Above I have ruff shaped the new platform and made a template for the bolt pattern for the 18hp. I will saturate the wood with epoxy resin to firm things up before the final sanding to shape and run some 6oz fiberglass tape and a fillet between the platform and sidewalls, then I will seal with more epoxy and repaint. That's the plan!
Finished drilling and bolting the frame together and got a good start on the netting today! looks a little like Pin Head! Still have epoxy and paint work ahead of me here too.
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Finished up the wiring today (Sun. the 15th) and got a start on the thrust guaurd. In the second picture you can see how much it will be shortened. I will also be reworking the horizontal supports and bringing them back to the engine platform. This should help take some weight of the back and the top which is where I need it most. I should have this wrapped up soon now!
Here is a shot of the engine and tank cover. I installed a deck plate with a clear cover over the tank, this will allow access to the tie strap, air valve and I can even see the fuel gauge on the tank!
Well this end of the job is finished other than some touch up painting which may or may not ever get done! hehehe. The final tally looks like 44 pounds added and 15 taken off! for a 29 pound gain,,,,, give or take a few ounces. My throttle finger is itchin so I may have to take her out for a test spin before I tear into the lift system! Time to charge up those GPS batteries!
First coat of paint goes on! feels like this project might get done now.
The netting keeps the cats out at night
Below I have removed the thrust guard, rudders and engine.
Above left I have extended the mounting platform forward and laminated 1/4 inch plywood to the top and bottom of the original half inch platform staggering the direction. It now is a full one inch thick and should take the added weight easily.
I decided to leave on the extra cooling fan for now anyways. The plan is to run the engine with a wood stove thermometer on the head cover with the fan on, then off and see if it makes much difference.
Mount glassed on, tank opening cut out and the pass through box built. I will be cutting in a hatch to access the tank straps and I am thinking about putting in a Lexan window to see the gauge on the tank. So far I am still ahead on the weight issue after losing the canopy.
We moved the 12T4 into the destruction zone and started by removing the canopy. This was easy because I built the top to be removable but never did it due to the way I used it to support the prop guard. Looks pretty weird to me without it on but I am sorta beginning to like it! anyway the eight pounds off will help with the added weight later. The 18hp twin cylinder engine I will be using came off of a Craftsman GT18 garden tractor. I will clean it up paint a little and install an ignition chip in her while the epoxy from the remodel is curing.
Bought more tubing and finished up the gaurd today so it looks like it's time to tie on the fishing net anf that end of the project will be done.Fired up the engine today too,,,,,SWEEEET!
