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Author Topic: Rolling My Own  (Read 2571 times)

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Rolling My Own
« on: April 28, 2020, 08:09:16 am »
Last fall I had some drainage work done, and that left a lot of lumpy lawn, what with the Bobcat driver running all over. Besides, my lawn is a 4-acre ex-hayfield, and the whole field has never really been tended at all.

I looked into renting a ride-on roller, and found that for the astronomical cost of rental I might as well buy my own small used ride-on, but they're not readily available around here.

Then I thought of the old galvanized steel water pressure tank from the well house, now lying in a field. I grabbed it, some bed iron, a couple of yard-sale bearings, a few used pipe fittings, and my welder, and came up with this. The hitch is made from part of an old office chair, and the various pipe plugs where fittings were attached form my aerator. I figure it weighs about 350lb when full of water, and I can even cut and roll at the same time.

Oh. I didn't weld the frame components because I might want to take it apart some day.

And it was basically free! I figure I have about 15 bucks in it....

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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2020, 09:11:13 am »
Pretty neat!
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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2020, 05:53:23 pm »
Sweet. Nice job fabbing that up from scrap.

Reminds of when I was a kid, working landscaping. I had to pull one of those god-awful things around for hours as a new hire. I learned to despise grass sod and all to do with it
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Bennydaheeb

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2020, 02:16:39 pm »
One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure!

Great work on the fabrication.

I would use one of these at my Farm to deal with the mole hills that seem to pop up every night!
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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2020, 02:29:24 pm »
Nice looking tractor too  8)
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Nick

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2020, 03:10:03 pm »
Thanks, guys, for the kind comments.

The tractor, Nick, is a dandy, with a Kohler engine that should last forever. Oddly enough, though, just after the warranty expired BOTH rear axle seals failed, despite promotional literature that said they would last forever, and the manufacturer refused to help. On the other hand, the dealer from whom I bought the tractor was outraged, and replaced both seals for the cost of the parts (Good thing, too, as I didn't feel like removing the entire transaxle to replace the seals).

Charlie, I get the impression that you're an O-gauge locomotive guru. If this is correct, I have a question for you. Please let me know.
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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2020, 08:09:58 pm »
Now that's some outside the box thinking!

Working a treat for you.
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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2020, 12:27:36 pm »
Quote from: Hero on April 29, 2020, 03:10:03 pm
Thanks, guys, for the kind comments.

The tractor, Nick, is a dandy, with a Kohler engine that should last forever. Oddly enough, though, just after the warranty expired BOTH rear axle seals failed, despite promotional literature that said they would last forever, and the manufacturer refused to help. On the other hand, the dealer from whom I bought the tractor was outraged, and replaced both seals for the cost of the parts (Good thing, too, as I didn't feel like removing the entire transaxle to replace the seals).

Charlie, I get the impression that you're an O-gauge locomotive guru. If this is correct, I have a question for you. Please let me know.

Not a guru, but I had a long time in the O Gauge Hobby before getting into Model Steam Engines.

I recently bought a Cub Lawnmower.  I have abused the crap out of it and it has worked very well so far.  52" cutting blade.

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2020, 06:29:03 pm »
Nice Cub, Charlie. I have a 105 (1969 vintage) which is my yard hauler (intercepted a truck on the way to the dump, scooped it off the back, and have had it running since 2008).

Here's my O-gauge question. I found this locally and think it might be a 1/4" scale Martin Lewis Northern in need of finishing. Can you confirm my identification? If it is the Northern
can you point me in the direction of the assembly manual?

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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2020, 02:28:20 pm »
Quote from: Jim on April 29, 2020, 08:09:58 pm
Now that's some outside the box thinking!

Working a treat for you.

Used it today to roll my front lawn after a rainstorm. It pulled easily, didn't leak a drop, and made things noticeably flatter.

One weakness: the bed iron is awfully flexible, and I was afraid something would bend or twist, but as it turned out, hauling it is a straight pull, turns are gentle, and everything still looks the same as it did before I started. I'll just treat it gently.😁
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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2020, 11:39:21 am »
Quote from: Hero on April 30, 2020, 06:29:03 pm
Nice Cub, Charlie. I have a 105 (1969 vintage) which is my yard hauler (intercepted a truck on the way to the dump, scooped it off the back, and have had it running since 2008).

Here's my O-gauge question. I found this locally and think it might be a 1/4" scale Martin Lewis Northern in need of finishing. Can you confirm my identification? If it is the Northern
can you point me in the direction of the assembly manual?

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Check out this link:

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Steam_Locomotive_Drawings

Martin Lewis Northern 4-8-4  Designed by Martin Lewis

Drawings available in book form published by Little Engines

Appeared as serial articles in The Modelmaker

Copyright of original drawings and text has expired

IBLS Library has copies of the magazines and book

Here is a nice write-up on Martin Lewis:

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Martin_Lewis

Little Engines does have plans for the model for 1 1/2" Scale, but not the O Gauge version:

http://littleengines.com/

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2020, 06:33:56 pm »
Nice build on the roller!

Here’s what I use on my lawn.  😁


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Mike

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2020, 07:11:05 pm »
Holy smoke! What a dandy roller!
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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2020, 08:24:59 pm »
Thank you, Charlie, for the information about the loco. Looks like you also see it as a possible Martin Lewis Northern.

I'm still not sure if the dimensions match the Martin Lewis loco, but if I can find the drawings and instruction booklet I can probably make things work regardless.

Still looking for the 1/4" scale drawings and instruction booklet for the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern (and the current Little Engines catalogue does not offer it). If anyone has a line on one, please let me know.
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Bob

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Re: Rolling My Own
« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2020, 03:49:38 pm »
Quote from: txlabman on May 04, 2020, 11:39:21 am
Quote from: Hero on April 30, 2020, 06:29:03 pm
Nice Cub, Charlie. I have a 105 (1969 vintage) which is my yard hauler (intercepted a truck on the way to the dump, scooped it off the back, and have had it running since 2008).

Here's my O-gauge question. I found this locally and think it might be a 1/4" scale Martin Lewis Northern in need of finishing. Can you confirm my identification? If it is the Northern
can you point me in the direction of the assembly manual?

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Check out this link:

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Steam_Locomotive_Drawings

Martin Lewis Northern 4-8-4  Designed by Martin Lewis

Drawings available in book form published by Little Engines

Appeared as serial articles in The Modelmaker

Copyright of original drawings and text has expired

IBLS Library has copies of the magazines and book

Here is a nice write-up on Martin Lewis:

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Martin_Lewis

Little Engines does have plans for the model for 1 1/2" Scale, but not the O Gauge version:

http://littleengines.com/

Nice detective work, Charlie! Is your second language Boolean?
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Bennydaheeb
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