Real Tires On Daughters Gator

[SilverSS1969]

Thought I'd share. Wife and I stopped at a garage sale couple weeks ago and picked up a Peg Pergo battery operated Gator. It needed tires, original ones where worn out. After watching my daughter drive it, I could see why, everytime she hit the throttle its spins the tires.

After a quick search I found a guy that swapped rear rubber tire on his sons Gator. http://www.saltydog.com/powerwheels/

Being a CNC programmer, I though I could improve on that concept. At first I thought I'd order some kind of plastic and make it a solid part rather then glueing the PVC together. Well after looking at prices for plastic large enough, I found it be cheaper to machine it out of aluminum.

Here was my design.

Finished machine. Must have forgot to take a picture of the hub only have pictures of the drive gear.

All welded up thanks to a buddy of my cousin.

Rubber tires mounted.

 

[LB-1911]

Does the operator approve?

 

[SilverSS1969]

Does the operator approve?

I'll find out today. I just finished the rear tires up last night and see stayed at her great grandmas last night.

 

[LB-1911]

I'll find out today. I just finished the rear tires up last night and see stayed at her great grandmas last night.

I'll bet she'll be stoked, you might need a bigger hat.......

 

[larry_g]

I hope that the rest of the drivetrain is up to the shock now that you have traction. If it is then it maybe instant wheelies. I suggest a helmet for the first ride if not on a soft surface.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mrvm]

Impressive job on upgrading the tires and important part of the drivetrain. Question now will be what fails next in the stock drivetrain. Obviously you have the capability to modify another component when that happens. It's also possible the increased weight of the new drivegear+tires may dull the torque a bit and not spin the tires as easily. Again great job!

 

[kbs2244]

The Redneck fix is to cut bicycle tires into a long strip that you can wrap around the plastic tire.
Construction glue will work if you use a tow strap twisted with a stick or a lever action shipping strap to bond the rubber tight to the plastic overnight.

You can go full width for looks, but one or two strips on the wheels will work.

 

[zkling]

I hope it works without issue, but I think you have eliminated a fuse. Just the increased inertia (rotating mass) alone is quite a bit vs what that machine was designed for. That is not even accounting for the added traction.

 

[SilverSS1969]

I have thought about what will be next to break. I'm guessing the motors will burn out before anything else. I've already looked at upgraded motors for it and they are not much more then stock motors. She has been running around on it for a few hours and is loving it. Doesn't spin the tires now, just has better acceleration off the line. Unfortunately it does not do wheels. Only time it has spun the tires was going up a sandy embankment in the back yard.

 

[wyo george]

Sweet! Way to go Dad!

 

[larry_g]

That is looking good. Glad that it did not get unruly. That was some fine looking machining on those parts.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[SchuLace]

My nephew has a gator with the same problem. He hits the throttle and spins the tires. I solved the problem by buying him a 50cc four wheeler.

 

[jd_1138]

I'd maybe put a bicycle helmet on her in case she falls out of it. Awesome lil' Gator and cool fix.

I know; I am paranoid.

 

[quentin01]

My nephew has a gator with the same problem. He hits the throttle and spins the tires. I solved the problem by buying him a 50cc four wheeler.

I'm going a slightly different direction.

http://www.bergtoys-usa.com/products/view/1371/berg-buddy-john-deere

My dad is a sucker for anything John Deere, so this might be my daughter's runabout at the farm.


Sent from Tandy 400

 

[SilverSS1969]

My nephew has a gator with the same problem. He hits the throttle and spins the tires. I solved the problem by buying him a 50cc four wheeler.

She has a 90cc 4 wheeler in the basement. She might be ready for that this summer if I can govern the speed(haven't looked at it close enough, I'm sure there is a screw I can adjust). We bought this so she can help with yard work at home and up north at papa's place.

She wears her ATV helmet when she rides her quad or go for a ride on my YFZ with me. The gator actual has a seat belt for it.

 

[toddacimer]

The Gator looks great now.

 

[mustanginky]

Cool dad right there. My sons gator spins like crazy and the tires are new.

 

[jebx]

Old tractor tube cut in strips works to slip over rubber.

Looks nice, but I'd order up a set of gearboxes. Those will strip out from the increased traction/shock load. The wheel spin before took the shock load off the weak cheap plastic gears. We've stripped 3 gear boxes in ours and burned up 2 motors.