Mower Racing Parts - Steering Adjustments

If your idea of fun and excitement is racing your mower at speeds of 40 or 50MPH, then you will need to upgrade your mower’s steering. Factory mower racing parts, especially steering, are not made for high speeds. They are built for tearing across your lawn at blistering speeds of 5MPH and the hair pin turn to get around your favorite apple tree, not lawn racing mower tracks.

Some of the steering factors that you’ll want to take a look at are the caster settings, loose-fitting rods, and gear driven steering systems. Now, if you are a “DIY” guy, you can always work on these parts and get them ready for racing. If not, a visit to your nearest garage that offers mower racing parts and work is advisable.

Two things that you’ll want to master are the toe-in and toe-out settings of the front wheels, and tuning the camber. These two will greatly improve the handling and speed of your racing mower.

For the caster settings, you’d want to achieve a positive caster, meaning the top of the spindle will lean back towards the rear of the racer. This minor mower racing parts adjustment will make you feel more in control of your mower while on the tracks.

If you’re having trouble imagining what I just said, visit a local grocery store and start pushing a shopping cart, notice that the front wheels are always pointing towards the direction that you’re going. That is if you get the one cart properly aligned and in good working order.

A simple mower racing parts adjustment that is being done by enthusiasts to make their racing mower turn almost effortlessly includes playing with the caster settings at each race.

Specific setting will be determined by specific track routes. Add a stagger to make your racing mower quick on the turns. A stagger means that the mower has different settings on the right and left wheel. Setting the right-side stagger, 1 or 2 degrees more than the left will make your mower naturally turn left, and vice versa.

It is very common for stock mowers to have a gear-driven steering system. Again, that is good for mowing your lawn but not for a racing mower. You’ll want to replace the gear-driven steering system with direct drive mower racing parts. You can either do this yourself or visit a garage and have it done for you.

“Toe-in” is the term used if the front tires of your racing mower are pointing in, and “toe-out” if they are pointing out. I’m sure you’ve seen cars that either have toe-ins or toe-outs. For mower racing, your setting should be zero toe-in or a small amount of toe-out.

One of the more complex mower racing parts settings is the Ackerman. As you know, the inside tires are turning on a smaller radius as you tackle turns. Meaning your left tire will be turning more than the right when you’re turning left.

Reducing the length of the steering arm on the left spindle increases the Ackerman effect.

To take care of the loose-fitting rods, you can use small tubing from you local racing garage. These rods are usually ready for spherical rod eyes. This also makes it easier for you to adjust the toe-in setting of your mower racing parts.

It is advisable to seek the help of a professional when working on your racing mower so they can give you tips when it comes to safety. This is important for you as well as the other racers.

Tips to Strengthen Racing Lawn Mower Frames

What do you think stock cars, F1 racing machines, and motocross bikes have in common? Yup, they all have rigid frames that can stand days of non-stop racing. Your mower, however, is not built on the same rigid structure.

Manufactures generally don’t build racing lawn mower frames rigid because mowers were intended for your lawn and not for mower racing tracks. Consider the difference in speed when you are mowing versus when you are racing.

Structural reinforcement is necessary because you have dramatically altered the surface they will be working on. You have moved from a smooth lawn to q bumpy and rutted race track, especially towards the end of the race, and you can just imagine the punishment that the mower goes through.

Your mower could end up in pieces if you leave the frame as is. Now, you can construct racing lawn mower frames that are fit for the tracks by welding tubing to the existing structure. This will make the frame strong enough for mower racing at speeds of 40 or 50MPH.

Make certain to strengthen the areas where the racing lawn mower axles and front spindles attach. Also, keep the frame from twisting by tying the front and rear frame sections together.

Having a rigid frame is not only safer, it will save you from the embarrassment of having your mower break up only feet from the checkered flag.

While you’re at it, make sure to modify the chassis as well. Make it as low as legally possible. Lower is always better on the tracks, especially in tight turns. Just be sure to browse the mower racing rule book and know how low you can get.

Different lawn mower racing associations have different rules. In addition the rules vary from division to division. So it is very important that you check your specific association/division modification rules prior to any adjustments.

If allowed, you can add front and rear bumpers to you racing lawn mower for added safety. A side Nerf-Bar is also helpful to avoid tires, from two racing mowers, from entangling and causing roll-overs. You can kiss bumpers good-bye though if you will be racing in the USLMRA, to keep mowers looking stock they don’t allow bumpers.

The trick is to take advantage of all the modifications allowed, take everything to the limit as this help you win mower racing events. Again, remember to review and understand the different divisional have rules for each racing lawn mower, because you can’t win the race, if you aren’t allowed in it!

First Considerations in How To Build A Racing Mower

If you've ever considered how to build a racing mower, then this is your lucky day.

