He Makes Machines Out Of Old Toyotas

2004 - Volume #28, Issue #1, Page #29

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Gary Ashcroft is a car recycler but he doesn't go anywhere near a metal crusher. He's more interested in the many ways he can turn old Toyota cars into machines he can use.
  The Manitoba farmer says many old Toyotas are scrapped because their bodies are shot, but they still run nice and smooth. He often picks them up for $100 or less.
  "They seem to run forever," he says. "I've built two riding mowers and two trailers. There was almost no machining or fancy tooling necessary."
  He built a trailer with a 4 by 6-ft. box and another 12 by 5-ft. tandem trailer, using Toyota axles, tires and wheels.
  Whenever Ashcroft couldn't find what he needed on the Toyota, he would get it from the salvage yard.
  He also made a front-deck riding lawn mower using a 1-8 litre Toyota Corolla motor, transmission, rear-end and steering components. The motor is at the back of the unit.
  First, he installed a belt-driven governor. The mower has double chain reduction with a jack shaft to slow it down, according to Ashcroft. The differential was turned upside down by relocating the breather. This results in four forward speeds and one reverse.
  "One side of the axle was cut off to narrow it up. I put a piece of pipe on the axle to make it straight because I don't have a lathe," he says. "The emergency brake serves as an individual wheel brake. The rear axle is homemade, using pipe with pvc pipe inside for bushings. It fits nicely and was cheap to do."
  The steering box and tie rod ends are from the Toyota car. Ashcroft installed an idler arm to make the ratio closer.
  He spring-loaded the 48-in. front mower deck with car hood springs to prevent damage if it hits an obstacle.
  He used an arc welder, drill press, acetylene torch and metal cutting band saw. Very little machine shop work done.
  Including the initial cost of the car, and miscellaneous purchased parts such as pulleys and shafts, the lawn mower cost Ashcroft $1,000. It took about three months of his spare time (20 hrs./week).
  "I've been able to make use of everything on these old Toyota cars," he says.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Ashcroft, Box 4015, R.R. #1, Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1J3 (ph 204 444-2701).

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He Makes Machines Out Of Old Toyotas FARM HOME Cars 28-1-29 Gary Ashcroft is a car recycler but he doesn't go anywhere near a metal crusher. He's more interested in the many ways he can turn old Toyota cars into machines he can use. The Manitoba farmer says many old Toyotas are scrapped because their bodies are shot, but they still run nice and smooth. He often picks them up for $100 or less. "They seem to run forever," he says. "I've built two riding mowers and two trailers. There was almost no machining or fancy tooling necessary." He built a trailer with a 4 by 6-ft. box and another 12 by 5-ft. tandem trailer, using Toyota axles, tires and wheels. Whenever Ashcroft couldn't find what he needed on the Toyota, he would get it from the salvage yard. He also made a front-deck riding lawn mower using a 1-8 litre Toyota Corolla motor, transmission, rear-end and steering components. The motor is at the back of the unit. First, he installed a belt-driven governor. The mower has double chain reduction with a jack shaft to slow it down, according to Ashcroft. The differential was turned upside down by relocating the breather. This results in four forward speeds and one reverse. "One side of the axle was cut off to narrow it up. I put a piece of pipe on the axle to make it straight because I don't have a lathe," he says. "The emergency brake serves as an individual wheel brake. The rear axle is homemade, using pipe with pvc pipe inside for bushings. It fits nicely and was cheap to do." The steering box and tie rod ends are from the Toyota car. Ashcroft installed an idler arm to make the ratio closer. He spring-loaded the 48-in. front mower deck with car hood springs to prevent damage if it hits an obstacle. He used an arc welder, drill press, acetylene torch and metal cutting band saw. Very little machine shop work done. Including the initial cost of the car, and miscellaneous purchased parts such as pulleys and shafts, the lawn mower cost Ashcroft $1,000. It took about three months of his spare time (20 hrs./week). "I've been able to make use of everything on these old Toyota cars," he says. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Ashcroft, Box 4015, R.R. #1, Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada R0E 1J3 (ph 204 444-2701).

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