A Newcomer to the Light Tractor Market
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The "Wards," Offered in Four Types, Having Four and Two Wheels and Engines from 1 h.p. to 8 h.p.
DOWERED in every case by a single-cylindered air-cooled 1 four-stroke petrol engine, a range of four light agricultural tractors is being introduced to the British market by the British Motor Boat Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Ampton Street, London, W.C.1, Named the Wards, the machine will be available in four models. Of these the largest is a four-wheeler of 8 h.p., called the Team-Trac. The other three are two-wheelers, this group comprising the Plow-Trac of 5 h.p., the Cult-Trac, 24 h.p. and the HoeTrac, 1 h.p.
From these names a rough idea of the respective capabilities of each can be gained. Both the 8 h.p. and 5 h.p. tractors are capable of single-furrow ploughing, and various other implements can be attached, notably a 44-ft. mower, driven via an attachment comprising a bevel gear and flexibly jointed shaft, coupled to the power unit by a belt. In this connection; the engines are governor controlled between 1,800 r.p.m. and 2,000 r.p.m.
With regard to the four-wheeler,, the construction of this is particularly interesting. It has four-wheel steering, the front part swivelling as a unit and the rear employing the Ackermann principle. Unlike other four-wheel-steering machines, however, front steering is by wheel and rear by pedal. This should give the tractor a remarkable facility for gaining access to awkward corners.
There is no turntable in the usually understood sense. The front assembly is pivoted at a central point, slightly rearwards of the axle and has, as well, a rearward and upwardextending bracket terminating in a quadrant resting on a roller mounted on the rear part. The quadrant has bevel teeth meshing with a pinion on the steering column. The turning radius is only 5 ft. The arrangement is such that stability is maintained and the rigidity of the machine, in a vertical plane, is preserved without undue stress at either point of connection between the front and rear parts. At the rear, each wheel is on a swivelling steering head, motion from the foot bars being transmitted by links and arms, whilst a tie rod keeps -the wheels in track.
To facilitate steering on the two-wheeler each brake is operated by a grip lever on the handlebar. A similar principle is employed on the bigger tractor.
Track is adjustable from 30 ins. to 42 ins. Two forward speeds and reverse are provided and there are independent brakes on each hub. This also applies to the two-wheeler. Transmission from engine to gearbox is by flat belt tensioned by a jockey pulley and this serves as a clutch. There is a lever for adjusting the angle of the implement. Final drive is by fully encased spur reduction gear. On the driving wheels are 6-22 tyres, the front wheels being shod with 4-18 tyres. Steel wheels are optional. These are the prices: 1 h.p., £36; 24 h.p., £67 10s.; 5 h.p., £127 10s.; 8 h.p., £152 10s. Wards tractors are built by the Simplicity Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee,