Home-Built Riding Mower Works Like New

Home-Built Riding Mower Works Like New MOWERS Mowers (31H) 23-2-18 Faced with the chore of havng to cut a 1 1/2-acre lawn but not wanting to spend the money for a commercial mower, Terry Therkilsen, Comfrey, Minn., built his own 3-wheeled, 60-in. riding mower using a car rear axle as a base. "I spent about $700. A new commercial model of comparable capacity would've cost at least $5,000," says Therkilsen. He started with the axle, 14-in. wheels, and steering column out of a 1972 Plymouth Duster. He narrowed the axle down to 50 in. Power is supplied by a 15 hp Onan gas engine that mounts just behind the seat. The engine belt-drives a hydraulic pump that powers a hydraulic motor that chain-drives the axle. The engine also belt-drives a pto shaft that in turn belt-drives the mower's three blades. A 13-in. caster wheel on back was salvaged from an old riding mower. It steers the mower via a chain that wraps around a sprocket on the wheel assembly. The chain connects to a length of steel cable that runs to the steering column. Therkilsen used 3-in. channel iron to build the frame and 12-ga. sheet metal to build the deck. He bought a new aftermarket seat. "The engine has less power than many commercial mowers of comparable size, but that's not a problem because the belts transfer power much more efficiently than the gearboxes found on many commercial models. It works great." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Terry Therkilsen, Progressive Designs, Rt. 1, Box 146, Comfrey, Minn. 56019 (ph 507 723-6130).

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