ALL ABOUT TRACTORS BY PAUL WALLEM High torque, reduced noise and zero emissions are the attractions with small horsepower sizes. Full power is realized instantly at the drawbar. They are a labor saver in the dairy for feed pushing. Vegetable growers as well as orchards and vineyards are cutting labor costs, with the absence of drivers. Monarch was the first to produce. Safety features of the Monarch MK-V include technology that will stop the tractor if a human is detected within six feet. The PTO will automatically shut off if a person is within one foot of the PTO. The European market for these tractors is developing rapidly in orchards, vineyards, olive growers, and the many small farms on that continent. With 25 percent of global CO2 emissions coming from agriculture, electric tractors provide a meaningful reduction. Most major tractor manufacturers have electric models on the market or under development. To date, the market is mainly for small horsepower. Site offers devices for cabs The website www.displaybracket.com offers devices that might help you while in your tractor or combine cab. A few are: phone holder, monitor mounts, cup holder, ram mount arms, tablet holders, precision planting seed sense monitor, and more. More early tractor history 1933 - Allis Chalmers joined with Firestone Rubber to develop air-filled rubber tires for agricultural tractors. Nebraska tests reported a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy over steel or solid rubber tires. 1933 - Harry Ferguson patented his 3-point hitch. By 1960, the patent expired and the hitch became the industry standard. 1930-1938 - Massey Harris developed the M-H General Purpose tractor, the industry’s first four-wheel-drive tractor. 1935 - International Harvester introduced a diesel engine for farm tractors. 1949 - Richard & L.G. Unverth developed the first bolt-on dual tractor wheels. 1958 - John, Douglas and Maurice Steiger built the first Steiger tractor on their farm. 1960 - International Harvester launched the Cub Cadet, first lawn and garden tractor by a major tractor manufacturer. Even bigger 4WD tractors Versatile 620 - 665Max/rated/616 New Holland T9.700 - 699Max/645 rated John Deere 9RX830, HP913 Max/830 rated Steiger CaseIH 578max/525 rated Fendt 1100 Vario MT - 673Max/511 rated MF 9S - 425Max/310 rated Two-cylinder history I received a reader question about the long life of the two-cylinder John Deere engine, which was produced from 1924 till 1960. The source of the following was Tractor Central Magazine: The two-cylinder engine employed large horizontal pistons and a long stroke, which allowed for high torque at low engine speeds. The engine was simple, durable and easy to maintain. The low-speed high torque nature of these engines allowed them to perform well in tough field conditions despite having fewer cylinders than competitive tractors. The two-cylinder engine was very fuel efficient. This design, however, faced limitations as agricultural demands grew. By 1960, John Deere shifted to four cycle and six cycle engines. The two-cylinder engine remains iconic and beloved by collectors and enthusiasts for its ruggedness and distinctiveness. Thought For the Day: Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with corporate IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH and SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books on www:PaulWallem.com. Send comments to pwallem9@gmail.com. |
