Chore Tractor

Chore tractor TRACTORS Miscellaneous 15-5-33 I used junk parts to build this "chore" tractor equipped with a 3-pt. hitch and large lugged rear tires salvaged from an old manure spreader. It's highly maneuverable and has great traction. I use it to pull a one-bottom moldboard plow, 6 1/2-ft. wide powered mower, 5-ft. harrow, 3 by 4-ft. cart, 1-row sweet corn planter, and 40-in. blade. The individual wheel brakes and power steering let me turn short and easy. The lugged manure spreader wheels provide great traction. I use one lever to operate the hand clutch and another lever to operate the 3-pt. hydraulic hitch. I spent $500 to build it. A commercial tractor with comparable features would probably cost about $5,000. I used 3-in. channel iron to build the frame. The rear axle was salvaged from a 1958 Pontiac car. I shortened it up to 40-in. wide. I cut the spindle off the steering column of an old Massey tractor and used it to make the front axle. The front wheels were salvaged from an old side delivery rake. The tractor is powered by a 10 hp electric start Tecumseh gas engine and equipped with a 4-speed transmission from a Chevrolet 3/4-ton pickup. Power steering is provided by the car's steering pump, along with the steering column and wheel. The hood was fashioned out of sheet metal and an old combine sieve was used to make the grille. My son-in-law painted the tractor Allis-Chalmers orange and stenciled the words "Dallas Chalmers" onto the tractor, as well as the model number "D-88" - a reminder of the year the tractor was built. (Dallas Gutzmann, At. 1, Box 24, Pierce, Neb. 68767 ph 402 329-6631)

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