Family Teams Up For Custom Tractor Build
In 2012, when he was 9 years old, Ben Beiter was wide-eyed with excitement when he saw a custom-built garden tractor at an Indiana farm show. “I want one,” he exclaimed to his dad, Dave, who agreed to help Ben pursue his dream. That dream-to-reality journey required nearly 12 years, culminating when Ben finally rolled his shiny Colt Finger-Pincher 4320 onto the grounds of a Laurelville, Ohio, tractor show in 2023.
Dave Beiter says there was a lot of planning, procuring, designing, scraping, sanding, assembling, testing, re-fitting, painting, and putting it off till later that went into the project over the decade. His work and other renovation projects moved the custom build to 2021.
They acquired a 3000/4000 series Ingersoll garden tractor to scavenge its hydraulic pump, power steering, travel control valve, transaxle, and miscellaneous fittings. The second part of the frame was from an Ingersoll 3014. They swapped out the original 3000 series hydraulic motors for those on the 400/4000 series to better accommodate 16-in. tires.
Ben wanted a special look for the front end, supplied perfectly by the hood, grille, and dash tower from a Case 155 garden tractor. They acquired other parts from various sources and installed a P220 Onan engine that Dave had from a different project tractor.
To create an articulated frame, the Beiters enlisted the help of a local fabricator, who produced a perfect design. Dave says a lot of trial and error was needed to mount the front transaxle and steering cylinders, but they succeeded with the tractor having a wider turning radius than initially planned.
Ben chose deep-offset steel Ingersoll wheels with Carlisle True Power 26x12-12 tires. That combination required a 2-in. frame lift, and the rear wheels were topped with Case 200 series fenders. They used parts from Case and Ingersoll equipment made in the 1960s and mated them to frames built in the 1990s without any modifications.
To fit the Onan engine in place, they raised the grille about an inch and the gauge tower about 2 in., then installed a twin-roll oil cooler from a 3000 series Ingersoll. The power steering rotary valve slid into the dash assembly. Slight modifications were needed to mount the travel control and power lift levers.
Ben bought a reproduction steel pan and cushion seat, and they found a reproduction period-correct steering wheel and center cap. A hinged-lid toolbox under the seat raised the seat to the desired height. Rather than installing brakes on the rear wheels, Ben welded a factory-original brake mount on the front frame and installed the band in reverse. He says front braking allows him to do burnouts without ruining the brakes.
Final touches included 2-in. diameter stainless steel exhaust stacks with rain flappers. They used CNH brand Iron Guard paint in the 1996 Colt paint scheme of power white and power red.
Dave Beiter says the entire project was fun and exciting with Ben, his brother Jonathan, and sister Rosemary all involved at various times. Ben says the finished tractor is incredible and everything he dreamed it could be.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Beiter Family, Pleasantville, Ohio.
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Family Teams Up For Custom Tractor Build TRACTORS Antiques In 2012 when he was 9 years old Ben Beiter was wide-eyed with excitement when he saw a custom-built garden tractor at an Indiana farm show “I want one ” he exclaimed to his dad Dave who agreed to help Ben pursue his dream That dream-to-reality journey required nearly 12 years culminating when Ben finally rolled his shiny Colt Finger-Pincher 4320 onto the grounds of a Laurelville Ohio tractor show in 2023 Dave Beiter says there was a lot of planning procuring designing scraping sanding assembling testing re-fitting painting and putting it off till later that went into the project over the decade His work and other renovation projects moved the custom build to 2021 They acquired a 3000/4000 series Ingersoll garden tractor to scavenge its hydraulic pump power steering travel control valve transaxle and miscellaneous fittings The second part of the frame was from an Ingersoll 3014 They swapped out the original 3000 series hydraulic motors for those on the 400/4000 series to better accommodate 16-in tires Ben wanted a special look for the front end supplied perfectly by the hood grille and dash tower from a Case 155 garden tractor They acquired other parts from various sources and installed a P220 Onan engine that Dave had from a different project tractor To create an articulated frame the Beiters enlisted the help of a local fabricator who produced a perfect design Dave says a lot of trial and error was needed to mount the front transaxle and steering cylinders but they succeeded with the tractor having a wider turning radius than initially planned Ben chose deep-offset steel Ingersoll wheels with Carlisle True Power 26x12-12 tires That combination required a 2-in frame lift and the rear wheels were topped with Case 200 series fenders They used parts from Case and Ingersoll equipment made in the 1960s and mated them to frames built in the 1990s without any modifications To fit the Onan engine in place they raised the grille about an inch and the gauge tower about 2 in then installed a twin-roll oil cooler from a 3000 series Ingersoll The power steering rotary valve slid into the dash assembly Slight modifications were needed to mount the travel control and power lift levers Ben bought a reproduction steel pan and cushion seat and they found a reproduction period-correct steering wheel and center cap A hinged-lid toolbox under the seat raised the seat to the desired height Rather than installing brakes on the rear wheels Ben welded a factory-original brake mount on the front frame and installed the band in reverse He says front braking allows him to do burnouts without ruining the brakes Final touches included 2-in diameter stainless steel exhaust stacks with rain flappers They used CNH brand Iron Guard paint in the 1996 Colt paint scheme of power white and power red Dave Beiter says the entire project was fun and exciting with Ben his brother Jonathan and sister Rosemary all involved at various times Ben says the finished tractor is incredible and everything he dreamed it could be Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Beiter Family Pleasantville Ohio
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