We'll start with the engine. But first, you have to decide in which division you'll be racing. Once you've determined the division, download the rulebook and make sure that your intended engine modifications comply with all the rules.

It is advisable to take your modifications to the limit. This ensures you get the most out of your engine. Note that I said take it to the limit, not over the limit. This is an important distinction when learning how to build a racing mower.

I’ve never heard a mower racing driver say that his mower has too much horsepower. More often than not, drivers say they need more horsepower. This is one reason why you need to take your modifications to the limit…just to keep up with your competition.

If you don’t know anything about engines, you can always find engine rebuilding and repair shops in your area. They will be thrilled to help you out and put as much horsepower in your engine.

The key components that you have to concentrate on when learning how to build a racing mower are: carburetors, flywheels, valves, pistons, heads, and crankshafts. You’ll be ready for any mower racing event once you’ve addressed each of these components.

Carburetors play a big role in your engine’s combustion process but they can be very limiting if not modified properly. You will have to spend time porting and polishing its components in order to achieve the desired results. But for those who have extra money, you can always take a short cut by purchasing racing carburetors from your local shop.

Stock flywheels are weak and are not safe for racing; this is something that you have to be familiar with when learning how to build a racing mower.

To make your mower fit for the tracks, you will have to purchase a high-quality billet flywheel, like those from ARC, and make sure that you choose the lightest one. Light flywheels allow the engine to rapidly build up the much needed RPM when passing competitors during mower racing events.

As for your valves, you will need to prepare them by doing a precision multi-angle valve job.

Engine heads may also become a limiting factor to the overall performance of your engine. To address this issue, simply port and polish the intake for improved airflow.

Crankshafts, on the other hand, are heavy and will affect your mower’s ability to accelerate. To make up for this, you need to find a way to reduce its weight while keeping it is balanced for that added durability.

These are the most important things that you have to be aware of when learning how to build a racing mower. If you take all of this into account and push the envelope of the modification allowances, you’ll be ready to focus on your driving skills for the next mower racing event.

Lawn Mower Racing Divisions in America

Lawn mower racing mania is all over the United States. If you are not on a racing mower right now or have not raced a mower at all, you are missing out on the fun. Currently, there are two major U.S. lawn mower racing associations:

• American Racing Mower Association
• United States Lawn Mower Racing Association

You can join these associations and start racing for fun. There many local and regional clubs and smaller associating. Most however, have some sort of affiliation with one of these two groups.

Before participating in any lawn mower racing events, you will have to choose your division first. This is important so that you race against people in with similar racing mower modifications. Arranged from novice to expert, here are the divisions to choose from:

Under American Racing Mower Association (ARMA) you have seven choices.

• Kids Stock, Adult Stock – This is the entry-level class where almost everybody starts out; unless you have prior racing experience or a rap sheet full of speeding tickets.
• Kids Super Stock, Adult Stock – You’ll be going a little bit faster than the stock machines, but this is still a pretty entry-level division.
• Mini Sportsman – This division is for those “DIY” guys who like to build their own lawn mower racing engines. You will be able to modify the engine internally under this class.
• Sportsman – A little bit bigger and faster than the Mini Sportsman since you can have an engine that has more than 8.5HP
• Mod X – Here you can already use single OHV and Twin Opposed VIB engines with up to 20HP. Racing mowers are definitely more powerful in this division.
• Super Sportsman – 25HP, 2 cylinder, 4 stroke engines.
• Pro X – This division is obviously for the pros. This is where you will see a mowers racing at more than 40MPH.

United States Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) also has seven divisions:
• JP Class – This class is for kids. This is one thing that I like about the USLMRA, they exert extra effort to make lawn mower racing a family event.
• Stock Class – Entry level division for adults who want to experience racing mowers. You merely remove the blades from your mower, add your number, and start racing. Not a very exciting division to be in but it is great for getting started.
• IMOW Class (International Mowers of Weeds) –This is a fun division to be in as competition is really tight, because the association set very strict modification rules so that each racing mower will almost have equal power.
• Prepared class – This is where it gets fast. This lawn mower racing division is divided into engine groups where you are allowed to modify the engine, internally, as well as the drive train. You will also need to upgrade the steering for it to hold during high speeds.
• S/P – Here you can already use a 4 stroke engine. Mowers in this division are smooth and fast. This is also where it gets so addicting that you’d want to advance to the next level because you know that it only gets better.
• C/P & B/P – I wasn’t joking when I said it gets better. Ever seen a racing mower going 40MPH? Then watch a race under this class.
• F/X – The dream division of all lawn mower racing enthusiasts. You can do almost anything to your mower in this class. Modify the internals of the engine, add a torque converter, use kart tires, open the exhaust, you name it, you can do it here.

