Powered Wheelbarrow Built From Riding Mower

2017 - Volume #41, Issue #2, Page #18

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“My power wheelbarrow is a hoot to drive,” says Robert Gunter. “It takes the work out of work a little bit.”
    The Conowingo, Md., construction worker converted an old Scotts riding mower to make the motorized wheelbarrow in 2010 when he needed to move mulch without tearing up a yard.
    The mower’s simple design made the conversion relatively simple, Gunter says. He removed unnecessary parts, then unbolted the engine on the front plate and moved it near the steering wheel, setting it sideways so the exhaust is on the side.
    “One important thing is that the tractor is hydrostatic so there was no clutch to deal with,” Gunter notes. “It runs with just one lever – forward, back and central for neutral.”
    One challenge was hooking up the drive belt by adjusting the tensioner, adding a stiffer spring, and getting a shorter belt to fit.
    For steering, Gunter made his own U-joint with a piece of 3/4-in. round stock, offset cross-drilled holes, and yokes on both sides made of 1/8-in. and 3/4-in flat stock. He included grease fittings to prevent it from wearing out. He added a bike cable for braking.
    Gunter removed an 8 cu. ft. plastic tub from an old wheelbarrow and bolted it to the front on angle iron with support brackets and round stock with grease fittings to create a hinge.
    To operate it, Gunter stands on a back platform of welded rebar and steel. He loads the tub, drives away, then manually lifts the back of the tub to dump it.

    Gunter spent about 40 hrs. building the power wheelbarrow and has used it often for work along with his mini excavator in tight spaces where he doesn’t want to tear up the ground.
    “It does well in the mud and even works well on slopes,” he says.

    The powered wheelbarrow is fast, useful and fun, Gunter says. For anyone considering making one he offers two suggestions. To keep it simple, use a hydrostatic tractor, and pay attention to center of gravity and weight distribution.

    Check out a video Gunter and his powered wheelbarrow in action at FARMSHOW.com..
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Gunter, 75 Topeka Rd., Conowingo, Md. 21918 (410-658-5544; digndirt@zoominternet.net).

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Powered Wheelbarrow Built From Riding Mower FARM HOME Miscellaneous “My power wheelbarrow is a hoot to drive ” says Robert Gunter “It takes the work out of work a little bit ”
    The Conowingo Md construction worker converted an old Scotts riding mower to make the motorized wheelbarrow in 2010 when he needed to move mulch without tearing up a yard
    The mower’s simple design made the conversion relatively simple Gunter says He removed unnecessary parts then unbolted the engine on the front plate and moved it near the steering wheel setting it sideways so the exhaust is on the side
    “One important thing is that the tractor is hydrostatic so there was no clutch to deal with ” Gunter notes “It runs with just one lever – forward back and central for neutral ”
    One challenge was hooking up the drive belt by adjusting the tensioner adding a stiffer spring and getting a shorter belt to fit
    For steering Gunter made his own U-joint with a piece of 3/4-in round stock offset cross-drilled holes and yokes on both sides made of 1/8-in and 3/4-in flat stock He included grease fittings to prevent it from wearing out He added a bike cable for braking
    Gunter removed an 8 cu ft plastic tub from an old wheelbarrow and bolted it to the front on angle iron with support brackets and round stock with grease fittings to create a hinge
    To operate it Gunter stands on a back platform of welded rebar and steel He loads the tub drives away then manually lifts the back of the tub to dump it
    Gunter spent about 40 hrs building the power wheelbarrow and has used it often for work along with his mini excavator in tight spaces where he doesn’t want to tear up the ground
    “It does well in the mud and even works well on slopes ” he says
    The powered wheelbarrow is fast useful and fun Gunter says For anyone considering making one he offers two suggestions To keep it simple use a hydrostatic tractor and pay attention to center of gravity and weight distribution
    Check out a video Gunter and his powered wheelbarrow in action at FARMSHOW com
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Robert Gunter 75 Topeka Rd Conowingo Md 21918 410-658-5544; digndirt@zoominternet net

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