"Built From Scratch" Articulated Utility Tractor

Built From Scratch Articulated Utility Tractor TRACTORS Made-It-Myself For about $1 400 Canadian farmer Marshall Pfannmuller put together an articulated 4-WD utility tractor that he uses for all kinds of chores around the farm      I built it entirely from the ground up It s only 32 in wide and 69 in long but it s big enough to do all kinds of jobs It is steered by the articulation joint at the center and also oscillates back and forth at the articulation joint to keep all four wheels in contact with the ground at all times      The tractor is primarily driven by the front wheels and has 4-WD on demand Setting it up this way avoids the scuffing of the lawn that can occur with other 4-WD vehicles Yet you can kick in to 4-WD when needed to move snow or dirt      The tractor spins around in its tracks It has a hydrostatic transmission controlled by a single pedal foot control for speed and direction It s much more maneuverable than conventional lawn tractors and ATV s      The sub-frames are made of 1 1/4-in sq tubing I was given two small 4:1 differentials from GM cars made in Britain I narrowed them up and modified them to accept standard Spicer universal joints      The engine is a 16 hp Tecumseh It drives a Model 11 Eaton hydrostatic transmission which I purchased at a receivership sale The transmission s charge pump provides the hydraulic pressure via a Gresen control valve to a small double acting ram mounted in the steering column housing which in turn operates the lift arm for attachments      The telescoping steering wheel drives a small drum wound with 1/4-in aircraft style cable which controls the articulating steering via nylon pulleys The steering ratio is 4:1 lock-to-lock and provides light control with the 13-in wheel      Instead of direct coupling the engine to the transmission I chose a belt drive arrangement via a jackshaft The jackshaft is extended via another dual U-joint assembly to the front to provide an 800 rpm pto for a front-mounted snowblower mower leaf blower and rotary broom The engine runs at a constant 3 000 rpm s when working regardless of traveling speed      Attachments slide into a lift arm which I fabricated from the same size square tubing as a receiver hitch on a standard pickup truck A single pin holds each attachment in place      Tires mount on 12-in rims which came off the same British car as the differentials      The tractor works great The only problem I have is a slight rattle from the U-joint on sharp turns I might replace it with a constant-velocity joint      Top speed is about 12 mph It has four speed ranges      Most of my out-of-pocket cost was for the hydrostatic transmission hoses fittings and a control valve I don t know how many hours I spent building it but I do know that about 60 percent of that time was spent in deep thought     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Marshall G Pfannmuller 4533 44th Ave Drayton Valley Alberta T7A 1G8 Canada ph 780 542-3137

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