Louvers on a cub cadet

[Mike Rouse]

Joe's cub cadet lawn tractor was getting hot after he installed the Honda v twin. The solution was to punch some louvers in the side and the hood.
We had a lot of fun making the cub into a hot rod.
Here are a few pictures of us punching louvers at my shop.

[Mike Rouse]

Here are the photos. You can see the full resolution shots at:

http://www.rousecustomfabrication.com/cubcadet.html

[FriarTuck]

Hey Mike, nice job on the Louvers. Is that by chance Joe Hartson? I talked to him today on the phone, and he mentioned he'd been over to visit your shop recently. Just guessing.

Tell me it ain't so, that you're gonna miss MetalMeet this year. Geez....you're a plank owner. You can't not be here. :lol:

Tuck

[Mike Rouse]

That is Joe. He is the owner of that hot rod cub cadet.
My plans may change. Just can't be sure right now.
Mike..

[Darren M.]

Those look great. Sorry for my ignorance, a FNG, but could you tell me what you used to make those? I'm playing with the idea of having a louver press in house and would LOVE to make one, or buy one for a decent price.
Thanks,
FNG Darren M.

[jvo]

Come on Mike, you can't tease us like that. I need to see underneath the louvers also. I don't know anyone who's swapped a motorcycle motor onto a lawn tractor. That's pretty cool. Let's see the pics. John V.O.

[Mike Rouse]

John, The v twin is not a motorcycle engine. It is one Joe installed to be more reliable than the original engine.
Still cool though!

Darren,
The machine is one of my own design. It is shown in a couple of the pictures. It is hand operated and very accurate and easy to use.
Mike

[Homemade44]

The IH 682 Cub Cadet came with a 17 HP Kolher engine originally. It is a very expensive engine to repair or replace, $2000 for a new one and about half that for rebuild. There is a replacement 18 HP Honda V twin complete with all the mounts and adaptors for $1200 so I bought one and installed it, but after running it you couldn't touch the hood. The new engine has electronic ignition and other components that don't like a lot of heat. The solution was to louver the hood and side panels to let the heat out. Mike was kind enough to do the louvering for me. His louver press is one he designed and built himself. It is simple and will be inexpensive to build. I am in the process of making the dies for mine and will copy his design. It is a mechanical press and really works slick.

Thanks Mike for the help.

Joe Hartson