Shop-Built Tractor Was ‘Too Fast’
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“It took me about a year to build my small custom tractor that had a 4-speed Ford transmission and a cut-down Ford rear end,” says retired steel worker Charles Zook. “The engine was a 4-cyl. flathead from an old IH combine, and when I got that paired with the transmission, the top speed was way over 30 mph. I drove it in parades, idling along in first gear. I’d run it on the road in second and third for fun. I eventually sold it because, with this gearing, it was potentially too dangerous for an 80-plus-year-old guy.”
Zook made the frame out of 2-in. by 2-in. tubular steel, strong enough to carry the old IH combine engine mated to the truck transmission and car rear end. The front and rear wheels were scavenged from a 440 Case garden tractor. Zook says he put duals on the back “because the tractor just looked better with duals than with singles.” The steering was an old Ford assembly mated to tie rods that turned the front wheels.
Zook used extruded aluminum to make the running boards and 1/8-in. sheet steel for fenders and the rear platform. He says those features added a measure of safety and made it look like a factory-built tractor. The seat was from a riding lawn mower. Its overall dimensions were about 5 1/2 ft. wide and 7 ft. long.
The tractor’s McCormick hood, gas tank and air intake were all from the original combine engine. The drum brakes were from the Ford. He added a stainless-steel straight pipe that gave it a nice throaty sound. “The engine started well with the 12-volt battery and electrical system,” Zook says.
Although Zook built the tractor for fun, he occasionally used it to pull a trailer and clean up around his yard. It also had a front hitch.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charles Zook, 6116 S. Hollis Rd., Bartonville, Ill. 61607 (caseallis@yahoo.com).
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Shop-Built Tractor Was ‘Too Fast’ TRACTORS Antiques “It took me about a year to build my small custom tractor that had a 4-speed Ford transmission and a cut-down Ford rear end ” says retired steel worker Charles Zook “The engine was a 4-cyl flathead from an old IH combine and when I got that paired with the transmission the top speed was way over 30 mph I drove it in parades idling along in first gear I’d run it on the road in second and third for fun I eventually sold it because with this gearing it was potentially too dangerous for an 80-plus-year-old guy ” Zook made the frame out of 2-in by 2-in tubular steel strong enough to carry the old IH combine engine mated to the truck transmission and car rear end The front and rear wheels were scavenged from a 440 Case garden tractor Zook says he put duals on the back “because the tractor just looked better with duals than with singles ” The steering was an old Ford assembly mated to tie rods that turned the front wheels Zook used extruded aluminum to make the running boards and 1/8-in sheet steel for fenders and the rear platform He says those features added a measure of safety and made it look like a factory-built tractor The seat was from a riding lawn mower Its overall dimensions were about 5 1/2 ft wide and 7 ft long The tractor’s McCormick hood gas tank and air intake were all from the original combine engine The drum brakes were from the Ford He added a stainless-steel straight pipe that gave it a nice throaty sound “The engine started well with the 12-volt battery and electrical system ” Zook says Although Zook built the tractor for fun he occasionally used it to pull a trailer and clean up around his yard It also had a front hitch Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charles Zook 6116 S Hollis Rd Bartonville Ill 61607 caseallis@yahoo com
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