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June 20, 2009 6:58 p.m. P71 SuperDork

Modified as in Motorcycle battery, and Power Wheels as in mine's done. Audra helped me with the project today. It's a real Power Wheels "Hummer H2" and I bought it at a garage sale last year for $40 and hauled it home in the trunk of the cop car (yes, really). The factory batteries on these things are EXPENSIVE and it was toast, it was also really, really small, but it was 12V...

The whole nose of the H2 opens clamshell style like a real H2, so we dremeled out the support ribs in the hole and slapped in a NAPA Lawn & Garden battery, 12V 200CCA (for all of $25). I rewired the factory pigtail to still use the wall charger (haven't tried it out yet). The hood wouldn't shut all the way, so we dremeled out a hole and re-attached the panel hoodscoop style. I took out the rear seat so Audra could drive it.

It hauls some serious butt now! I got in it (amongst much protesting as I am too heavy for it) and it literally popped a wheelie and nearly spilled me out on my head! Something about extreme rear weight bias, instant torque, and traction I should probably remember... Anyways, it's fast as all get out now and for cheap.

Next weekend I give it to my niece on her 2nd birthday.
June 20, 2009 7:05 p.m. wherethefmi Dork

Sounds like you are trying to kill your niece, at least she'll go out in a big ball of flames backwards into a tree
June 20, 2009 8:02 p.m. ChrisTaylor New Reader

I mastered the 4-wheel drift at age 6 thanks to the motorcycle battery trick.

And yes, if you want your sibling to keep from tearing your nuts off I suggest having her wear a bicycle helmet for her first outing... although it is relatively difficult to flip a power wheels.
June 20, 2009 8:20 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

I've had this bookmarked for years....really dangerous

http://www.modifiedpowerwheels.com/
June 20, 2009 8:25 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/just_plain_stupid/Power_Wheels_Drifting/#226692 this is somewhat related...
June 20, 2009 8:51 p.m. pete240z Dork

I have checked a lot on that modifiedpowerwheels site and I too was going to buy a lawn mower or motorcycle 12V to replace the factory power wheels battery.

I got my power wheel out of the garbage and modified it but then thought twice and spent the cash on the right batteries.

My daughter can pop a wheelie since we modified the seat and made it bigger for her.

battery safety tip
June 20, 2009 9:11 p.m. Junkyard_Dog Reader

Sorta related under the "fun ways to kill yourself drifting toys" category, I still want to build a drift trike like these and take it to Deal's Gap.
June 20, 2009 9:37 p.m. JohnGalt Reader

Junkyard_Dog wrote:

Sorta related under the "fun ways to kill yourself drifting toys" category, I still want to build a drift trike like these and take it to Deal's Gap.

When you said trike i was thinking Harley 3 wheeler but that is so much more awesome. I now must do that before i die.
June 20, 2009 9:47 p.m. suprf1y Reader

We didn't fool around, and put a car battery in our PW jeep.

It kicked ass.

The kids loved it, and it lasted 12 years for us, before I gave it to a coworker, for his son.
June 20, 2009 9:53 p.m. Brotus7 New Reader

Is the battery a dry cell? Just a thought, but I would hate for a kid to get an acid burn if they crash.

Beyond that, that's just awesome. GRM is a lifestyle, not just a magazine.
June 20, 2009 10:27 p.m. SkinnyG Reader

My students build midget gokarts powered by Toyota starter motors. On/off - no inbetween, and no brakes. Wicked fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fWkfiBLlU
June 20, 2009 11:06 p.m. RealMiniDriver Dork

Junkyard_Dog wrote:

Sorta related under the "fun ways to kill yourself drifting toys" category, I still want to build a drift trike like these and take it to Deal's Gap.

DAyum, I gotta scour some garage sales for some bike parts and build one of these!
June 21, 2009 2:02 a.m. P71 SuperDork

It's not a dry cell, but it's sealed up pretty tight in the hood area. There's a plastic wrap on the battery and the hood latches shut. I'm also going to modify it to go slower before the little one gets to drive it.
June 21, 2009 3:21 a.m. wherethefmi Dork

SkinnyG wrote:

My students build midget gokarts powered by Toyota starter motors. On/off - no inbetween, and no brakes. Wicked fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fWkfiBLlU

this was in the related videos!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXll5-8baE4&feature=related
June 21, 2009 5:55 a.m. aeronca65t HalfDork

SkinnyG wrote:

My students build midget gokarts powered by Toyota starter motors. On/off - no inbetween, and no brakes. Wicked fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fWkfiBLlU

Ditto.

My kids shot this "indoor test" on-the-sly when I had a day off. They told me about it afterwards. Damn kids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-czm362Q94

I was surprised that the starter motor didn't overheat......we ran one for well over 30 minutes on a kart with no problem.
June 21, 2009 6:17 p.m. Nitroracer Dork

When I was younger we didn't have the money for a new fancy power wheels so I had an uglier military looking trike with twin batteries, parallel for 24v . Parents had to run to keep up with me.
June 21, 2009 9:42 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

I modified my sons Powerwheel similarly. Though I kept it able to go fast and slow (parallel and series on the motors). Waited until he was quite a bit older before I did it. Used a regular riding mower battery for long charge. This is part of the reason I waited, so he could understand an acid burn.

There's a modified power wheels web page, but it's filled with squirrels who throw absolute fits at the idea of doing something grassroots like this.

He barely rode it, as we promptly got him a 50cc dirt bike. Ah well.

Anyone around Westminster Maryland that would like a modified powerwheels?

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