A New Multi-purpose Tractor
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ANEW tractor designed throughout to withstand hard usage, and adaptable to a Variety of purposes, has recently been placed.on the market by Tractors (London), Ltd., Broad Lane, Tottenharn, N.15, Known as the Vickers-Carden-Loyd tractor, it is manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd. The drive is provided by means of chain tracks making the machine suitable for work either on roads or rough ground.
The power unit is a four-cylindered petrol engine with a bore of n ins, and a stroke of 4i ins., and it is rated at 24 li.p., the maximum power output being 50 b.h.p. at 2,800 r.p.m.Coil ignition is used and the battery is situated under the driver's scuttle. An extra large fan is driven by two belts, which also form the drive for the dynamo. A downdraught carburetter, embodying an easystarting device, is fitted, and a feature of the induction system is the provision of a large air cleaner.
The driVe is taken through. a single-plate clutch of large dimensions to a heavily built four-speed and reverse gearbox (to which a power take-off may be fitted), and thence by a short enclosed shaft to a spiral-bevel axle. A differential gear is embodied in the axle, and the axle shafts drive sprockets to which the chain tracks are fitted. The tracks drive the rubber-tyred rear wheels and the weight is taken by bogies, which maintain the track tension under all running. conditions.
The suspension is effected by means of a centrally pivoted beam on each side, which carries at its forward end the • bogie bracket, the bogies being mounted on the ends of leaf springs. At the• rearmost end of the beam the rear wheel is supported on an adjustable arm, whilst a rubber buffer, connected by a cross-member to the buffer on the other side of the machine, compensates the movement of the two beams.
The movement of the bogies about their pivot pins is governed by stops, and the track may be adjusted by means of a screwed rod carried on the rear-wheel arm and supported on the suspension beam at its forward end. The track is of manganese steel, and has case-hardened, nickelsteel pins riveted over. No lubrication is required.
Steering is effected by brakes operating on drums which carry the driving sprockets, and a separate hand lever is provided for each brake. Light pressure on either brake is sufficient to steer the machine in the desired direction, and by means of a ratchet on each lever the brakes can be held in the " on " position when required. The heavy-duty shoes have Capasco facings and are operated by double snail cams, simple and accessible adjustment being provided at the base of each lever. The equipment includes a toolkit beneath the seat, an electric starter and six ballast weights, which may be mounted at several different points on the frame as required. The machine weighs 1 ton 6 cwt. and a load of 8 cwt. can be carried on the tractor, in addition to a towed load of from 1 to 8 tons.
A maximum toad speed of 20 m.p.h. is attained and the ploughing speed is 4 m.p.h. With an overall length of 6 ft. 7 ins. and a width of 4 ft. this tractor is a compact unit and is suitable for many classes of work of a general or specialized nature,