"Big Wheel" Tricycle

Big Wheel Tricycle FARM HOME Novelty Items Wayne Timm Kasota Minn pulls a home-built over-sized Radio Flyer wagon behind his “big wheel” tricycle Both the tricycle and wagon are painted IH red with IH decals on the tricycle’s fenders The tricycle’s 44-in spoked front wheel is off an old late 1940’s Case ground-driven hay rake The 15-in high back wheels are off a more modern hay rake and are fitted with baby moon hubcaps Power is provided by a 2 1/2 hp International Harvester LB engine equipped with a flywheel that runs off a camshaft To drive the rear wheels he cut down a Ford Model A transmission The transmission connects to the rear end off an old Fiat car He cut 1 ft off each side of the transmission to narrow it up and then welded it back together The main frame is made from 2 1/2-in dia pipe A pipe bender was used to curve the front forks The handlebars measure 3 ft across and are made from 1 1/2-in electrical conduit “In order to keep the conduit from buckling when I tried to bend it I filled it with sand and then put wood plugs in each end ” says Timm The front steering spindle was made out of a big cast gear that came off the hay rake The front forks are made from 1-in dia pipe To make the brakes he copied the brakes on an old Deere B tractor He made a platform with a step on each side The seat is off a Farmall tractor He used old boat trailer fenders to make the rear fenders The wagon rides on 22-in high car spare tires bought for $1 apiece at an auto salvage yard “I wanted to build the wagon twice as big as the original Radio Flyer wagon It rides on 11-in wheels so the 22-in wheels were perfect ” says Timm Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Wayne Timm 48461 367th Ave Kasota Minn 56050 ph 507 625-7865; timmwayne@hotmail com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.