Giant Tricycle Powered By 3 1/2 Hp. Engine

Giant Tricycle Powered By 3 1/2 Hp Engine AG WORLD “I came up with the idea to build a giant 9-ft tall high-wheel tricycle similar to the ones from the late 1800’s It’s always a big hit at parades and shows ” says William Green Wilburton Okla     The giant tricycle can carry 2 adult passengers on back It has a top speed of about 5 1/2 mph and rides on an 8-ft high front wheel and 5 1/2-ft tall rear wheels The rear wheels are driven by a 3 1/2 hp 1-cyl engine that belt-drives the hydrostatic transmission off an old riding mower which in turn chain-drives the rear axle     The metal driver’s seat is off a piece of farm equipment and the 2-person seat on back was built from scratch A set of 8-in wide metal pegs lead up to the seat with leather streamers hanging down from the handlebar hand grips     “I call it my ‘Rolls Canardly’ which is a pun on Rolls Royce and a fancy-sounding name for a car that doesn’t work very well It rolls down one hill and canardly get up the next ” says Green “I built it last summer intending to use it as a yard ornament but then I decided I wanted to ride it so I had a lot more work to do I painted the frame and wheels red because we were always IH fans and because years ago all little trikes were painted red and white     “People get very excited when they see me on my giant tricycle in parades We’ve won several prizes in parades because it’s so different ”     The machine is equipped with hand-operated boat motor controls including the gear shifter and speed lever A cable leads from the controls down to the engine     The hydraulic disc brake off a small motorcycle is attached to the center of the front wheel A hose runs from the brake to a small hydraulic cylinder located in front of the seat “I use a foot-operated metal arm to slow down and pull back on the speed lever to stop the hydrostatic transmission ” says Green     The wheels were made from big metal spools that underground cable is stored on until used by utility companies Their 1 1/2-in wide rims are covered by 1/4-in thick strips of rubber All the wheels are partially covered by white expanded metal “fenders” which are tach-welded to metal bars that come out the center of each wheel     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup William Green P O Box 92 Wilburton Okla 74578 ph 918 448-3479; bettya green@yahoo com

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