Home-Built Garden Tractor Looks Like A Deere "L"

Home-Built Garden Tractor Looks Like A Deere "L" TRACTORS Made-It-Myself 25-4-7 "I use it to plant and cultivate in our garden," says Walter Paschke, Forest River, N. Dak., about the tractor he built from scratch to look like an old Deere "L". The tractor's 20 hp, 2-cyl. engine came from a 1940's Deere pull-type combine while the 5-speed transmission is out of a 1934 Dodge truck. He used a 1932 Dodge car for the frame. The rear axle is from a 1937 Studebaker car. Paschke narrowed the axle down 2 ft. Parts from an old Deere belly-mounted cultivator were used to build the 3-pt. hitch. The hydraulic cylinder that's used to lift the 3-pt. is from the power steering system off a Case combine. "I built it way back in the early 1950's, and it has been a great chore tractor for me over the years," says Paschke. "I call it my Little John tractor after my son John. I had a full line of tools built for it so I can use it to do everything from planting to cultivating and harrowing. The engine sounds just like a real æL'. Top speed is about 15 mph, which is about the same top speed as the real L tractor could go. "The 12.5L -15 rear tires are off an old fertilizer applicator. The tires are filled with fluid for more weight. The front tires are off a boat trailer." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Walter Paschke, 5576 148th Ave. N.E., Forest River, N. Dak. 58233 (ph 701 248-3365).

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