DIY Home built compact tractor

[towmotor]

A roll cage would be nice.

I'm with Ben on that one.
Looks cool with Pete on top. I doubt it would look so cool with Pete on the bottom.

So Pete: After you weld a cage on it, are you going to put a loader on it?

 

[Pete B]

LOL.. ya I think I will start telling people its so I don't bite myself... ya the tube helmet is to keep the mud out of my eyes. After looking around this site I think I will have to add something so i can do some dragging , digging, pushing or blowing of some sort. Maybe I will watch this tractor get built then decide to start fresh.Your doing a great job!
Pete

 

[Oliverpuller]

I am new to this forum and found this thread while searching the net on ways of building a homemade tractor. I am very impressed with the tractor that GT2 is building. I want to build a similar one. I have an Oliver pulling tractor and I want to build a small version of it to tow my puller around at the pulls. I would like to make it look very similar to my puller except without the rollcage. I also want the small tractor to be 4 wheel drive so that it has an easier time pulling my big tractor that weighs about 8,000 lbs.

I bought an 88 Suzuki Samurai for $200.00 to get my axles and drive train. This samurai runs but needs carburetor work to run well. This question is mainly to GT2 but others are free to reply as well. How would it work to use the Samurai engine, transmission, transfercase and axles? Would it be slow enough with the transfercase in low range? Our Sami doesn't run well enough yet to see how fast it does go. How short could you make the tractor using the whole sami drivetrain?

I also have another problem. My 13 year old son has taken to the sami and wants to jack it up and make a mudder out of it. I hope that once we get it running and he runs it around the fields for awhile that he looses interest in the mudder.

 

[GT2]

I am new to this forum and found this thread while searching the net on ways of building a homemade tractor. I am very impressed with the tractor that GT2 is building. I want to build a similar one. I have an Oliver pulling tractor and I want to build a small version of it to tow my puller around at the pulls. I would like to make it look very similar to my puller except without the rollcage. I also want the small tractor to be 4 wheel drive so that it has an easier time pulling my big tractor that weighs about 8,000 lbs.

I bought an 88 Suzuki Samurai for $200.00 to get my axles and drive train. This samurai runs but needs carburetor work to run well. This question is mainly to GT2 but others are free to reply as well. How would it work to use the Samurai engine, transmission, transfercase and axles? Would it be slow enough with the transfercase in low range? Our Sami doesn't run well enough yet to see how fast it does go. How short could you make the tractor using the whole sami drivetrain?

I also have another problem. My 13 year old son has taken to the sami and wants to jack it up and make a mudder out of it. I hope that once we get it running and he runs it around the fields for awhile that he looses interest in the mudder.

OP, My tractor has a 6' wheel base. I could have used the sami trans and transfer case but it would have had to been direct coupled to the rear diff to keep the tractor short. Also the whole drive train would have to be lower in the chassis to couple to the rear diff ( might not be a problem for you), resulting in less ground clearance.
The gear ratio might be low enough for you depending on tire size. There are aftermarket transfer gears that will lower the ratio a ton.
You will have to use the same tire size front and rear unless you change the rear diff ratio.

 

[carpenter383]

OP, My tractor has a 6' wheel base. I could have used the sami trans and transfer case but it would have had to been direct coupled to the rear diff to keep the tractor short. Also the whole drive train would have to be lower in the chassis to couple to the rear diff ( might not be a problem for you), resulting in less ground clearance.
The gear ratio might be low enough for you depending on tire size. There are aftermarket transfer gears that will lower the ratio a ton.
You will have to use the same tire size front and rear unless you change the rear diff ratio.

Assuming a solid axle mount, what about running a chain and sprockets from the transfer case output shaft to the pinion yoke? This would raise the ground clearance and allow one to change the gear ratio on the rear axle to compensate for tire size differences too

 

[AchingBack]

Neat toy, but still tryin to figure out the helmet! LOL

Was that a helmet? It looks like a mail box. Or maybe a male box.

 

[Oliverpuller]

GT2,

Thanks for the reply. I am wondering if you have gotten your tractor done? I did see where you had taken it for a test drive but I was wondering how it all worked out. One reason that I want to use the sammi transfercase is that I would like to mount my front axle back under the engine. This is how a real Oliver like mine was if it had 4 wheel drive. I was thinking that using the transfercase would allow this as the front driveshaft would not have to go up at such a steep angle.

I did some measuring on our sammi and if I got rid of back driveshaft and the driveshaft between the transmission and transfercase, I could shorten the wheel base to about 48". The main problem that I see is that both front and rear driveshafts are off center so if would shorten my axles the way you did, my output shafts on the transfercase would no longer be inline with the now centered differential of the shortened sammi axles.

I realize that I would have to change the ring and pinion in my rearend if I have different sized tires. Where did you get your slower gears at?

I have attached a picture of ann Oliver like mine if it were 4 wheel drive. I would like to make my small tractor roughly 1/2 scale of my big tractor.

 

[GT2]

GT2,

Thanks for the reply. I am wondering if you have gotten your tractor done? I did see where you had taken it for a test drive but I was wondering how it all worked out. One reason that I want to use the sammi transfercase is that I would like to mount my front axle back under the engine. This is how a real Oliver like mine was if it had 4 wheel drive. I was thinking that using the transfercase would allow this as the front driveshaft would not have to go up at such a steep angle.

