Sharon Man Working On Third Homemade Tractor

SHARON MAN’S HANDIWORK: This small tractor made almost entirely of old track parts was fashioned by John Walz, Sharon township mechanic, in his garage at the intersection of the Pleasant Lake and Chelsea-Manchestcr Rds. in his spare time. It was built for a neighboring farmer, who provided the necessary parts. Walz has completed one other tractor and is working on a third. The builder is shown in the picture.

Sharon Man Working On Third Homemade Tractor

A Sharon township garage owner is finding the construction of homemade tractors an interesting as well as profitable hobby.

John Walz, who operates a garage at the intersection of the Pleasant Lake and Chelsea-Manchester Rds., three miles north of Manchester, built one small tractor last year, has completed
one this year and is working on a third.

Each of the tractors, constructed almost entirely of old truck parts, was built for a neighboring farmer, and the farmer in each case furnished the parts, Walz pointed out.

Walz uses his own ideas as far as possible in assembling the tractors, and although he is aware of the fact that the agricultural engineering department at Michigan State College furnishes ideas for home construction of tractors, he has not yet taken advantage of such material, he said.

Will Pull 16-inch Plow

The tractor which he completed recently, although it is small, will draw a 16-inch bottom plow and is powerful enough to pull two “12’s” under ordinary circumstances, he said. It is powered with a 1929 -Ford truck engine and has a four-speed transmission. The rear axle is from a Ford truck, while the steering mechanism is from an old Chevrolet truck.

The only parts of the tractor purchased new were the tires, tubes and rims, Walz said. The machine completed last year was equipped with caterpillar tread, while the latest job has rubber