need info on mtd mud bug

[thehickfarmer]

i need info on this trike.. i might even need parts.. lbut give me info..

[sick]

I just got a mud bug from my next door neighbour, discovered it in his yard yesterday, it's sooo cool looking. It's pretty much a write off, no engine, sitting in the open for a few years.

A lot of nostalgia so he won't sell it to me. It's now in my garage :) I'll be restoring it over the next couple of days with a 5 HP honda engine from my power washer :O

Strange thing is it has front shocks. The brochures online don't show a springer front end. Anyone tell me the year of such a thing with shocks?

The fiberglass cowling is a lot different too, more "chopper" style, low and long.

I'll take digital pics of the resurrection... stay tuned.

[trikeman]

a few summers ago me and a few friends had one with a dirtbike engine on it, the thing got along good, and handled well, but doing rough off-roadin it beats the hell out of you . but it caught fire, and the axel broke in half, so now it's just junked...

[esoltve]

I just got a mud bug from my next door neighbour, discovered it in his yard yesterday, it's sooo cool looking. It's pretty much a write off, no engine, sitting in the open for a few years.

A lot of nostalgia so he won't sell it to me. It's now in my garage :) I'll be restoring it over the next couple of days with a 5 HP honda engine from my power washer :O

Strange thing is it has front shocks. The brochures online don't show a springer front end. Anyone tell me the year of such a thing with shocks?

The fiberglass cowling is a lot different too, more "chopper" style, low and long.

I'll take digital pics of the resurrection... stay tuned.



The JC Penney Scat Tracker had front shocks....check it out on the 3 wheeler world home page

[sick]

Well, 15 hours of work later and it's running.

I have never had to use a hammer so much to free up nuts and bolts in my life :D

The 5 HP engine just doesn't cut it. Need more power. I put a comet centrifical (sp?) clutch on it and it seems to lock after a couple of minutes of riding due to excessive heat.

Sure does attract the niebours attention running it up and down the street! I love the dual brakes, lock one rear wheel and all power goes to the other wheel. A trike that turns on a dime!

Next step: Hit up the neighbour (owner) for funds for a 12 HP engine and some new tires!

[eelkat]

Hi,

Years ago, before they started production, my Grandmother won a 1971 MTD 3-Wheel MudBug in Apricot Fizz Metal Flake, in a contest at a local hardware store, in Old Orchard Beach, ME. I am told that this model was a "proto-type" and the very first MudBug ever made (#1).

She gave it to my father, and he gave it to me. It's a special item that our family is very proud to own and is treated like an heirloom. I still have this MudBug, but it is no longer running. I would like to restore it, but I know nothing abot mechanics, and I don't know why it stopped running.

The problem is, I have looked high and low for parts and can't even find anyone who has ever heard of this ATV. I looked for web sites and this is the only one I can find that even mentions it. The web site showed pictures of MudBugs, and not a one of them looks exactly like mine. The emblem/sticker on the body is differant, it has eagle hub caps, and the body is much larger than the ones shown. (Mine did come with the ski.)

My question is, since I was told mine was a "proto-type" made before production started for sale to the public, is it possible that I have the only one like it? Is that why mine looks differant from the others? If this is so, how would I go about restoring it? Where can I get parts for it?

Does anyone out there have an MTD MudBug...a year, any model?

Does anyone know the value of an MTD MudBug, how many where made, and where I could get some more of them?

I would like to collect them---but, they seem to be quite rare and hard to trace down. I've yet to find one for sale anywhere.

The artical on this web-sie says that they could go up step hills and sideways---but seems to question the validity of that statement--this is true we take ours to a local sandpit where we drive it on the sides of the banks.

Any info anyone could give me would help greatly. Thanks! :cool:

[Elsinore]

Although this thread has been quiet for some time, for those interested, I picked up an MTD Mud Bug at an auction a couple of years ago. I have the original owners manual that came with it, whcih includes a parts and options list. Lots of good information that I could copy if needed.
My trike is the orange metal flake, and in decent shape with the cool Mud Biug decal. The previous owners flipped it and broke the carb mounts of the Tecumseh H70 electric start motor. I'll be restoring it to working order over the winter, if I can get to it among all the other projects I have.