I did some measuring on our sammi and if I got rid of back driveshaft and the driveshaft between the transmission and transfercase, I could shorten the wheel base to about 48". The main problem that I see is that both front and rear driveshafts are off center so if would shorten my axles the way you did, my output shafts on the transfercase would no longer be inline with the now centered differential of the shortened sammi axles.

I realize that I would have to change the ring and pinion in my rearend if I have different sized tires. Where did you get your slower gears at?

I have attached a picture of ann Oliver like mine if it were 4 wheel drive. I would like to make my small tractor roughly 1/2 scale of my big tractor.

Sigh, No my tractor is not done. I've been side tracked big time by my new property in Idaho ( which is ironic because I could use the tractor there!).

If the drive shafts are long enough some angle to the diffs is fine, but I suspect that your shafts would end up short. Maybe you could rotate the transfer case around to get a better shaft angle?

I got my ring and pinion off craigs list ( got lucky), but there are several aftermarket sami suppliers that offer them, google it.

Thats a good looking tractor!
Tim

 

[ben2go]

Nice build GT2.Looking forward to the next installment.Oliverpuller,that's a nice ole tractor.Never seen one exactly like that one.

 

[clindt]

Any more progress?

 

[dougy_fresh]

could you please tell me how wide this is front and rear?

 

[GT2]

could you please tell me how wide this is front and rear?

Front is 52", rear 56". Outside to outside.
Sorry no progress , I've been very busy with my Idaho property.

 

[dcyrilc]

Great project and excellent work. My FIL lives in Shoreline near 185th & Burke. We're over in Woodinville.

 

[ben2go]

Front is 52", rear 56". Outside to outside.
Sorry no progress , I've been very busy with my Idaho property.

Does Idaho have less taxes than most states?I ask because, I have been hearing of people leaving the southeast, where I live,to move there.I know there isn't much there, as far as large industrial type work,mostly farms from what I am told.I sure would like to visit the northwest.Maybe in a few years when the kids are grown and out of the house.Good luck with the land.

 

[GT2]

Does Idaho have less taxes than most states?I ask because, I have been hearing of people leaving the southeast, where I live,to move there.I know there isn't much there, as far as large industrial type work,mostly farms from what I am told.I sure would like to visit the northwest.Maybe in a few years when the kids are grown and out of the house.Good luck with the land.

Yes, the last time I checked Idaho was about 40th in the nation in tax ranking ( #1 being highest), this was including the state income tax!
This is part of the reason I want to get out of WA. state.
In northern Idaho where my property is, it is mostly AG and retail ( as far as I can tell) but I've been told that a lot of people work in Spokane WA. and travel back and forth.
Its beautiful country up here!
Tim

 

[GT2]

Great project and excellent work. My FIL lives in Shoreline near 185th & Burke. We're over in Woodinville.

Your FIL is close, I'm about 195th & 15th.
Thanks, Tim

 

[ben2go]

Yes, the last time I checked Idaho was about 40th in the nation in tax ranking ( #1 being highest), this was including the state income tax!
This is part of the reason I want to get out of WA. state.
In northern Idaho where my property is, it is mostly AG and retail ( as far as I can tell) but I've been told that a lot of people work in Spokane WA. and travel back and forth.
Its beautiful country up here!
Tim

Now I understand.Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Does Idaho have less taxes than most states?I ask because, I have been hearing of people leaving the southeast, where I live,to move there.I know there isn't much there, as far as large industrial type work,mostly farms from what I am told.I sure would like to visit the northwest.Maybe in a few years when the kids are grown and out of the house.Good luck with the land.

Idaho is one of the best kept secrets in the United States, and many of us here would like to keep it that way. My favorite T-shirt of all time was in a gift shop in Idaho Falls. It said "Idaho sucks. Go home. Tell your friends."

The overall cost of living is very low in Idaho (including taxes), but wages and property values reflect that.

 

[ben2go]

Idaho is one of the best kept secrets in the United States, and many of us here would like to keep it that way. My favorite T-shirt of all time was in a gift shop in Idaho Falls. It said "Idaho sucks. Go home. Tell your friends."

The overall cost of living is very low in Idaho (including taxes), but wages and property values reflect that.

So let's look at this from my POV.Low taxes,not many people,rural,and low cost of living.SHHHHH!Don't tell no one.Let's keep Idaho that way.I only have 11.5 years until all my children are out of the house and I can afford an off grid homestead.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

So let's look at this from my POV.Low taxes,not many people,rural,and low cost of living.SHHHHH!Don't tell no one.Let's keep Idaho that way.I only have 11.5 years until all my children are out of the house and I can afford an off grid homestead.

When you come just be prepared to like it. Folks around here don't take to kindly to outsiders moving in complaining about how good it used to be wherever they came from. If life is so *@^% good where you came from then go back.

Summers are hot. Winters are cold. With the exception of the northern panhandle, most of the state gets very little precipitation. Trees are few and far between, and when it rains, it rains sideways. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Remembering the following points and your neighbors are more likely to accept you.
The 11:30pm sunsets in June make up for the 4:30 pm sunsets in December
The wolves were never really gone from Idaho, and they should have left the others in Canada.
Trees grow so they can be cut down and re-planted.
Farmland is there to grow crops, not lawns.
Farmer is a title you earn. Until you earn it, you are nothing more than a landowner.