How To: Create a Tinker Toy Tractor : Divide By Zero

This instruction set is for my HSEM 3067H class, where we get different restrictions on making instructions for a tinker toy creation. Our restriction is that we can only use text-only on a blog or wiki.

That means no pictures, so we've tried our best to standardize our vocabulary and being pretty specific on what needs to be done.

What You'll Need

4 Yellow Wheels
2 Big Red Wheels
2 Red Rods
2 Purple Connectors
1 Purple Rod
1 Green Rod
1 Dark Green Cross
1 Orange Sombrero
1 Blue Wheel

Overview

What you'll be constructing today is a tractor. There are 3 parts to creating the tractor: 1) Create Back Axle, 2) Create Front Axle, 3) Insert pedal shaft, seat, and steering wheel.

At the top you will find the list of materials you will need from the Tinker toy box. Keep in mind these are the "big" tinker toys, not the smaller ones.

Assumptions

When using Big Red Wheels, we are inserting rods into the side that appears to be the inside of the wheel. The "center" is the hole that is surrounded by 4 other holes.

Part 1: Create Back Axle

The Back Axle consists of:

2 Big Red Wheels
1 Purple Rod
1 Blue Wheel

Steps

Take a Big Red Wheels and insert one end of the Purple Rod into the center hole of the wheel.
Take the Blue Wheel and slide it (using the center hole) onto the Purple Rod so that it is situated in the middle of the rod. The Big Red Wheels should be able to turn without turning the blue wheel.
Take the other Big Red Wheels and connect it to the other side of the Purple Rod so that it reflects Step 1.

The Back Axle should resemble the rear wheels of the tractor.

Part 2: Create Front Axle

The Front Axle consists of:

2 Purple Connectors
3 Yellow Wheels

Steps

Insert one end of the Purple Connector into the center hole on the 1st Yellow Wheel.
Repeat Step 1 for the 2nd Yellow Wheel and Purple Connector.
For the first pair, insert the other end of the Purple Connector into the center hole of the 3rd Yellow Wheel (the side of the wheel that consists of only one hole).
Repeat Step 3 for the second pair.

The Front Axle should now resemble the front wheels of the tractor.

Part 3: Insert Other Connectors

The Pedal Shaft

The pedal shaft consists of:

The Front and Back Axles
1 Dark Green Cross
1 Red Rod

Steps

Slide the Dark Green Cross onto the Red Rod, so that it is situated in the center.
Insert one end of the Red Rod into the Blue Wheel of the Back Axle. At this point it does not matter which hole you use in the Blue Wheel.
Insert the other end of the Red Rod into the center Yellow Wheel of the Front Axle.
The back Big Red Wheels and the front 2 Yellow Wheels should be touching the ground and the Red Rod connecting the Front and Back Axles should be parallel to the ground.

The Seat

The seat consists of:

Back Axle
1 Green Rod
1 Yellow Wheel

Steps

Attach the Green Rod to the Blue Wheel of the Back Axle so that the Green Rod is perpendicular to the ground (i.e. sticking straight up).
Attach the Yellow Wheel to the Green Rod, so that the Yellow Wheel is sitting flat atop the rod (i.e. use the center hole to attach).

The Steering Wheel

The steering wheel consists of:

Front Axle
1 Red Rod
1 Orange Sombrero

Steps

Attach the Orange Sombrero to one end of the Red Rod.
Attach the other end of the Red Rod to the Yellow Wheel of the Front Axle so that, when all 4 tractor wheels are touching the ground, the Red Rod forms a 45 degree angle with the Pedal Shaft.

Conclusion

You should now have a tractor/go-cart/vehicle. The front wheels don't really turn, but we made do with the parts we had.

Comments

You totally need to attach a photo for this :)

Posted by: Eva
On October 13, 2008 6:35 AM

Okay, nevermind my last comment. I didn't get the specs. But, you could give the text color, no?

Posted by: Eva
On October 13, 2008 6:37 AM

Thanks Eva!

Posted by: Kamran
On October 14, 2008 11:15 AM

Sweet, really 'pops' now.

Posted by: Eva
On October 21, 2008 11:38 AM

I remember playing with tinker toys myself! its a great toy for expanding the mind always coming up with new ideas and creativity.

Posted by: franco
On October 21, 2008 2:40 PM

Brings me back to the good ole days where kids didnt have to sit in front of a tv to entertain themselves.

Posted by: Heather
On November 11, 2008 4:19 PM

I was at the toy store the other day and saw something similar to tinker toys. It looked a little more advanced though. With Tinker Toys you couldnt bend the pieces so every thing was straight, these toys now you can bend and mold to make what ever shape you want which is pretty cool!

