Scooter Built From Riding Mower

Scooter Built From Riding Mower ATV'S ATV'S 33-1-26 "I'm quite proud of my gas-powered scooter. People are always asking where we bought it," says Gary Spallinger, Waterloo, Ind., about the scooter he built from an old riding mower. The scooter measures 30 in. wide by 40 in. long and is 36 in. high at the handlebars. It's powered by a 3 1/2 hp Briggs & Stratton engine. "I built it because we go to a lot of tractor shows, and my wife was having trouble walking long distances. I started looking for something for her to ride," says Spallinger. "We wanted something different from a golf cart or electric-powered chair. At a show in Ohio I met a man named Ed Cox (Sidney, Ohio ph 937 492-1856) who had a little gas-powered scooter. He makes the base frame and sells them for about $150, and then people can make their own scooter from there. So I bought one from him." Spallinger already had the scooter's 3 1/2 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, front tire and a seat. He found a rear engine riding mower with a differential, wheels and tires. He made a jackshaft to go between the engine and differential. The engine belt-drives a 9-tooth sprocket that chain-drives the rear axle. He mounted a pulley and foot pedals to use as a dead man clutch for safety. "For steering I used the handlebars off a bicycle. There's also a bicycle basket on the handlebars," says Spallinger. "For brakes I mounted another pulley on the jackshaft and used a piece of V-belt fastened to the frames and up to a pedal to stop the scooter. "We really enjoy riding it at shows. I can get the ground speed down to a fast walk. I added a hitch on back to pull small carts or trailers." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Spallinger, 3933 CR 26, Waterloo, Ind. 46793 (ph 260 837-2702).

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