Play Tractors Geared Down For Kids

Play Tractors Geared Down For Kids AG WORLD 27-1-22 "These tractors are a big attraction for my grandkids," says Gene Snellings, Montreal, Mo., who converted a pair of Murray riding mowers into "play tractors". Snellings got the 10-year-old tractors free from friends. He removed the mower decks and had a local muffler shop bend 2-in. dia. tubing into rollbars. He replaced the original seats with new ones and used 1 1/2-in., 11-gauge sq. tubing to make front bumpers. He replaced the original muffler with a 2-in. dia. tractor muffler, which is bent so exhaust fumes are diverted to the side. The muffler is welded to the original mounting bracket. He painted one tractor Deere green and yellow and the other IH red. He also applied chrome paint to the wheels. "Our grand kids love to drive them. They've ridden them so much around our house that part of the yard almost looks like a desert," says Snellings. "The tractors are powered by small Briggs and Stratton gas engines, but with the mufflers they sound pretty throaty. I used to farm with Deere and IH tractors, and my grandchildren wanted their tractors to look like mine. For safety I blocked the high gears on each tractor in order to keep them from going too fast. The kids haul their toys behind the tractors in a 4-wheeled wagon and a 2-wheeled trailer that I made. " Snelling notes that tractor operation is restricted to level ground for safety reasons. And they're only used when adults are around. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Snellings, 222 Cowboy Road, Montreal, Mo. 65591 (ph 573 346-4733).

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