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Twin Garden Tractor Built By Teenagers
Over the years FARM SHOW has published a number of stories about the amazing side-by-side tractors built by Harry Lee of Elnora, Ind. His one-of-a-kind tractors inspired a pair of Indiana teenagers to combine a pair of old Wheelhorse garden tractors.
Derek and Trent Barger of Crothersville are only 15 and 1
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Twin Garden Tractor Built By Teenagers TRACTORS Made-It-Myself 31-5-25 Over the years FARM SHOW has published a number of stories about the amazing side-by-side tractors built by Harry Lee of Elnora, Ind. His one-of-a-kind tractors inspired a pair of Indiana teenagers to combine a pair of old Wheelhorse garden tractors.
Derek and Trent Barger of Crothersville are only 15 and 13 years old, respectively, but they did most of the work themselves. Their proud grandfather, Cooney Barger, painted the tractors. They've been demonstrating the twin tractor at local antique engines shows, where it's quite a conversation piece.
The two tractors have identical engines and transmissions, and each 6 hp engine drives its own set of wheels. Both engines drive their own clutch and 3-speed transmission. The front axles of the two tractors are connected together as are the tie rods.
"Our Dad and Grandpa have worked on small engines and cars all their lives. We got our training from them," says Derek. "We can steer the tractor from either seat, using either engine. We can also run both tractors at the same time because the two engines run at the same rpm's and the transmission gears and engine speeds are synchronized. If only one person is driving, he can put both tractors in gear."
They used steel tubing to build a pair of exhaust mufflers. "It makes the twin tractor sound like a Harley motorcycle," says Derek.
The boys bought the tractors at swap meets. The original Tecumseh engines were worn out so they replaced them with Briggs & Stratton models.
A chain connects the two steering columns together.
The foot clutches and hand throttles for both tractors are also connected. A hand-operated lever on each tractor, that was originally used to raise and lower the mower deck and other attachments, is still on each tractor but they aren't used any more.
"The only modification we had to make to fit the new engines was to enlarge existing bolt holes in each tractor's frame. We couldn't find two matching hoods - one of the hoods is off a 1963 Wheelhorse - which is why they look different," he notes.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Cooney Barger, 12877 E. Co. Rd. 200S, Crothersville, Ind. 47229 (ph 812 523-3594).
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