Homemade 4wheel drive tractor

rediron600 · Dec 19, 2015

A friend of mine recently purchased this tractor at a farm sale in central Illinois. Powered by a four cylinder Detroit and has two f-30 rearends. Farmer built in 1961 and was used at the 1966 farm progress show in Farmercity Ill. Anyone remember this tractor or have any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

rediron600 · Dec 19, 2015

Try again

rediron600 · Dec 19, 2015

One more time

rediron600 · Dec 19, 2015

Again

billmart · Dec 19, 2015

how does it steer? Bill

ObsoElitist · Dec 19, 2015

what a strange monster! I would get it running and drive it a lot.

rediron600 · Dec 19, 2015

It does articulate. It has a cylinder on each side controlled with a stick connected to a valve.

IA Roy · Dec 19, 2015

Any idea what transmission they used? Wondering how the power is transmitted down from crankshaft level to differential level? There must be some type of transfer case

JMOR · Dec 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 18:52:56 12/19/15) Any idea what transmission they used? Wondering how the power is transmitted down from crankshaft level to differential level? There must be some type of transfer case

ooks like via a chain or belt back under what is probably the fuel tank.

ObsoElitist · Dec 19, 2015

And it has reductions on the axle ends

Adirondack case guy · Dec 19, 2015

That is just begging to be restored to it original form. Keep us posted with pics of the restoration progress.
Loren

GreenEnvy · Dec 19, 2015

That tractor has similar components to this tractor called the "Beatall" It also uses two F-30 rear ends and a 4 cylinder Detriot. Wonder if the same guy built both tractors.
Homemade 4 wheel drive tractor

Adirondack case guy · Dec 19, 2015

There was an older vidio on here a couple of weeks ago showing early 4WD tractors and a tractor like that. I don't remember it being painted gray like that one you posted, and it was pulling a disc harrow at a show if I remember wright.
Loren

Adirondack case guy · Dec 19, 2015

Went back and took a closer look. The pic in Farm Show is a different tractor. Front wheels are in different position in relation to the motor.
Loren

David G · Dec 19, 2015

I remember that one back in the 60s.

Old Scovy · Dec 20, 2015

A few years ago I had a group of tractor collectors from Australia on tour of the tractor shows all over the central and eastern US and we went to see that tractor and it sure is A thing to see. It looked like a factory job. And we were in Fargo ND and there is a museum at the fair grounds that has the 1st. Stiger ? and it was made out of 2 Case 500's?? Don't just remember but I am not far off. Some one want to put me straight ??? Thanks Jack

Frank41 · Dec 20, 2015

I don't remember seeing it at the FPS, but was not there very long. A neighbor farmed next to what Heaps did, remembered seeing them replace the belts on the drive. Charlie's dad, Bill I think and another person put that together, I am told. I remember Bill hauling grain when I started helping Lyle Becker, Deland, IL in 66.

Tool Box · Dec 20, 2015

The story that I got from Charlie and his sister Mary the day of the sale was that in 1960 their dad went to the Farm Progress Show in Joliet. While there he seen a homemade 4wd built from two Allis Chalmers rear ends. That gave him the idea and about 1961 or 62, he, a neighbor, and a welder from Downs put it together. It is two F-30 transmission and axle assemblies with the front one flipped around backwards and the two are coupled together. The four cylinder Detroit and upper transmission were from an old truck, what brand I have no idea. Charlie said the first attempt on the drive was a large roller chain but it had problems so they changed it over to the belt drive setup. The drive shaft is snapped off of the upper drive pulley, which looks like it could be problem area because of their hinge design but other than that it appears to be very well thought out and built. The engine is currently stuck so with that, the driveshaft problem, and some needed rim repairs, I have my work cut out for me. It is now nestled snug in my Quonset building so maybe I can tease the old girl back life.

Tool Box · Dec 20, 2015

try some pics, don't know how this is going to work. gotta be smarter than the camera

Tool Box · Dec 20, 2015

hmm. that didn't work. Maybe this will. Only been messing with it for an hour.

armand tatro · Dec 21, 2015

I have pair of F 30's that was assembled in Gilman, Ill at the Preisser Machine Shop about 1959. It is powered with a 4-71 Detroit diesel engine and has a transmission bolted to the engine bellhousing than the chain drive drop box is bolted to the back of the transmission. Each rearend has the original transmission with it. I also have a John Deere #6 corn sheller that that had sat on a dealers lot for 4 or 5 years and was missing a few parts that Preisser Machine shop brought an ressembled Used parts and some that he fabricated in house Includeing a Cook/Washinton style cylinder that he could have fabricated himself as it had a steel cone (John deere cones were castiron) instead of a Cook/Washinton gate. I am second owner of this sheller and also have a truck mounted Cook sheller so I can compare the two. I also have some of the shop equipment that the Pressisser Machine shop owned owned. I haved sorta went off tropic on this topic because I am amazed by what these old blacksmith/machine shops and farm shops could (and still do) accomplished! Toolbox you may call me at 815 471 2095 if you want more information about my tractor. I am in the Gilman, Ill. (10 miles north) area. Armand

Homemade 4wheel drive tractor

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