953 nut 55,161 #1 Posted May 13 Today’s letter is “K” Klever design and koncern for the kustomer led to a komfortable kab. Knudson Tractor Operator comfort and adaptability to the terrain of the sprawling North Dakota farmlands were two of Jerome Knudson’s primary considerations when he designed his tractor. Virtually all BIG four-wheel drive tractors like the Steiger and Versatile had open operator platforms and were of the articulated design. They were BIG and well suited for the open prairie lands of Iowa, Wyoming, and Montana. The rolling farmland of North and South Dakota offered some challenges that existing BIG tractors were not ideal for. The operator would likely spend half of their day leaning in one direction or the other as he worked the hillsides. Also, the open platform left the operator exposed to the elements for long periods and the articulated ridged frame would often leave one drive wheel above the ground while negotiating uneven terrain. North Dakota farmer Jerome Knudson decided to build his own tractor that would fit the needs of his land incorporating some creature comfort not available on existing BIG tractors in 1967. To keep all four wheels in contact with the ground Knudson used two steerable axels on a rigid frame with the front axel mounted on a separate framework, which allowed it to pivot keeping all four wheels in contact with the ground when going over obstacles. The use of steerable axles front and rear also allowed the tractor to be more nimble on hillsides. If traction was limited the tractor’s axles could be turned to have it “crabwalk” to maintain direction of movement. Operator comfort was another primary consideration, working on hill sides would force the operator to lean for prolonged periods. This would cause a great deal of fatigue and make for a long workday. Also, the ability to stand from time to time would reduce the operator exhaustion. The engine and transmission would also benefit from being in an upright position so Knudson devised a separate chassis to carry the operator cab, engine and drive components which could be leveled by the operator while covering changing terrain. This feature along with the cab being suspended from rubber mounts and a six-and-a-half-foot tall cab allowing a farmer to stand up and stretch when needed was a big plus. These tractors were not aimed at the average farmer but were well received by those land wasn’t flat. The green and white color scheme made the Knutson tractor stand out from the rest and was maintained after the company was sold to Allmand Brothers. The production continued at the Nebraska based factory until 1983 however during the last few years of production Knudson tractors were painted yellow. Major tractor manufacturers have built their own models of BIG tractors over the years but none have incorporated the self-leveling feature that makes the Knudson stand out from the rest 2 7 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
