POWERED with a single-cylinder motorcycle engine or

is SIMPLE-
any motor of 2 or 3 hp., this tractor is ideal for the small
truck garden. Built as shown, it is essentially a cultivator,
but other units can readily be added to meet existing
conditions.
Start by making the wooden frame, as shown in Fig. 2,
fitting the axle to the underside by means of two bearings
or spring-shackle brackets drilled to
a neat fit. The axle itself is a
standard Ford rear axle, welded to
measure 25 1/4 in. long, as shown in
Fig. 5. You will need a Ford
flywheel gear, which is to be riveted
to a disk of 1/4-in. boiler plate,
inserting the rivets through the
original ring-gear holes, as in Fig. 6.
The plate, in turn, is bolted to a
Ford rear wheel, again locating the
fastenings to match the original
holes, as in Fig. 7. The wheel rims
should be of the demount-able type,
each being fitted with eight metal
cleats welded into place
equidistantly around the
circumference, as in Fig. 4. Fig. 8
pictures the first step of the as-

sembly. The two wheels,

minus the brake drums,
are fitted and keyed to
the Ford axle as in the
original, 1-in. pipe sec-
tions, 1 in. long, being
used for spreaders, as in-
dicated in the photo-
graph. The next thing is
the countershaft. This is
turned from a Ford drive-
shaft, to the dimensions
given in Fig. 11. The end
Ford parts and a motorcycle en-
gine are used in making this sim- of the shaft, which is to
ple garden tractor; the manner of take the Ford bendix
fitting the axle and wheels to the gear, must be turned just
frame is shown above a trifle oversize, so that
the gear can be heated
GARDEN TRACTO
and shrunk on. Because of the greater
speed of the countershaft, it is advisable
to fit grease cups on the bearings. A suit-
able size can be obtained from the Ford
driveshaft and tapped into place. The forward so that each hoe will have a tend-
countershaft pulley is made up according
to Fig. 10, using a Ford rear hub and a ency to drag straight back when the trac-
Ford brake drum. Bore the hub so that it tor is in use. One important point here:
will fit tightly over the countershaft and You will notice that the cultivator is sup-
tap for a setscrew in order to make every- ported by two strap-iron arms at the rear
and by a V-shaped hanger at the front.
Be sure that these are parallel, as can be
seen in Fig. 18. Otherwise, either the front
or rear steels will dig in at various depths.
Now we come to the motor. You can
get fairly good results from a 3/4-hp. mo-
tor although one of 2 or 3 hp. is prefer-

thing solid. Fig. 12 shows the completed

countershaft being bolted to the frame. This
must be done carefully, so that the bendix
gear will mesh perfectly with the ring gear on
the wheel. Test before going further by
pushing the partly finished tractor backward
and forward across the floor.
The cultivator selected is a five-tooth ar-
rangement, intended principally for work
between rows. The general details of the
construction are given in Figs. 15, 16 and
17. The control arms, which regulate the
depth of the cut, must be slightly curved,
as in Fig. 13, in order to slide freely. The
teeth are simply spring ends, cut to fit and
turned over at right angles to allow bolting,
as in Fig. 14. In fastening, locate the holes
 motor is mounted. Various en-
gines will differ here, but in any
case the metal support brackets
should offer no difficulties. As
there is no clutch on this tractor, it
is evident that control must be
through an idler pulley, which,
when released, will let the motor run with-
out transferring the energy to the ■wheels.
This part of the unit is made from a Ford
fan pulley, as shown in Fig. 24, and the
mounting is by means of the original Ford
fan bracket, as shown in Fig. 25. The con-
trol rod runs back to an L-shaped lever,

able. The motor shown here is a made from automobile gas-

single-cylinder motorcycle engine, control fittings, and then up
capable of developing 3 hp. and a the plow handle to another
peak speed of about 3,500 r.p.m. lever taken from an automo-
Thus, running at half speed, this bile emergency brake. In use,
outfit would develop a good trac- a spring holds the idler clear,
tor speed of 2 1/2 miles per motive power being obtained
hour, the gearing being as by depressing the control le-
shown in Fig. 19, and based on a ver so that the idler is forced
2 1/4-in. pulley at the motor end.
Inasmuch as a motorcycle engine
will be the choice of the average
builder, a detail on how the
pulley is adapt-ed is given in Figs.
20 and 21. The original sprocket
is removed and a 1-in. length of 1
1/2-in. pipe nip-ple is brazed into
place. This is turned into a
length of 1 1/2-in. pipe coupling,
which, with the flanges shown in
Fig. 20, make the actual pulley.
The V-groove on the heavier
flange makes the take-off to the
air-circulating fan. In mounting
the completed pulley, the original
shaft key and nut are used as
before, as shown in Fig. 21.
Fig. 22 details how the
against the belt. Notice, in Fig.
27, that the circulating fan is sim-
ply a small electric fan coupled
with a small V-pulley. The whole
unit is held with a suitable brack-
et from No. 16-gauge metal stock
clamped to the top of the cylin-
der, as in Fig. 26. Starting is done
by inserting the crank between
the spokes of the wneei to engage
the pin inside the motor pulley, as
shown in Fig. 28. The gas and oil
supply is carried in a small tank
mounted with flat-iron stock, as

shown in Fig. 29. This but it does stamp your work as

can be made from gal- well done.
vanized stock to fit, or In constructing this garden
any small tank can be tractor, it is advisable to follow
adapted for the purpose. the instructions in all details, us-
Don't forget the paint. ing the various parts that have
Of course, it doesn't make been recommended. Where these
the thing run any better, are not available, other similar
parts may have to be substituted
and, in this case, it may be neces-
sary to deviate from the exact
mounting arrangement shown.

MATERIAL LIST
1. 10 ft., 1 3/8 by 3-in. Wh. Oak, 16. 1/8-in. Pipe
for frame Nipple
2. One Axle (Ford rear) 17. Two 1/8 in.
3 Four Spring-Shackle Brackets Locknuts
4. Two Wheels (Ford rear)
5. 7 ft., 1-in. Angle Iron 18. 5ft.,11/2by2-
6. 1/4-in. Boiler Plate, 15 En. in.,Oak
19. One Fan Pulley
(Ford) with
7. Ring Gear (Ford) Bracket
8. One Roar Hub (Ford) 20. Small Electric
9. One 8-in. Brake Drum (Ford) Fan
10. One Driveshaft (Ford) 21. Small V-Pulley
11. Three Spring Leaves (1 22. Two Gas Control
1/2ln,
wide) Levers (from
12. Strap Stock for Cultivator any car)
13. 25 in.. 1-in.T-Stock 23. 5ft.,3/16-
14. 11/2-in. Pipe Coupling in.Rod
15 11/2 in Pipe Nipple 24. Emergency
Brake Handle
(from any car)
25. Two Plow Handles
26. One Bendix Gear (Ford)
27. Motor, Motor Mount, Fasten
ings and Small Items to Com
plete Assembly