Snowmobile On Wheels
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"It's fun to drive and gets a lot of looks wherever I go," says Dean Wirick, West Liberty, Ohio, about the 4-wheeled ATV he made from an old John Deere snowmobile. The converted 1979 John Deere Trailfire snowmobile still has the original 340 cc engine and variable speed snowmobile transmission. Wirick equipped the rig with 8-in. tires from a riding mower on front, and 12-in. tires on back.
"I built it because I already had three snowmobiles but no 4-wheelers," says Wirick. "I call it the Wild Thing because riding it is such a wild experience. It'll go up to 50 mph yet the engine is geared down so it'll also creep in low gear.
"Sometimes I take it to antique tractor shows where I put out a sign that says, æNo snow needed'."
Wirick cut off the snowmobile tracks and skis and bolted a homemade axle on back. He fastened a bracket where the skis used to be and welded spindles off a riding mower to them.
The next step was to weld a sprocket on the snowmobile's jackshaft on front and another sprocket on the rear axle. A heavy-duty chain off a manure spreader runs down the middle of machine and around the sprockets.
"I already had the snowmobile and paid $100 for the axle, sprockets and chain. The hardest part of the job was lining the chain up and making sure everything was straight.
"I wouldn't try this idea on a bigger, more powerful snowmobile because you'd go too fast to be safe. I don't drive it on rough ground because the snowmobile doesn't have any suspension and will bounce around a lot. Also, it's probably not a good idea for kids to ride it because it's a bit tricky to control," notes Wirick.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dean Wirick, 7005 St. Rt. 68 N., West Liberty, Ohio 43357 (ph 937 699-0399).
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Snowmobile On Wheels ATV S ATV S It s fun to drive and gets a lot of looks wherever I go says Dean Wirick West Liberty Ohio about the 4-wheeled ATV he made from an old John Deere snowmobile The converted 1979 John Deere Trailfire snowmobile still has the original 340 cc engine and variable speed snowmobile transmission Wirick equipped the rig with 8-in tires from a riding mower on front and 12-in tires on back I built it because I already had three snowmobiles but no 4-wheelers says Wirick I call it the Wild Thing because riding it is such a wild experience It ll go up to 50 mph yet the engine is geared down so it ll also creep in low gear Sometimes I take it to antique tractor shows where I put out a sign that says æNo snow needed Wirick cut off the snowmobile tracks and skis and bolted a homemade axle on back He fastened a bracket where the skis used to be and welded spindles off a riding mower to them The next step was to weld a sprocket on the snowmobile s jackshaft on front and another sprocket on the rear axle A heavy-duty chain off a manure spreader runs down the middle of machine and around the sprockets I already had the snowmobile and paid $100 for the axle sprockets and chain The hardest part of the job was lining the chain up and making sure everything was straight I wouldn t try this idea on a bigger more powerful snowmobile because you d go too fast to be safe I don t drive it on rough ground because the snowmobile doesn t have any suspension and will bounce around a lot Also it s probably not a good idea for kids to ride it because it s a bit tricky to control notes Wirick Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dean Wirick 7005 St Rt 68 N West Liberty Ohio 43357 ph 937 699-0399
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