The internet is awash with budding mechanics undertaking some audacious builds. There are people like Whistlindiesel building jet-powered merry-go-rounds, another wrencher is working to restore a six-figure one-off Rolls-Royce and now someone is assembling a ridiculous motorcycle from tractor parts in their shed.
The latest internet build to catch my eye is being assembled over on YouTube channel Paton Machines, where host Kenny has been building some audacious creations in his shed. The new build being undertaken is called the Penny Farming and it’s a motorcycle made from old tractor parts.
Up front, the bike has an enormous tractor tire that’s been fitted to a modified hub that Paton Machines assembled from bits of scrap steel and oil drums, as you do. Just behind it is a much, much smaller wheel made from a space saver hub with a tractor tire mounted on it. The frame of the bike is made from scrap steel with an ancient tractor seat fitted at the back and the grille from a ride-on lawnmower up front to bring the tractor styling together nicely.
To power the beast, there’s an eight-horsepower motor mounted at the back. The unit is about 60 years old, according to the channel, and produces just enough juice to move the giant creation forwards. When you want to steer around corners, there’s a huge steering wheel that moves the front wheel through a combination of cables and pulleys.
It’s a ridiculous machine that’s a glimpse at what the world could look like if the penny farthing reigned supreme and its fun was never spoiled by the advent of the safety bicycle in the 19th century. What a world that would have been.
Despite its strange stylings, the bike runs and is well on its way to being finished. In the latest update on the build, Paton Machines added a pedal clutch to the Penny Farming, as well as a throttle control onto the wheel. There’s also a brake on the rear wheel, but no brakes up front as the mechanic wanted to keep the force exerted on that homemade wheel to a minimum.
It really is coming along pretty nicely and looks like it could be a great go-anywhere machine, so long as you don’t want to go anywhere too quickly. You can watch Paton Machines’ latest update right here and check out the rest of his channel for more crazy builds.