John Deere 317 Half Track Garden Tractor Update 

Hell yeah!! I'm sooo glad someone can appreciate a sturdy build on a machine that needs it.

I subscribe to your channel today.it’s really cool. I am freaking old and I am happy to see you young man working with his hands. I think all young people should be independent like you

Well done, Norman! Thanks for the update. Congratulations on the excellent response to this build! I didn't really think about the axle flexing when trying to tension the tracks. I think about the only thing to do on that would be to add another axle support on the outside. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Keep up the great work!!

That thing looks awesome. I've been wanting to put a front end loader on my 112 for awhile. I've been out plowing the gardens with it today even with the turf tires it pulls the plow way down with almost no effort. Great machines for sure.

Can't wait to see your project de-bugged and complete. I will be making one as well.

Great work Norman! You helped me rebuild my k321 along with instructions and parts. Now you're going to help me half track my 214 to better deal with the snow. I love it! Keep up the good work

What a great job and on a older Deere is nice to see. Thanks again for the great videos on your channel.

I like that idea. I have a David Bradley front Blade that I added to my craftsman Lt 2000 mower. It's no where close to being as heavy duty as your mower, but it's fun pushing 6 inches of snow.

Keep it up man people are starting do their own work now and days and a compact tractor is the key.

glad I found this channel I love older small tractors (to my wifes dismay) lol ...subbed

When an engineering student has a passion for old iron and garden tractors... Bet you're glad you never locked the diff though! I would have done exactly what you detailed towards the end with either truck shocks, maybe 1 inch half shaft stubs on your idle wheel frame, pillow block bearing, and beef up the rear frame a bit. On second review, makes you wonder what that would look like with implementation with a hydraulic hitch system and reeeeeeally long engagement arms! 👀 Sure wish I would have come across this 5 years ago, but that's the internet for you.

Tension idea....heim joints. Like traction bars for a pickup. Great build man, I need to do this for my snow mower build.

Congratulations from Brazil, excelent work. This help me a lot.

Great design and build. I have fallen into the same addiction not done with my present build but I may post as well. Thank you. P.S. I didn't know my addiction had a name!

Super cool man. I have wanted to do a restore on a old cat 10 ever since I seen one. I have a old wards s12 that I have been thinking of making a crawler out of. This video gave me some ideas, and with winter coming and recently getting a 110v wire machine once I get my mower deck for my jd 140 h1 patched up I'll be hot and heavy on it

Another great video Norman! I can't wait for the podcast! let me know when we are ready for the next catalog. :)

For adjusting the tension use threaded rod or big nuts and bolts like they do on some of the tracked machines

Good job Norman

I love this project!! Please keep up the great work!!

Very glad to hear that you got a good response on your video!Will you ad one shock absorber to each wheel in the rear and have independent movement or just 2 to make it stronger?

Hi Norman, this is why you see BIG farm tractors/farming machines have multiple out side tires = more traction! love your set up. I would love to make the same for my lawn tractor for mudding! Also the shock adding would work just as well with a spring system.. thank you for the Great video, I subscribed, and thumbs up these great videos. cheers :-) thank you, R. Downer Rdownergarage...

Alright! Great idea!

Thought on making the idler wheel adjustable. Use ratchet binders like we commercial flatbedders use. Just cut off the hook ends and weld them into your frame making each side adjustable independently of eachother.

A set of adjustable rollers between the drive tires and the bogy tires could be used to tension the tracks.

Wow thats amaizing

GREAT job 👍👌👏

As always awesome

One quick suggestion is. Consider that the engine weight is on the front wheels... I moved a 150 John Deere engine from the orginal position to behind the main wheels. This you could benefit from with your tracks. Also you have given your self a space to mount the engine behind the body. Simply use the PTO output shaft as the transmisson input.

Slot the fixtures and add flange bearings to a just the track tension. Also mount to the frame work by adding a trunnion to the frame. Just thought I'd add my 2 cents. Great build man !!!!!

All you need is a lot more down pressure on the boggy axle. Putting more wheel weight only effects the traction at the main rear tire, to get the extra traction from the track it needs weight put on the boggy assembly.. That will take a bit more planing, the shock absorbers are a start but only that. A mechanism that exerts much more rear down force is the only way to have tracks do as they were intended.

Try extending that rear bracket by adding washers to the mounting bolts

I've been wandering about this type of track system for quite a long time. My one question is what about where on tbe chain? I would be using these tracks to plow gardens with so they would be doing lots of pulling. My concern is that the links would rub in to in a hurry.

Iv got a Ford LT 12 tractor and I’m turning it into a 2 by 6 and built a goose neck trailer to go with it and I’m afraid I will burn the transmission out of it do you think it will hold up or no

You may want to add some pulling / towing features to your new rear frame. Steering brakes will still be useful when things get very slippery. Snow, mud, soft sand or clay, might require something more than the unpowered steering axle can give you.

Cheap but Smart Idea... Very Good...

I want to see it plow snow!

Norman is there a current update on the half track? We live about 30 minutes north of you in mountain country. Been thinking about building a front ski/rear track Wheelhorse.

I'm going to try and do this, would it be ok to mount the rear idler wheel pairs individually? And have some up and down play in the arm? Or would the play in the arm mess with the tracks?

