Motorized Spreader Gets Lots Of Smiles

1988 - Volume #12, Issue #5, Page #16

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"We get lots of smiles," says Keith Scott, Mound, Minn., about the first-of-its-kind motorized manure spreader he and his father, Ken, built outof a 1941 Deere spreader.
Keith got the idea from a clown car he saw in a parade that was built from a spreader with a motor in it. Since he already had a collection of manure spreaders, Keith decided to motorize one of them.
He chose a 1941 Deere spreader because of its strong, all-metal construction. The spreader was "junked out" and sitting on four flat tires. They blew up the tires - surprisingly they then sand-blasted the body of the, spreader and painted it John Deere green.
Keith bought a 1969 Chevrolet from a friend for $75 and removed the 350 engine, automatic transmission, radiator, drive shaft, power brakes, and rear end. He salvaged a steering column from a 1940 Ford truck and a tie rod from a 1975 Ford pickup.
The Scotts hooked the original apron-gear lever on the spreader to the transmission controls so that when it looks like Keith is putting the apron in gear, he is actually shifting the transmission to park, neutral, drive or reverse. For safety's sake, a kill-switch mounts on the floorboard. The driver must keep his left heel on it at all times to keep the engine running.
The gas tank was fashioned from a 16-gal. beer keg fitted with a 2-in. dia. filler spout and an Allis Chalmers filler cap. Friends helped shorten the drive shaft, wire up the electrical system and put the finishing touches on the spreader. High-back fishing boat seats mount up front and a musical horn was installed as well as halogen headlights.
A hydraulic pump and motor turn the yellow beaters. A second hydraulic motor operates a refrigerator compressor that pumps air into a freon storage tank. The compressed air is used to blast a steam engine whistle.
Although the spreader is capable of speeds up to 70 mph, Keith holds it to speeds of 20 mph or less. He plans to take the spreader to parades, threshers' reunions, and other celebrations throughout the Midwest.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Keith Scott, Box 317, Mound, Minn. 55364 (ph 612 472-2987).

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Motorized Spreader gets Lots of Smiles AG WORLD Ag World 12-5-16 "We get lots of smiles," says Keith Scott, Mound, Minn., about the first-of-its-kind motorized manure spreader he and his father, Ken, built outof a 1941 Deere spreader. Keith got the idea from a clown car he saw in a parade that was built from a spreader with a motor in it. Since he already had a collection of manure spreaders, Keith decided to motorize one of them. He chose a 1941 Deere spreader because of its strong, all-metal construction. The spreader was "junked out" and sitting on four flat tires. They blew up the tires - surprisingly they then sand-blasted the body of the, spreader and painted it John Deere green. Keith bought a 1969 Chevrolet from a friend for $75 and removed the 350 engine, automatic transmission, radiator, drive shaft, power brakes, and rear end. He salvaged a steering column from a 1940 Ford truck and a tie rod from a 1975 Ford pickup. The Scotts hooked the original apron-gear lever on the spreader to the transmission controls so that when it looks like Keith is putting the apron in gear, he is actually shifting the transmission to park, neutral, drive or reverse. For safety's sake, a kill-switch mounts on the floorboard. The driver must keep his left heel on it at all times to keep the engine running. The gas tank was fashioned from a 16-gal. beer keg fitted with a 2-in. dia. filler spout and an Allis Chalmers filler cap. Friends helped shorten the drive shaft, wire up the electrical system and put the finishing touches on the spreader. High-back fishing boat seats mount up front and a musical horn was installed as well as halogen headlights. A hydraulic pump and motor turn the yellow beaters. A second hydraulic motor operates a refrigerator compressor that pumps air into a freon storage tank. The compressed air is used to blast a steam engine whistle. Although the spreader is capable of speeds up to 70 mph, Keith holds it to speeds of 20 mph or less. He plans to take the spreader to parades, threshers' reunions, and other celebrations throughout the Midwest. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Keith Scott, Box 317, Mound, Minn. 55364 (ph 612 472-2987).

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