Yard Truck Has "Walk-Along" Controls

Yard Truck Has Walk-Along Controls FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 Working around the yard is easy for Elizabeth Kimball The hydrostatic drive “yard truck” her husband Allen built for her is designed so she doesn’t even have to get on as she moves around the yard     “She can ride on it and use a foot pedal on the right side ” says Allen Kimball “But she can also walk slowly alongside and pick up rocks and sticks controlling the tractor with a long lever attached to the foot pedal ”     In addition to the dual control hydrostatic the yard truck also features AC electrical outlets and a 30-in long by 36-in wide dump box Components were salvaged from a variety of sources to make the one-of-a-kind utility vehicle for his wife     “I started with the front axle steering wheel seat and frame from an old Honda riding lawn mower ” says Kimball “The wheels are from a Walker lawn mower as is the dump box ”     Kimball had previously picked up a new 11 hp Briggs & Stratton and a hydrostatic transmission The Briggs wouldn’t fit in the original engine compartment so Kimball moved it just ahead of the rear axle To make room for the engine he moved operator controls ahead of the front axle with the seat just behind it This meant shortening the hood which now covers only the oil cooler for the hydrostatic transmission     “Shortening the hood was one of the most difficult parts of the whole project ” says Kimball “I set it up to tilt forward to access the oil cooler The seat tilts forward to access the alternator and inverter ”     The vertical Briggs engine is equipped with two pulleys one to power the transmission and the other to power a 12-volt alternator The alternator salvaged from a car was equipped with an inverter A generator built into the engine supplies normal DC requirements while the automobile alternator supplies power to the heavy-duty battery Kimball placed alongside the Briggs The battery allows him to use the yard truck to jump start full-size vehicles     “I installed the AC outlets on the side of the dash as well as a toggle switch for the alternator and gauges for battery condition and charging rate ” says Kimball “The ignition is wired so it won’t start unless the transmission is in neutral I also added an alarm that will sound if you try to drive with the parking brake on ”     Kimball installed an electric actuator to lift the dump box and mounted a flashing yellow light on the hood He uses it when driving the yard truck in parades     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Allen Kimball 236 Linker Mountain Rd Dover Ark 72837 ph 479 968-1236; kim2rc3gwr@centurytel net

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