WOW, have never seen any tractor like THIS before!

kcm.MN · Oct 3, 2017

Have only started this video. The lack of wheels on this tractor is.....AMAZING! I wanna build one, just to see it work up close! *lol*

By the way, I have no idea what the rest of the video is. I'm sorta stuck at the beginning! :wink:

kcm.MN · Oct 3, 2017

Ooops, guess a URL would help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnCscx6SsIo

Ken Macfarlane · Oct 3, 2017

I think they used to call those track layers.

kcm.MN · Oct 3, 2017

Thanks Ken, I'll look that up. Looks pretty fascinating to me! Although, I do have to wonder about the wear potential for something like that - probably has a short life expectancy.

Robert Major · Oct 3, 2017

Those are Howard Rotapads, They were common on land drainage machines back in the U.K in the 50/60's. A friend of mine had a Fordson Major that
originally had those, instead of rear wheels with the Howard rotary drainer on. In later years he put wheels on so he could drive it between smaller
jobs on the road. I can't think what the drainer model was of the top of my head but it will be on youtube somewhere, if you search Howard Drainage
machine.
Regards Robert

Steve@Advance · Oct 3, 2017

That's what I'm thinking, quick wear.

And in real world use, what would mud, roots, sticks, rocks do for those chains and sprockets?

paul · Oct 3, 2017

I'm sitting here with flooded fields, I don't know much about center pivots, but don't some of them have wheel sets sort of like that, to walk
through areas water gathers?

Paul

JMS/.MN · Oct 3, 2017

There are pads that attach to the tires, similar to snow chains.

rrlund · Oct 3, 2017

Can't hold a candle to this one. I think there's video of it. Try searching walking tractor.

JF in MI · Oct 3, 2017

How do you turn it?

JF in MI · Oct 3, 2017

I like this one a lot better...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtRpx57KqjY

kcm.MN · Oct 3, 2017

I dunno...think I'll stick to these kind instead. :wink:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFpnp5RMeho
TEA 20 with halftrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brh4WjZwBVA
Fordson SuperSuper Dexta

Ah, here's another video about the Howard Rotapads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6RtTo3aNr8

Thanks Robert; perfect ID!! Were you lucky enough to ever see your friend's tractor in operation?

JMS/.MN · Oct 3, 2017

I have the FarmShow video of that one. Interesting concept, and a lot of work to build it.

Robert Major · Oct 4, 2017

Hi kcm.MN
He got that old major machine in the hey day of government grants for land drainage in the U.K. When he got busy he updated to a Barth trencher built on a ford 5000 with full tracks thats also shown on YouTube. Sadly I never saw either machine work when I first met him the drainage with those machines was pretty well over as the grants finished, both machines sat in his yard in the bushes looking rather unloved in a damp climate.

He sadly died around 98 or 99, I originally had a deal with him to buy the old machine that his widow would of honored as I was a good friend. My life changed then to with moving to Canada and I couldn't bring it easily. I know it was still for sale in 2000 with some other equipment from his custom backhoe business. I'm hoping somebody brought both of them and preserved them instead of just scraping them.
Regards Robert

kcm.MN · Oct 4, 2017

Just......WOW! Well, although you never saw them work, you still have the memories of seeing them up close and personal. Seems there's not much information about them online, so hold onto those memories.

I sorta know how you felt, having to leave them behind. When I lived in Finland, I kept trying to figure out how to get my little Pasquali tractor over there. Figured if I could do that, THEN I'd work on trying to get my little truck over there. But like with you, plans changed and none of it ever came true. ...Maybe I'll post a pic of the Pasquali on Talers in the pic of the day. :wink:

WOW, have never seen any tractor like THIS before!

kcm.MN

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