Two-Wheel "Gravity Car"

Two-Wheel "Gravity Car" FARM HOME Novelty Items 29-5-44 "I built this two-wheeled gravity car from a reel made to hold plastic tubing. It's a real crowd pleaser at parades," says Jerry Becker, Algona, Iowa. The "gravity car" steers like a skid steer loader and can spin in circles. The 8-ft. dia. steel wheels are connected together by a U-shaped "hub" made from 2 by 4 rectangular tubing. The operator sits in a pod that swings back and forth like a pendulum on the U-shaped hub. Power is provided by a 6 hp Briggs & Stratton engine connected to a hydrostatic transmission. The engine chain-drives a pair of 8-in. rubber wheels which never touch the ground but are constantly spinning. The wheels ride between two different size rings, one above the other, inside each wheel. A pair of levers, one on each side of the operator, are used to control the rig's direction. Pushing forward on the levers causes each rubber wheel to go down against the bottom ring and throws the weight of the pod forward of center, allowing gravity to take over and start rolling both big wheels forward. Pulling back on the levers causes the rubber wheels to go up against the top ring and throws the weight of the pod backward of center, allowing gravity to take over again and start rolling both big wheels backward. To rotate the unit in a circle, Becker pulls one lever forward and pushes the other lever backward. "I call it a gravity car because the weight of gravity pulling front of center makes the rig go forward or reverse. I show it often in parades, and people are always baffled and amazed as they watch me operate it." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jerry Becker, 201 E. McGregor no. 8, Algona, Iowa 50511(ph 515 295-7151).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.