Mini-Trucks Built With Lawn Mower Parts

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #4, Page #22

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Larry Stockton has a passion for building detailed scale model trucks from parts off riding mowers.
    “I use axles, motors and steering from riding lawn mowers, and the rest is largely salvage,” says Stockton. “The semi was my first project.”
    What he created was an amazingly realistic mini-semi. The tractor is 7 ft. long, and the trailer adds 12 ft. Stockton stripped down the mower, lengthened the frame and built the tractor around it, complete with working lights, air intake, side mirrors and chrome stacks with heat shields.
    “I bought the lights new, but the lower halves of the exhaust pipes are steel pipe from a driveshaft. The upper chrome parts are pieces of bed railing from an old pickup. The exhaust stack heat shields are the real thing from the scrap yard,” he says.
    Stockton sized everything to match the width of the lawn mower. The biggest challenge was adding the extra belts and pulleys needed to connect the 12 hp engine and drive on the stretched frame.
    “I used pieces of tread plate to dress up the tractor and trailer, including the box on the trailer,” says Stockton. “The trailer bed is made from plywood panels with steel trim.”
    The cab has an open back, giving Stockton access to the original steering, clutch and 6-gear transmission. He fabricated a hand brake for the rig. His seat rides just ahead of the trailer.
    “I used the mower rear end for the lead drive axle, but all the other axles to the rear are drag axles, just lawn mower wheels on steel rod axles,” says Stockton. “I give kids rides around my yard with the trailer and have had it in the local Christmas parade twice.”
    Stockton’s 9-ft. wrecker is equally accurate in detail with air intakes on the sides and forward tipping hood. Like the semi, it contains axles, motor and steering from a riding lawn mower. The metal cab and body were fashioned from a 300-gal. fuel tank.
    “I flattened it out, hammered it down, cut it apart and put it back together,” says Stockton. “I do a lot of woodworking and decided to do wood trim, bumper and steps.”
    Stockton used steel pails for the air canisters and tread plate for trim. The exhaust stacks are made from the same driveshaft and heat shield as the semi, but without the chrome. Steering, clutch and brake are operated from the open rear of the cab. The driver side panel behind the stack opens to give him access to his seat.
    The boom is made from 2 by 3-in. steel tubing with a small boat-type, hand powered cable winch. Winch saddles are made from old truck mud flaps.
“I still don’t have working lights, but otherwise it is about finished,” says Stockton.
    “People laugh when they see what I do with these things, but I enjoy it,” says Stockton. “I used to work on classic cars, but they have gotten so expensive. This doesn’t cost much, and it’s fun.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Stockton, 8472 Co. Rd. 6890, West Plains, Mo. 65775 (ph 417 293-2200; rabble_5@hotmail.com).

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Mini-Trucks Built With Lawn Mower Parts AG WORLD Larry Stockton has a passion for building detailed scale model trucks from parts off riding mowers “I use axles motors and steering from riding lawn mowers and the rest is largely salvage ” says Stockton “The semi was my first project ” What he created was an amazingly realistic mini-semi The tractor is 7 ft long and the trailer adds 12 ft Stockton stripped down the mower lengthened the frame and built the tractor around it complete with working lights air intake side mirrors and chrome stacks with heat shields “I bought the lights new but the lower halves of the exhaust pipes are steel pipe from a driveshaft The upper chrome parts are pieces of bed railing from an old pickup The exhaust stack heat shields are the real thing from the scrap yard ” he says Stockton sized everything to match the width of the lawn mower The biggest challenge was adding the extra belts and pulleys needed to connect the 12 hp engine and drive on the stretched frame “I used pieces of tread plate to dress up the tractor and trailer including the box on the trailer ” says Stockton “The trailer bed is made from plywood panels with steel trim ” The cab has an open back giving Stockton access to the original steering clutch and 6-gear transmission He fabricated a hand brake for the rig His seat rides just ahead of the trailer “I used the mower rear end for the lead drive axle but all the other axles to the rear are drag axles just lawn mower wheels on steel rod axles ” says Stockton “I give kids rides around my yard with the trailer and have had it in the local Christmas parade twice ” Stockton’s 9-ft wrecker is equally accurate in detail with air intakes on the sides and forward tipping hood Like the semi it contains axles motor and steering from a riding lawn mower The metal cab and body were fashioned from a 300-gal fuel tank “I flattened it out hammered it down cut it apart and put it back together ” says Stockton “I do a lot of woodworking and decided to do wood trim bumper and steps ” Stockton used steel pails for the air canisters and tread plate for trim The exhaust stacks are made from the same driveshaft and heat shield as the semi but without the chrome Steering clutch and brake are operated from the open rear of the cab The driver side panel behind the stack opens to give him access to his seat The boom is made from 2 by 3-in steel tubing with a small boat-type hand powered cable winch Winch saddles are made from old truck mud flaps “I still don’t have working lights but otherwise it is about finished ” says Stockton “People laugh when they see what I do with these things but I enjoy it ” says Stockton “I used to work on classic cars but they have gotten so expensive This doesn’t cost much and it’s fun ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Larry Stockton 8472 Co Rd 6890 West Plains Mo 65775 ph 417 293-2200; rabble_5@hotmail com