Mini gas tractor for 5 year old?

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

Question for you guys. My son is 5 and is Obsessed with anything tractor. He has a 12 volt John Deere tractor but has a lot of interest in gasoline engines and how they work. Is there such a thing out there as a mini gas tractor? Possibly older that we could restore? Thanks everyone!

d282 · Sep 29, 2019

I came across this video a while back and thought I may have to build one someday. If you go to his main page there are several videos of the tractors working.
Poke Here

old · Sep 29, 2019

Some of the older riding lawn tractor might fit the bill. Or you could go the route of building one like a guy I know does but that can get into some high $$. This guy builds mini tractors that almost look like the real thing but smaller

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:55:25 09/29/19) I came across this video a while back and thought I may have to build one someday. If you go to his main page there are several videos of the tractors working.
Poke Here

Yes something like this would be awesome!!

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

If you have any model suggestions of older ones that we could restore that would be really helpful.

old · Sep 29, 2019

Not sure where you are at but I have a couple of older riding lawn tractors I'd part with but I am in Missouri and my e-mail is open

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

(quoted from post at 14:12:10 09/29/19) Not sure where you are at but I have a couple of older riding lawn tractors I'd part with but I am in Missouri and my e-mail is open

Northwest Indiana. Basically the lowest tip of Lake Michigan.

old · Sep 29, 2019

That would put in in the 500 mile or so range from me. I'd at the Lake of the Ozarks in MO

db4600 · Sep 29, 2019

At 5 my boy graduated to one like this. Mustang Mowette.

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

Something along these lines would be perfect.

gab · Sep 29, 2019

Find an old lawn mower like my 66 Wheel Horse to rebuild.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 29, 2019

I'd suggest one of the older hydro garden tractors such as the Ford LGT Models,Massey Ferguson 14,16,1650 etc,Simplicity Sunstar,JD 318 etc they have a hand operated hydrastatic
drive,some have power steering.

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

Thanks! Are these smaller tractors that a 5/6 year old could drive? Obviously with a disabled mower deck.

CKain(MI) · Sep 29, 2019

My sons & now grandsons learned to drive a Garden Tractor about that age. I had a couple older model Case, like 220, 222.
Being hydraulic drive, they ony have to deal with one lever. push forward or pull back.

Janicholson · Sep 29, 2019

Having been a NW Indiana native, There are hundreds of used riders that can have the mower deck removed easily. These are available on craigs list, or the local
paper for sale adds. From Michigan City to Gary, to Valpo, youwill find what you need for less than 500. (much less if you are willing to fix a little, or do
not care about looks. Jim

jon f mn · Sep 29, 2019

The older case mowers are
excellent for that. Tough as
nails and easy to drive and
fix. With the hydraulic drive
they run forever and are
easier and cheaper to fix if
something goes wrong since
they have a regular hydraulic
pump and motor. Here is a pic
of mine.

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

Thanks everyone. Lots of great information, ideas, and options here. I appreciate it!

Mark-Ia · Sep 29, 2019

You could build him one like mine.

BarnyardEngineering · Sep 29, 2019

One option not mentioned here is a modern hydrostatic tractor with a FOOT operated speed control.

Here's why: An old fashioned rider with a clutch, the inexperienced kid has to remember to push the clutch in a panic situation. With a foot-operated hydro control, all the kid has to do is take his foot off the pedal and the tractor STOPS instantly.

Kid falls off one of those old tractors, it just keeps chugging along. Kid falls off a foot-pedal hydro, it STOPS instantly.

This is what I did for my nephews, who don't live on a farm and don't get a lot of driving experience, and they have no issues riding around the yard. Even when one hit a tree, he panicked and his foot naturally came off the pedal. The tractor did exactly what it needed to and STOPPED. A gear drive would try to climb the tree, possibly flipping over on the kid while they fumbled for the clutch, or worse, froze and did nothing.

Once the kid masters driving around something of that size/speed without hitting things and exhibits good control, then they can graduate to a clutch. That's what I'm doing now, putting them on my Cub and letting them get used to clutching to start and stop.

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

That is so cool!

greenmech · Sep 29, 2019

Mark, I like your tractor! Good work. Ron MN

wesleyn1983 · Sep 29, 2019

Excellent point. Never thought of this. Thank you!

GordoSD · Sep 29, 2019

Cub Cadet in the 2005 to 2010 year range. Has a throttle cabe and a hydro tranny. You could wire the throttle to low speed. Seat is adjustable The Vanguard 26 hp v twin motors sound like a Harley.Auto kill if seat is empty. I have 500 hours on mine and have done only oil and filter maint.You can sell the spindles and belt and blades if they are good.

K Effective · Sep 29, 2019

welcome to YT- I'm just north of you, outside St. Joe, MI.

The old Wheel Horse tractors have the styling of antique tractors, are super simple to work on, and were built in South Bend, IN.

Many of the other suggestions are great, as well.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 30, 2019

My grandson is 7 and taller than most 7 year olds. He does a great job
driving, but His feet won't reach the peddle on my JD hydrostat. So he
has to sit in my lap, I run the peddle. Also have a two seat go-cart.
Same problem, feet won't reach the peddle.

You may have to build one or modify something to fit your son.

BarnyardEngineering · Sep 30, 2019

All I had to do on mine was slide the adjustable seat all the way ahead and even my 5 year old nephew could reach the pedal, albeit he still had to slide forward in the seat.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 30, 2019

Another note on hydro tractors on most there is no need for a brake the hydro stops the tractor when its put in neutral the BIG exception is the Case hydraulic drive tractors
many of those will free wheel down a hill like its kicked into neutral a real bad design.Later models were fitted with a valve to hold the tractor back.

Mike M · Sep 30, 2019

I spent many hours at a young age on a late model JD B. I would stand and steer and run the hand clutch and throttle and brakes. My uncle sat in the seat making sure I did it correctly.

Phlash in OK · Sep 30, 2019

Here is pic of one I made from mower. Kids have lot of fun with it. It maybe upside down.

Mini gas tractor for 5 year old?

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