first indiana monster mower, Xtreme machine

Well, today I rode my monster for the first time. It was aussim!! When my brother in-law rode it he and I both had the biggest grin I've seen. It was nice to see him smile since he isn't the smiling or happy type. I will be putting my xtreme machine in the July 4th parade this Friday in Twelve Mile, Indiana. Hopefully we can get a few clips video for you all. I'll let you know what kind of responses I get.

wayne

Johnnywayne,
Can't wait to meet you. Tell Kel you want my number and address so, we can hook up sometime. Terra Haut is about 150 miles southwest of here but, That's closer than Wisconsin. Maybe we can put together something. I took mine to the power from the past show in winamac today and everyone thought it was the coolest thing they've seen. They would love yours! There is a light up Logansport Parade here every year and it is big. Let me know if you might be interested and I'll reserve you a spot. Kel, Take care buddy!
wayne

Hey guys,
check out the add posted and printed in the news paper.
Look up; Pharos Tribune Unique Mower, on the web and see what was printed in our local news paper. They did a full page story on my build.

Here I will post it here.... Be easier for everyone to read....


[QUOTE]Unique mower

Lucerne native builds “xtreme machine” lawn mower

LUCERNE — Wayne Hardy was told he could never build the “extreme” lawn mower he got an idea from through a Web site devoted to the hobby that’s becoming popular nationwide.

On the Internet, several YouTube videos are devoted to extreme lawn mowers, along with a Web site, www.xtrememowermayhem.com.

“I saw these lawn tractors jacked up with truck-size tires and thought, ‘Wow!’” Hardy said. “I began to do some more research and tossed around the idea of what it would take to build one myself.”

Hardy, who lives in Lucerne, said he got interested in antique lawn mowers from his brother in-law, Ronny Beebout. The two men have been attending antique lawn mower shows for three years. Beebout works on old mowers that no one wants — mowers that people think can’t be fixed.

One day, after looking at “extreme mowers” people had built in Wisconsin, Hardy decided he wanted to build one.

He then enlisted Beebout to help him. The Twelve Mile native was reluctant at first.

“Ronny said, ‘You probably wouldn’t get it done, and it would cost you too much,’” Hardy said.

But Hardy was determined.

Beebout had several old lawn mowers sitting in his backyard, and Hardy picked out a 1986 Ranch King. He started building the mower in March 2006.

Hardy spent the next couple of months cleaning it up and stripping it down, which was about the time Beebout started to get positive about the project.

“It seemed like it would never get much further, but Ronny stepped up and said ‘Wayne, I think we can do this,’” Hardy said.

Hardy then began designing the front axle and had it welded.

By the summer of 2007, the extensions were welded and rear axle and tires were mounted. Hardy tried to build an engine for the machine, but the first one didn’t work out. He ended up using a Briggs 15-horse motor.

Problems began to surface, though.

“I started having problems with the valves and thought, ‘Man, this thing is never going to run,’” Hardy said.

Over the next year, the men continued to work on the project. Hardy put 26-inch ATV tires on it, converting what had been an ordinary tractor to an “extreme” version. The tractor’s seat is 4 1/2 feet above ground. Before the work was done, it was 2 1/2 feet above ground.

By June, the front steering was put on using rack-and-pinion steering.

The men continued to work on it more quickly over the next couple of weeks to get it ready for the Fourth of July Twelve Mile parade, where it would be displayed in public for the first time.

On June 28, Hardy got the ride he had been waiting two years for when he took it for a drive for the first time.

“I didn’t have high hopes of it working, but I thought, ‘Well, I’ll try it,’” Hardy said. “To my amazement, it worked. You have to imagine the shock and the look in our eyes when it rolled out of the garage for the first time.”

Hardy says his goal is to take the “xtreme machine” to area tractor shows and parades.

He recently displayed it at the Tip Wa Antique Tractor and Engine Club show in Walton.

On Friday and Saturday, he showed it at the “Power from the Past” show in Winamac. He will also take it to the “Hoosier Heritage Fest” in Peru on Aug. 22.

Hardy said he ended up spending 30 hours a week over the last two years building the mower. It ended up costing $2,600 despite many of the parts being donated by Beebout, who also helped come up with ideas for the mower.

But it was all worth it in the end, Hardy says.

“A lot of people say, ‘Wow, that’s cool. I’ve never seen that before,’” Hardy said. “They all think it’s pretty wild looking. ... Everyone asks me, ‘What did you build it for?’ I built it just to be able to say, ‘I built that.’”

He said the biggest challenge in the project was finding parts that would fit.

According to Hardy, the sport is picking up in Wisconsin right now.

He said he hopes people see what he did and get inspired to build their own “extreme” lawn mowers.

“Maybe it will grow into a business or a hobby for other people,” he said. “I just want to see where this will take me. Who knows?”

Nice Wayne

Thanks, Tyler!

I have now been in 3 parades and two tractor shows and everyone likes it. The local newspaper did a story on it and I get asked alot about it. I just found out today that it was also on the front page of the peru tribune newspaper in peru indiana.
cool or what!!

What's up ya'll? It seems not many have posted lately but, keep in touch. I will inform you soon when I here new season of Gearz comes out in Nov. Everyone here is doing fine. I appreciate your interest and have also been checking the post lately. Not much news around here. I picked up some new spindles for my tractor. Just waiting to get them welded on.
be safe out there, winter is around the corner.
wayne

where are you in IN. ??

I am in Lucerne, Indiana. Where are you? You can send me an email to northern4wheeldrive@hotmail.com

Today, our local pharos tribune posted an add for us for those interested in joining the club and possibly biulding a monster mower or simply restoring an old mower they have. As of right now the club is called Antique and Uniques Mower Club. I am currently biulding a pulling tractor out of my wheel horse. If your really interested then send me an email and we'll get in touch.
wayne1

Whats Up! Not much going on here. It has been cold out lately and the kids have been buisy with sports. Haven't done anything the last few days on the tractor. Hope to get going again. Ya'll take care and be safe.
Wayne

How's everyone doin? I haven't been doing much. My lawn tractor I mow with has bit the dust. My wife and I just went and purchased our first new tractor. I bought a John Deer X520 garden tractor. It is suppose to be delivered tomorrow. I can't wait to try it. I'll take a pic of it soon.

The new episodes of GearzTV starts tonight on the speed channell. I don't know if it will be on there but, check it out just in case. I have my DVR ready to record.