A NEW UNDERTYPE FODEN TRACTOR.
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A Special Haulage Appliance with all of its Working Parts Protected Against Dust and Sand.
AS is well known, Fodens, Ltd., have been paying considerable attention during the past two years to the production of an uudertype wagon, and the model that has virtually been finally approved has now been operating on the road, but very little publicity has been or will be permitted until all modifications, dictated by the experience that has been sought shall have been made.
A development of this undertype wagon is an undertype tractor of quite new design, specially suited for heavy haulage work and illustrated in the accompanying photographs.
This particular tractor has been de-. signed for rough country, being destined for South Africa, where it will have to work under abnormal conditions and over bad roads and loose and difficult tracks, whilst in the particular region in which it will operate the roads are very sandy and there is a large amount of dust in the air. For this reason the engine and working parts have been entirely cased in, so as to protect them from the inroads of grit and dust.
The engine is exactly the same as that employed on the standard undertype 6ton wagon with H.P. cylinders. It is mounted across the frame as is the case with the wagon, and the drive is taken through a gearbox and thence through a propeller shaft to overhead worm gear.
The boiler is the new water tube boiler of unusual design, which has a very large heating surface. All revolving shafts are mounted in heavy roller bearings.
The rear axle is entirely enclosed, and '• considerable attention has been paid to accessibility to all wearing parts, whilst lubrication has also been very thoroughly worked out. Ample provision has been made for water, as there are two tanks which, together, carry about 450 gallons, a large tank being mounted at the rear and a smaller one at the front of the vehicle.
The steering gear is of the Ackerman type with centre pivots to provide very easy steering.
The footplate of the tractor is exceptionally roomy, all controls and brakeoperating levers being brought within easy reach of the driver, who is given an upholstered seat and a raked steering column, whilst the sloping front gives him a very clear view of the road before him. The rear tank has been sloped rearwards at the top, and this is found to be a great advantage to the driver when coupling the tractor to trailers, as he is well able to see what is happening behind him.
We hope to be able, in a later issue, to give fuller details of this interesting tractor.