How's the draw bar and 3point working out for you on the back.

very cool machine you have there, both me and my grandpa own a 317, mine is all original with a blade, mower, and rototiller. my grandpas has been restored and has a newer engine in it and it only has a mower deck. i know that these little tractors pack a lot of power, ive pulled out the stuck (2015 JD D140) twice with the tractor in idle and it was fine!!! great invention!!! also is the blade 2, 4, or 6 way? my blade is original from Deere that is 4 way (up, down, right, left)

I want to find a loader for my lgt 100. We have a brand new JD 1025r with a bucket loader but I want to have one for smaller really tight projects on my LGT 100.

What about using trailer axle hubs. A lot stronger and gives you more options. Cool build!

Neat

I recently picked up a few different brands of old machines that I am currently trying to pick a favorite as a lawn mower. Do you have a favorite brand/model? And if so why? For me so far it seams like a hard choice

I`ve got a front blade just like that!

Just a thought, could you use cat 1 top links for adjusters, you would have adjustment and articulation

Instead of having your frame mount on the outside of the rear wheels, could you mount it in between the two rear wheels? That would keep your frame from sticking out and getting hung up on things. I started a full track conversion on a JD 140, I started it several years ago and haven't had time to finish. I'm hoping to get back to it this winter. I ended up not liking my tension set up and I'm going to rebuild it. If you go to my RU-vid channel I have a short video of one side of the tracks working. The video is before I got the tension set up finished. And don't feel bad about mixing brands, I have a JD 54" blade on a Bolens HT23 (also on my youtube) :)

If I could imagine the "pulling" power benefit, I don't get the end with a front blade ... Get rid the snow on frozen lake ? Definitely don't get it, However thanks the update "Norman"

My friend has that same sweatshirt

Ok I got a john deer 318 (big upgrade from a 317 right lol) But I was wondering, can you make a video showing how to make some type of backhoe/ log grabber for it? something that can lift 100+lbs and easily stack it in a pile From the seat. I do A lot of wood work and If you can design a good grabber, I would like to fallow along and build my own! :)

When can u make a vidoe of it working and pushing

I have a 7016h and I'm looking for a sickle mower. Please let me know if you can help with that. Thanks

I subscribed

I need help..I want a front end loader for my sears ss16..all original..can ya?

More video of it working. Please add the link

7:00 the video starts👍🏻

I subscribed today. Cool channel. I currently have a scag zero turn mower, that cuts the lawn beautifully and quick, but the problem is it’s a one truck pony. I would love to get a cool garden tractor, that can be setup with a bucket, rear pro, and belly mower. Do you have a short list of a few models that you would recommend? I don’t know too much about them, and no way I’m spending 15k for a new one

Won't the truck shocks work as track tensioner

I got a 1965 cub cadet 102 with a Kohler k241as engine off my grandfather and all I had to do on it is the head because the sparkplug threads were striped in it and get a new ignition switch in it so I can start it plus I'm buying a 1945 Farmall H

I like your video I watched it and I've seen what you do with the hat rack and I think it's really cool and being that you have a love for small tractors you're not alone so do I I can tell you from experience that there is one particular tractor that you really go research and look for if you can find one I'll be hard to find but they're awesome and specially if you hook a little small single cylinder diesel engine to it too I think they have a 10-horse diesel there that's out there for it or a Kohler but anyhow cut to the chase this tractor is believe it or not called a Sears garden tractor I think it's like a 16 speed I believe has a high low range lever on the right side and it it it does have a clutch but the clutches basically disengaging Andrea gauging the belt tension but like I said it's believe it or not it's called a Sears garden tractor if you find it and you're able to obtain one in good condition you'll totally fall in love with it you think your John Deere is nice which it is you'll really love this tractor if you can find one trust me I know I have what I loved it and I'll never part with it good luck in your adventures oh PS I forgot to say it's actually called an ss16

How about a 1970s model Jacobson hydrostatic I would love to take and restore it and fix the seat so I can move it back farther but that would ruin its original ality of it I've had it in the shop several times I have troubles occasionally with the carburetor would love to have somebody let me know where I can get parts for this tractor

Look at the track tension er on an snowmobile and recreate it on the idler wheels.

Where can I get the dozer blade

Will that work on a John deer sabor I would like to do get tracks for it

Nice job but on ford tractors and ferguson like to20 i have never seen them put the tracks to the back they put them forward ! but still very nice !

Instead of truck shocks just use 2 gas springs on each side, like the ones from lift gate

Have you got plans for us ?

Can you do a front end loader?

i say get 220 volt welder if you own a home just wiring in 220v in my exuberance one that does any welding building at all will need to burn it in 110 just aggravates me i burnt up 2 of them lol

maybe... don't need sprocket ... just add a layer of piece rubber on the iron tread

You're going to really need to reevaluate the bogie wheel axle, as it sits with that simplistic design, you're going to keep bending them. You've got opposing tension on those wheels. It would be best if they were supported on both sides, which they usually are if not some heavy duty single sided swing arm like set up. I know you're trying to make it simple for "anybody" to make, but those would have to accept the tension limitations of the system how it sits.

possie traction would make all the difference

would love to see it push dirt?

I got a few tractors if sell

looks ok but realistically its gonna chew up the tires dirt rocks ect those tires will take a beating with that design. nothing you can rely on thats the main issue . so its a novelty waiting to fail . you would never be able to do real work with that. effectively a waste of steel

Tires with cleats would improve it with out tracks.

You need a Chevrolet hoodie and get rid of the Found On Road Dead one because if you had a Chevrolet you would never go back to the ford

you good but you alot of speaking