Lawn mower racing is way better and more exciting than others might think. You actually have to experience it to know how thrilling it is to be behind a racing mower wheel. The adrenaline rush is comparable to what you’ll experience when racing cars.

Tips for Painting Your Racing Lawnmower

The first thing that you have to think about before painting your racing lawnmower is the color scheme. This is important as some colors add more appeal while others make it look dull and lifeless.

Bright colors like orange, red, bright green and yellow appear to be the favorite choice among racers, although there are some who say that green is bad luck in racing. Good thing speed was never what John Deere was after.

Dark colors like black and brown don’t look as good on a racing lawnmower. They may look good on cars, but they appear lifeless and are less noticeable under the lights. The main goal for painting your racing lawnmower is to catch the eyes of spectators and potential sponsors.

It is also important to choose the right decals for your mower. They need to contrast with the paint so it can be noticed. Stripes are a good idea as they make your mower look faster on the tracks. Two-tone paint jobs with bright decals are becoming more popular.

Paint jobs should be done during the winter. This gives you all the time you need to break down your racing lawnmower and paint individual parts. You can even paint the engine and the frame to make it stand out and get noticed by potential sponsors.

As for the engine, you might use light color paint like yellow. This way you can immediately notice if the engine has an oil leak. This alert could save you from the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish).

Before painting your racing lawnmower, make sure that the surface is ready. Sand the entire surface with a minimum of 200 grit. After sanding, make sure to thoroughly clean the surface with water to remove dust, you don’t want to start painting while there is still dust on the racing mower.

You’ll also want to use a solvent-based cleaner to get rid of excess oil or grease on the surface prior to painting your racing mower.

For those parts you don’t want painted, like the wirings and tires, it is advisable to cover them with newspaper or a drop cloth and masking tape to keep them from spray. Although, who knows, you might start a new racing mower trend with yellow tires.

Safety is always a concern when painting your racing lawnmower. Make sure that you are in a well ventilated area when painting. It is advisable to wear a respirator to protect your lungs from the chemicals. You’ll also want to wear a hat unless you want your hair to match the color of your racing mower.

Dust ruins all paint jobs, so before painting, either wet the floor or cover it with newspaper or some sort of drop cloth.

The key to a professional looking paint job is to apply a coat of primer first, then wet-sand the surface with a 320 grit or higher fine paper. Clean the surface once again with a solvent-based cleaner and you’re racing lawnmower is now ready for the finishing coats.

2 to 3 coats are advisable for the brightest finish. You may also consider applying a clear coat for added sheen. If you choose to do so, apply the coat 12 hours after your last coating.

After that, you can go ahead and take the racing mower for a spin. Don’t forget to take a few racing lawnmower photos for your sponsor as well.

The Thrill of Mower Racing

I almost laughed when I first heard about mower racing. There were a couple of guys talking about it in a really excited tone, and it got me wondering what’s exciting about a racing mower? I mow our lawn every week and it’s never an exciting task, the mower couldn’t even reach 10mph. It would be a lame and boring race if mower racing indeed exists.

That was what I thought until a cousin of mine introduced me to it. He got me to accompany him on one of his races and little did I know that I was going to be hooked to the sport from that day on.

I was at awe the whole time I was watching them race. I didn’t know that a racing mower could actually reach speeds of up to 60mph, much more drift on tight turns. It was a jaw dropping experience and I admitted to my cousin that what I saw got me really interested to mower racing.

On our way home, I couldn’t help but think of our family mower and the things that I needed to do to make it fit for the tracks. The whole journey home was a question and answer portion between me and my cousin. And the topic is all about a racing mower.

At home, my cousin told me more about lawn mower racing and that I needed to join an association or club in order to race. He wanted to me to try and race under the stock divisions first, where you will be racing mowers at speeds of 10mph, but I thought I was skilled enough to start racing on higher divisions.

And so we started tinkering with our family mower, we removed some parts to make it lighter and added some performance parts to make it a racing mower. You will actually feel that you are modifying a race car’s engine while working on a mower’s engine. It is a racing engine anyway.

After that, I joined the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association and registered for my first race. The registration itself and anticipation already give me an adrenaline rush so you can just imagine what the feeling is on the day of the race.

The race day was an experience that I will never forget. I was excited and at the same time nervous about my first race. My palms were sweaty and I kept pacing while watching the first few mower racing events.

And when it was my time to get on my racing mower, my energy was so high and I was full of anticipation. The moment I saw that green flag, I started roaring off the tracks and started tackling turns and passing my competition.

I didn’t actually worry about my competitors at that time because I was so busy savoring the experience and thrill of my first mower racing event. I didn’t win the race but the experience is well worth more than any trophy. And I got to test the racing mower that my cousin and I built.