He Built His Own "Gator"

He Built His Own "Gator" ATV'S ATV'S 28-2-32 A "home-built Gator" is what Harry Engeland of Stratford, Ontario calls his handy chore machine, built from an old Roper garden tractor. The tractor's motor was no good, so Engeland decided to rebuild the machine. First, he extended the front axle about 4 in. The new 5 hp motor was in the way to change gears, so he put in an electric-over-air shift. A bus seat and a 3 by 3 1/2-ft. dump box at the back completed the unit. The motor is located underneath the dump box. "Initially, I had tried making it a 12-volt, but it didn't work out because the 12-volt motor I had was insufficient," Engeland says. "With the 5 hp, it works really well. I use it for yard work and giving the grandchildren rides." The unit cost him just under $1,000 for materials and took one winter to do. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harry Engeland, R.R. 4, Stratford, Ontario, Canada N5A 6S5 (ph 519 273-1983; fax 519 271-1826).

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