fast88pu 3,324 #1 Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) As some may know and some don't, I bought 2 tractors at the big show. My goal was to find a 312 hydro for my daughter. Something that she could drive and pull with 100% on her own. What I found was a 416 hydro with no engine for $100 and a 312-8 with only 325 hrs for $75. I ended up stripping both tractors at the camp site and building a 312 hydro then selling off the extra parts to help fellow collectors keep more horses alive. I don't have photos of along the way but here is the end product all shined up. Just needs new tires and wheels. And my daughter is happy to have a tractor like daddy's. Edited August 6, 2021 by fast88pu 14 7 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek 2,286 #2 Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) Nice job! Start'em young I did the same with my daughter and friends. Edited August 6, 2021 by Zeek 10 4 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #3 Posted August 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Zeek said: Nice job! Start'em young I did the same with my daughter and friends. That's the plan 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,383 #4 Posted August 6, 2021 Just my 2 cents worth here. Until her feet reach the pedals, an adult walking alongside is the only way to allow a child to safely drive any tractor. There was an incident at the big show where a child about her size was driving a similar tractor unsupervised and almost lost control when he couldn't reach the pedals. Thank heavens there were some adults that saw it and had the staff put and end to it. Safety first. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,424 #5 Posted August 6, 2021 Fast 88 you did very well. She looks very happy to be on her own tractor. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,041 #6 Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, rmaynard said: Just my 2 cents worth here. Until her feet reach the pedals, an adult walking alongside is the only way to allow a child to safely drive any tractor. There was an incident at the big show where a child about her size was driving a similar tractor unsupervised and almost lost control when he couldn't reach the pedals. Thank heavens there were some adults that saw it and had the staff put and end to it. Safety first. The rule in our family is that once you can properly operate all the controls we'll teach you to drive it. Not before. No walkalongs. Edited August 6, 2021 by Handy Don 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,600 #7 Posted August 6, 2021 To score a deal like those two, then get one going...totally awesome Kyle! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #8 Posted August 6, 2021 I got a small Briggs powered lawn tractor - Wheel Horse B-81 (?) - for the kids to use when they were younger smaller / shorter tires and lower center of gravity - thought they could use it like a go cart ... sorta / kinda ... like we did when we were kids that was the plan at least ... time flew and we got into other things and never did use it 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,041 #9 Posted August 6, 2021 1 minute ago, tom2p said: I got a small Briggs powered lawn tractor - Wheel Horse B-81 (?) - for the kids to use when they were younger smaller / shorter tires and lower center of gravity - thought they could use it like a go cart ... sorta / kinda ... like we did when we were kids that was the plan at least ... time flew and we got into other things and never did use it I adopted a forlorn '68 Lawn Ranger a few weeks back with no clear idea of what to do with it. The grandchildren saw it and immediately started making plans for it: "Gramps, if you add footrests and a closer clutch pedal then we can "learn to drive a stick shift" on it, right?" Ummm. Right. 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #10 Posted August 7, 2021 13 hours ago, rmaynard said: Just my 2 cents worth here. Until her feet reach the pedals, an adult walking alongside is the only way to allow a child to safely drive any tractor. There was an incident at the big show where a child about her size was driving a similar tractor unsupervised and almost lost control when he couldn't reach the pedals. Thank heavens there were some adults that saw it and had the staff put and end to it. Safety first. For now yes but she figured out the forwards and reverse on her own in 1 minute. It suprised me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 54,845 #11 Posted August 7, 2021 10 hours ago, fast88pu said: For now yes but she figured out the forwards and reverse on her own in 1 minute. It suprised me Guess she will be outgrowing this one soon. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #12 Posted August 7, 2021 26 minutes ago, 953 nut said: Guess she will be outgrowing this one soon. Yes she is 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #13 Posted August 11, 2021 I order up all new tires for it and the rears came today. Pretty knobby. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob R 966 #14 Posted August 12, 2021 Nice build Kyle, make sure you watch her ...... stay safe..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #15 Posted August 12, 2021 18 minutes ago, Rob R said: Nice build Kyle, make sure you watch her ...... stay safe..... Thank you. Will do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fast88pu 3,324 #16 Posted August 15, 2021 Changed out tierods for a better set today and also put the 8" shorter spindles on the front. Then painted new front rims and mounted new tri ribs. All installed and looking good 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
