DIY Peddle Tractors

There have been a few posts about how Workbench Creations has been a bit quiet lately. I myself have worked on numerous projects, but like most of you here, I did it for my own pleasure and for the people I was doing the work for. But unlike some others, I never really documented my projects - or so I thought.

This past week, I was looking for some certificates I needed because I was going back to school. As I rifled through the boxes (I had no idea which box they were in), I came across some projects I'd done in the past. I worked on these a bit, to make it all more presentable here. I'll lay out the situation.

This happened about 20 years ago. Being single with a good job, good wages, and lots of nephews and nieces, some of them who I was sponsor (godfather) for, I always bought the kids something extra or special for Christmas. But it seemed that Christmas had become too commercialized. The kids open their presents, put the batteries in, press a button, and call it play - for that day and that's it. They probably got very little use out of it after.

So I looked back and thought, "What did I have fun with?" As it turned out, it wasn't even a gift I received but one that was passed down from my oldest brother. An Allis Chalmers WD Peddle Tractor (made from cast aluminium), just like my Dad's AC WD-45. But now they were made from plastic, and you could only get John Deere. Those were not the type of tractors my Dad had.

I decided to make a tractor from plywood. My Dad thought it was a good gesture, but he didn't think the kids would play with it since it wasn't store-bought. I talked to my brother and he said that he would like one for his son. I thought, "What the heck. I'll make three."

At the time, I was fortunate to be in charge of the CNC router shop where I worked. And instead of cutting one (I had to sketch it anyway, and as long as I had the geometry), I decided to cut a PO and use the company's CNC router, which made it only a 15 minute job. I was able to do it on my lunch break, too.

This picture is not the project I ran on one of the routers, but I have very few pictures of the machines themselves.

Here's the model I made so at least you have a little more to go by, considering I didn't document my work much with pictures.

Almost got the whole thing on one 4' x 8' sheet of plywood, too.

When I brought the pieces home for assembly, my Dad wasn't impressed. "Where's the rest?" he asked. But he didn't see what I saw. Still, I have to admit that it did look like a pile of scrap.

At this time, I was searching for the back wheels. I wanted them to have lugs like on the real thing, but I could not find such wheels anywhere. Out of desperation, I called Ertl Toy Company since they make scaled die-cast farm toys. I was surprised that they had them. I had the wheels shipped UPS Red. This was basically overnight, because time is what I did not have.

I had a time with assembling the first one, especially with the steering linkage. I must have worked on it for almost a week, and Christmas was now less than a week away. Dad mentioned that I'd better have a plan "B" in mind. Well, I finally got it done. It wasn't painted, but the hard work was done. I knew that the rest was going to be quick. But how did I know? I had no plan "B".

Then at work I injured my back (pulled muscle) while keeping someone else from getting hurt. I was in bad shape. When I got out of the Doctors office that afternoon, I was driving back to the farm and wishing that I had a plan "B". There was no way I could finish the project in time.

I drove up to the shop and scuttled in, only to see my brother and Dad looking and laughing at this unfinished peddle tractor, thinking they were going to rib me about. But Dad looked at me and said, "You got a UPS package today." He brought it in and saw this. Then he added, "Gezz, I wish you would have made another one for him to give."

Only then did I tell him I made an extra. This he was happy to hear. When I told them about my predicament with my back, they said they would help - but it would be close. I told them the hard parts were done, and added that we'd make it. Well, I told my dad and brother what to do. Being the youngest, this spot I rarely got.

In four hours we had the other two assembled. The primer on the first was drying.

After these were finished, (last coat of paint was still tacky the night before) our next problem was how to wrap them. We decided to herd the kids into the other room and have them wait. Then we made some room in the kitchen and lined up all three tractors in a row. Afterwhich we then let the kids out. Just picture the loud racket and screaming.

Even the older ones were enjoying it.

Well, after things got under control again, we had to take a picture of all four tractors before they all went their separate ways home. The fourth tractor in the picture below is my Dad on his tractor. At the time, it was -20° F. We had a heck of a time starting that tractor, even though it was plugged in for 8 hours. And when we did get it started, we took one picture before the camera shutter froze. This is that picture.

This was about 20 years ago, and the one in front is letting his niece ride it now

Years later, I pointed out to my Mom about the tread marks left on the cabinets by the back tires banging into. She just laughed and reminisced about how great that Christmas was. She'd just left the marks there.

I have modified the tractor a bit to be a combine and a forklift, but never had the just to build it. Right now, I'm putting in a gravel patio, which I'll share when I have it finished later this summer.

Editor's Note: CR4 would like to thank Phoenix911 for sharing this story with us. Well done!