sled??

Anonymous-0 · Mar 10, 2013

This is my oldest boy in the lightest class at 550-650 lbs.
They run all the way up to 1050-1200 lbs with this sled. Your sled sounds just like our pedal pulling sled just a bit bigger. It doesn't sound like it would stop much. Have you thought about dead weight percentage? That is a easy boat to build. 4'x6' piece of 3/8" plate steel with a chain at both ends. If you have more questions e mail me.

dmiller · Mar 11, 2013

Your sled looks about like what I had in mind.
Do you have pictures or details on how your weight box and the raising mechanism work??

Kids at Heart Pullers · Mar 15, 2013

Here are a few pictures of the various parts of the sled.

dmiller · Mar 15, 2013

Thank you. Very Helpful!!!

Lawn Mower pulling sled?

dmiller

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43 m

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VicS

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dmiller

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The Gambler pulling team

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Anonymous-0

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Kids at Heart Pullers

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