My Defender 460 build

[brian19600]

Many of you know of the Defender 460, a homebuilt plywood 6x6. The Defender is loosely based on the Mechanix Illustrated Marauder.
http://www.vintageprojects.com/go-ka...ix-wheeler.pdf

Unfortunately, the original Marauder plans haven't been available for almost 30 years. The link to the study plans I provided does not give enough information. Not to mention the transmission assembly that is alluded to is also NLA. It appears that the designer of the Defender took the original layout and modernized and improved it.

Well I am starting to build the Defender but I am modifying the design considerably. I am also getting some styling ideas from Tonka.






I cut up the wood and a carpenter friend assembled it. Now I am fiberglassing the seams and epoxy saturating the wood. This is similar to the process used in wooden boat building. (WEST system)

[racerone3]

The transmission is for an early Dixon zero turn mower. They used to be all over eBay but I am not seeing any currently

[brian19600]

yeah I got one off ebay a couple months ago. I put new bearings in it and just have to finish re-assembling it.

[racerone3]

I've pondered throwing the trans off my old Dixon in a 6x6 for years. Might have to try it next time some old beater machine follows me home

[brian19600]

I had considered using a couple hydrostatic zero-turn transmissions (I think from Surplus Center) but it would have been around $700 shipped. I paid $75 for the friction cone transmission.

[liflod]

I have a Dixon for sale. Runs and cuts, needs a seat , battery , some TLC and cones for the drive. I also have an extra drivetrain for it that also needs cones. $300. Will take trades!

[brian19600]

liflod what do you think of the cone style transmission? Is it tricky to adjust?

[racerone3]

liflod what do you think of the cone style transmission? Is it tricky to adjust?

Lance might have a different opinion, but I thought it was simple to rebuild and adjust. Best advice I got when redoing mine was to cut the main shaft out of it and get a new one rather than trying to get the cones off the old one. I think the new shaft was ~$12.00. I also replaced the main shaft bearings while I was that far along.

[riotwarrior]

cool project...if was me I would do a layer of glass on whole tub...but what do I know about glass...maybe just a bit...6 years in industry

[liflod]

Not much problem with the adjustments. I fabbed an adjustment gauge for mine. It's just a triangle with a relief cut out of it so you can square the cones with the frame and keep the cones perpendicular with the frame. Once the cones are so far worn, you can't get the power out of it.