The Ai..0./Vi. Agrimotor.
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Ford Characteristics Strong in Engine ; Originality Notable in Transmission.
Following the recent agreement as between the British Government and Mr. Ford concerning the manufacture of his tractor, which agreement was mentioned in these columns in our issue of the 17th May last, a dismantled demonstration tractor is now on view at the Director of Agriculture's offices.
Hotel Victoria, 'Northumberland Avenue. The purpose of this exhibition is to enable manufacturers to view the parts, and take all necessary particulars, with the object of their tendering to the Government for the manufacture and supply to the Agricultural Department of these tractors. With this object in view, blue-prints, specifications, and all other necessary data are available.
No Ordinary Sales.
It should be pointed out that it is a condition of the loan of the patents of this tractor that no sales to the 'ordinary private consumer are permitted. These tractors are only to be made to the order of the Government and for Government use.
We availed ourselves recently of this opportunity to inspect the details of this agrirnotor, which, as the Ford, has had frequent mention in these columns, besides being illustrated from photographs on many occasions, the most recent being that in our issue of the 2f3th April last, in the course of an article from our 'French correspondent describing the French agrimotor trials at Noiiy-le-Grand.
No Frame.
As a tractor this machine has many original features of design, not the least important being the entire absence of a frame as that is normally understood.
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The power unit bears evidence of its origin. It is in feature almost identical with the engine of the well-known touring car, being, however, a little larger—as regards the Ministry of Munitions tractor, a four-eylinder, 4-in, bore by 5-in. stroke engine. The upper half of the crankcase and the cylinder bar
rels form one casting. The castiron cylinder head incorporating the outlet water pipe is identical in design with that of the Ford touring-car engine. The bottom portion of the crankcase is a casting, and not a pressing. The Holley carburetter is fitted, this, however, being a special component design'ed with a. vaporizer capable of utiliz ing heavy fuels after a short preliminary warming-up run on petrol. The magneto, again, is that muchdiscussed but almost unique Ford component carried by the flywheel.
Engine and Transmission Together.
The engine, -clutch, transmission and rear axle all bolt together to
form a unit. A multi-disc allmetal clutch transmits to a three-. speed-and-reverse gearbox; with sliding gears and selective type change-speed arrangement, and the final drive is by overhead worm and wheel.
The final transmission is through a pair of live axles which, besides transmitting the engine torque, also bear the bending moment consequent upon their having to Plustai the full tractive pull of the agrimotor. The implement is attached, through the medium Of a crossbar, directly to the back axle casing.
The Road Wheels. "
Those much discussed components, the road wheels, are simply and lightly constructed, the cast hubs being cennected to wroughtsteel rims by means of flat bar spokes, both ends being secured by means of rivets. Their construction is probably sufficient to enable the tractor satisfactorily to work for long periods on soft farm land, but we should anticipate that a very poor performanct would be put up if the tractor were run on hard road to any reasonable extent..