Posted by: anthony
On December 2, 2008 12:07 PM

Makes me remember my childhood, great site by the way. I have given it a Digg for you.

Posted by: Tractor tom
On December 15, 2008 5:55 AM

This is very useful post, I can't think of anything to add as you have covered everything. I have given the article a Digg for you.

Posted by: John Deere Tractors
On January 15, 2009 10:14 AM

any ideas where I can purchase the big red wheels from?

Posted by: Natalie
On April 13, 2009 6:34 PM

Do you happen to know how to build a rollercoaster? My son would really like me to help and I haven't a clue!

Posted by: Tracey
On September 14, 2009 2:07 AM

Very clear and useful instructions on how to make a tinker toy tractor even without the usage of pictures and I really like the colored texts.

Posted by: RWH
On September 26, 2009 10:35 PM

I have made one using a prototype of an RC truck from toykin.com and the coloring suggestions in this post, and it is just beautiful and the kids love it for sure!

Posted by: Emma
On November 2, 2009 8:34 PM

I have made one using a prototype of an RC truck and the coloring suggestions in this post, and it is just beautiful and the kids love it for sure!

Posted by: Emma
On November 2, 2009 8:35 PM

I'm going to make a working prototype. Thanks!

Posted by: zhu zhu
On November 26, 2009 7:37 AM

"That means no pictures" Aww too bad! I'd like to see how they're made step by step with photos. But anyway I hope you don't mind if I printed this. I'll ask my brother to make some for the kids.

Posted by: Kim
On December 8, 2009 11:59 PM

I'm so stoked I stumbled across your blog. This is a perfect blue print for my son who loves to build.

Posted by: Play Kitchens
On January 19, 2010 2:08 PM

I used to take mine apart and modify them to my own delight. Great fun when your a young one.

Posted by: Mark
On January 30, 2010 7:12 AM

Really looks interesting but I would really like to see a picture of what it looks like. Please.....

Posted by: Pedal Car
On February 4, 2010 8:20 AM

that is good information for me, thanks

Posted by: modelkits
On February 8, 2010 9:01 AM

I need some help with the big red wheels. Where do I get them?!

Posted by: Stephen Roy
On March 26, 2010 1:43 PM

I served my time as an apprentice carpenter joiner riding my bike all around town doing repairs, many a time i had to take the wheels and tires off to fix a puncture Ho Ho happy memories.Wheels and Tires Best Tire Prices Discount Tire Company Merchants Tire

Posted by: andy bell
On September 18, 2010 10:12 AM

This is a very good project for dad and the kids. I made a replica of my chevy with Aluminum Alloy Wheels. Although I just painted the wheels black.

Posted by: Steve
On October 19, 2010 11:41 PM

That seems too complicated for my little ones, but great project. Will definitely try it when they're older.

Jennifer

Learning Toy
http://www.learning-toy.info

Posted by: Jennifer Tanner
On November 10, 2010 9:37 AM

This is a great project. This maybe somewhat involved but this is not meant to be a simple and it will require some involvement on my part. great article

Posted by: Steve
On November 17, 2010 11:20 AM

Thanks for saying so, i need some time to think about this. I have just got interested in blogging and hopefully i am able to do so

Posted by: habib arti
On March 14, 2011 1:12 PM

Your guide would improve much more if you could include some images of the process. I did understood how this works but don't think it would be as easy for my kids to follow. Anyway, many thanks.

Posted by: Model Truck Tires
On April 30, 2011 12:44 PM

This is great! Thanks for the detailed instructions. I will do this with my son. Thanks again.

Posted by: John
On September 14, 2011 3:40 AM

Too bad there aren't any pictures for this as I am a visual person. However, my hubby will be able to put something like the tractor together with the instructions you laid out. My daughter will love this because she's fascinated with tractors right now. Thank you

Posted by: Darlyn
On October 19, 2011 3:27 PM

Posted by: אחסון אתרים
On November 1, 2011 4:11 AM

Making tinker toy tractor is not easy. You need to follow each instruction carefully to obtain the best toy that you never had before. I realized that this toy is not just for kids but also for adults who want to collect things. Adults may even make there own toy tractor that has the best truck seats available on the market. With the different seats available on the market, you can surely enjoy assembling your toy tractor.

Posted by: James Joe
On May 10, 2012 6:34 AM

I really like this info. Unfortunately I have to imagine it, because there is no picture at all. I was fortunate to be able to read it anyway.

Posted by: Julia
On May 14, 2012 1:41 AM

I really like this info, but unfortunately I have to imagine it, because there is no picture at all. I was fortunate to be able to read it anyway.

Posted by: Julia
On May 14, 2012 1:46 AM

Posted by: Julia
On May 14, 2012 2:15 AM