Home made tractor

[birddog]

Here are some pictures of a home made tractor, doodle bug or puddle jumper as we call them, that we have in our collection. Does anyone recognize what kind of truck it was made from. If I remember right my Dad said it has a Lycoming engine.

[RaymondDurban]

That's pretty cool! Any plans on fixing it up?

[Landreo]

Have no idea but I had an early 1930'3 IHC truck that had brake and clutch pedals like that and they also said "clutch" and "brake". That may have been common or may be only IHC.

[Rudi]

Mark:

Neat old doodle bug

[birddog]

Thanks guys. I thought that it possibly was an IH also.

I keep toying with the idea of getting it going again but funds are pretty tight for that sort of project right now. I think about digging it out every couple years, maybe it will be this year. I did turn it over when I took the pictures yesterday, so it does have that going for it.

We did have it running once since my Dad acquired it, but that was probably close to 40 years ago. The last time he worked on it he couldn't get any fire at all. (maybe 30 years ago)
I did get to see it in operation one time back when the previous owner still had it. I think my uncle, and or my Dad got it going for him. It probably hadn't run for 20 to 30 rears prior to that.

[PA Cub]

The grille looks like a 1933, 34, or 35 Diamond T model 227.

Their grilles had horizontal bars with three vertical supports behind, like yours.

It would be great to see it running again.

[birddog]

PA Cub; After looking at some Diamond T pics. it sure does look like one. I'm thinking more and more about getting it up to the shop and start working on it. If it is a Diamond T that would make it all that much better. If and when I get it out I'll have to do some more digging and see if I can find out exactly what it is. Thanks for the info.

[birddog]

Well I dug it out the other day and pulled it up to the house. (have to clean out the shop yet to get it inside) After giving it the once and twice over I spotted the engine serial # tag. You can see in the picture that it is indeed a Lycoming engine and that it was made for International. So I guess at least the frame is IH. It does look like the entire tractor is a conglomeration of parts. The radiator, the radiator shell and grill look like they may be from a different machine. (Diamond T ?) The water inlet and outlet are different sizes then the engine and have been made to fit. It also looks like its mounted with some wood between the radiator and the frame. The front axle is from a Ford Model A, the rear axle I think is from a Ford AA truck.( although I suppose IH and Ford could have used the same axle suppliers) The winch is made from a Model A car axle and the lift frame is a Model A car frame.



You can see more photo's of it here.

http://photos.cubfest.com/thumbnails.php?album=1310&page=2

I'll probably ask a couple questions about it in another thread.

[Rudi]

Mark:

Now that is a real doodlebug I liked the pics and glad to see most of it is still unstuck. Looks restorable so have a lot of fun doing that. Being able to restore a family doodlebug is pretty cool. I still want to restore my father-in-law's



That is my mother-in-law modeling the putt-putt just after it was built by her hubby and her father, both of whom are in the next pic.

[birddog]

Thanks Rudi; That's a pretty neat one in your pictures too.

Talking about things being unstuck, it's surprising how fast that can change. Yesterday I could shift the PTO from neutral to forward or reverse, today it won't move at all. The transmission is froze also, but that has been for a while now. The shifter moves a little so I'm guessing that the gears are froze or the shifter is jammed in two gears.

I noticed a couple other things that aren't stock. The carburetor looks like a Model A carb except that the bowl is square instead of round like the one's on our Model A's, and it appears to be aluminum or some other alloy and not cast iron/steel. Also the steering wheel is from a Model A. The spokes were cut off about an inch from the outer ring and then wired to the original spokes.

[PA Cub]

birddog,

According to the link below, the VIN you posted should be from a

1926 International Model "S" - "Speed Truck"

Source:

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showpost. ... ostcount=5

Also, if you do a search for:

"Vintage 1923 International Model S truck - interior"

You’ll find a picture that is a very close match to your cab, right down to the pedals.

[birddog]

Thanks PA Cub, I'll check it out.