“Cub Cadet” 8-WD Articulated Tractor
Phil Murphy of Mansfield, Ohio, likes to build machines just for fun. Most start with old Cub Cadet rear ends, including his miniature Cub Cadet road grader (Vol. 40, No. 3). He recently built an 8-WD articulated garden tractor out of two Cub rear ends but it’s painted IH red and gray.
The 8-WD machine rides on 24-in. tall, 8 1/2-in. wide garden tractor tires. Power is supplied by a Briggs & Stratton 8-hp., 2-cyl. engine mounted on the front. The engine is coupled to one of the Cub Cadets’ hydrostatic transmissions. A homemade driveshaft runs from the engine back to both rear ends.
“It’s modeled after a real IH articulated tractor and built mostly from scrap materials,” says Murphy.
The spacer rings for the dual wheels were made by cutting up an old Argon gas tank. Murphy cut the top and bottom off the tank and then cut the rest of the tank into rings the size he needed. He welded bent metal plates onto the outside wheels for bolts to come through the spacers.
The machine steers in the middle by means of a universal joint. “The driveshaft comes through the middle with a universal joint in line with a pair of kingpins, and behind that, I put bearings to let the frame twist the other way,” says Murphy.
Metal foot pedals welded onto both sides of the universal joint area make it easy for the operator to step up onto the seat. The seat bolts down on top of a big “overload” car spring for a comfortable ride and folds forward for protection from the weather.
A long shift lever on one side of the steering wheel is used to go forward or backward. It came off the mower deck on one of the Cub Cadets. Another lever on the opposite side of the steering wheel is used to brake. Murphy made it by welding two garden tractor mower deck lift handles together.
The tractor’s chrome exhaust mufflers are off a Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle. They were cut and bent to fit, then welded onto the Cub Cadets’ original exhausts. Caps taken from the end of Briggs & Stratton starters were mounted on top of each muffler and then sanded and painted black. “The mufflers have baffles in them, so they aren’t real loud,” says Murphy.
A ball hitch and clevis on the back of the tractor are used to pull yard equipment or trailers. They’re attached to a big metal bracket made from heavy-duty angle iron bolted on the back of the tractor.
Chrome chain hooks on each side of the tractor add a decorative touch.
Why did Murphy paint the tractor red? “Because my wife said I was painting too many things yellow and white,” he says. “With the body painted IH red and the wheels IH gray, it’s still an IH tractor.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Phil Murphy, 1958 Ashland Rd., Mansfield, Ohio 44905 (ph 419-589-3524).
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“Cub Cadet” 8-WD Articulated Tractor TRACTORS Conversions Phil Murphy of Mansfield Ohio likes to build machines just for fun and most of them start out with old Cub Cadet rear ends including his miniature Cub Cadet road grader Vol 40 No 3 He recently built an 8-WD articulated garden tractor out of 2 Cub rear ends but it’s painted IH red and gray The 8-WD machine rides on 24-in tall 8 1/2-in wide garden tractor tires Power is supplied by a Briggs & Stratton 8 hp 2-cyl engine mounted on front The engine is coupled to one of the Cub Cadets’ hydrostatic transmissions A homemade driveshaft runs from the engine back to both rear ends “It’s modeled after a real IH articulated tractor and built mostly from scrap materials ” says Murphy The spacer rings for the dual wheels were made by cutting up an old Argon gas tank Murphy cut the top and bottom off the tank and then cut the rest of the tank into rings the size he needed He welded bent metal plates onto the outside wheels for bolts to come through the spacers The machine steers in the middle by means of a universal joint “The driveshaft comes through the middle with a universal joint in line with a pair of kingpins and behind that I put bearings to let the frame twist the other way ” says Murphy Metal foot pedals welded onto both sides of the universal joint area make it easy for the operator to step up onto the seat The seat bolts down on top of a big “overload” car spring for a comfortable ride and folds forward for protection from the weather A long shift lever on one side of the steering wheel is used to go forward or backward It came off the mower deck on one of the Cub Cadets Another lever on the opposite side of the steering wheel is used to brake Murphy made it by welding 2 garden tractor mower deck lift handles together The tractor’s chrome exhaust mufflers are off a Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle They were cut and bent to fit then welded onto the Cub Cadets’ original exhausts Caps taken from the end of Briggs & Stratton starters were mounted on top of each muffler and then sanded and painted black “The mufflers have baffles in them so they aren’t real loud ” says Murphy A ball hitch and clevis on back of the tractor is used to pull yard equipment or trailers They’re attached to a big metal bracket made from heavy duty angle iron that’s bolted on back of the tractor Chrome chain hooks on each side of the tractor add a decorative touch Why did Murphy paint the tractor red? “Because my wife said I was painting too many things yellow and white ” he says “With the body painted IH red and the wheels IH gray it’s still an IH tractor ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Phil Murphy 1958 Ashland Rd Mansfield Ohio 44905 ph 419 589-3524
