Unique Drive Train

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

Interesting home made for sale near me.    

 

[Handy Don 12,561]

Looks like something that would have been built in the late 30s or early 40s. VERY interesting decision to use two differentials! Do you think there are gearboxes on the engine and down before the forward diff to choose speeds and reverse?

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

23 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 Do you think there are gearboxes on the engine and down before the forward diff to choose speeds and reverse?

No Don.   There is another pic that shows the engine drive side.    One forward speed, no gears or reverse.      It has the sliding engine belt tensioner for a clutch.

   Oh, and no brakes...Yaba-Daba- Do type

Edited December 29, 2024 by Ed Kennell

[Maxwell-8 4,357]

I've had the exact same Briggs engine. ran good, very heavy for a Briggs and Stratton.

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

[rmaynard 15,675]

Looking at the steering, I wonder what the caster is. If it's like the Wheel Horse 701, which has none, you would need quite and area to make a complete 360 degree turn.

[ri702bill 8,550]

39 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

I wonder what the caster is.

Camber???? 

[rmaynard 15,675]

22 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Camber???? 

Camber, caster, whatever it takes. 

[ebinmaine 68,663]

VERY interesting rig.  

[953 nut 56,046]

Front portion of the frame looks like the rear frame from a Model T Ford. The rear axle and closed driveshaft are alto Model T Ford which should come as no surprise, they were used in many applications because they were so plentiful and rugged. 

Nice piece of agricultural history there, thanks for showing it to us Ed.

[Handy Don 12,561]

Sliding engine! Talk about shakers.

That B&S looks like one sturdy engine and it has a reducing/reversing gear before the output pulley. 

The large inboard lever near the steering shaft is the “engage/disengage” lever and the smaller on is the throttle.

BUT, the dual pulley arrangement, along with the outboard lever linked to it, has me wondering. I am thinking that the shaft on the driven pulleys slides to engage each pulley separately. That leads me to think there is gearing between the two pulleys so that one drives forward and one drives reverse. Still one speed in each direction. Having both directions also offers a kind of braking option, too.

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

One more Pic.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

That leads me to think there is gearing between the two pulleys so that one drives forward and one drives reverse.

After a closer look, you may be correct, but the linkage only appears to move the pillow bearing front to rear not left to right to shift. a pulley on the shaft.

I did message the seller and his reply is the linkage only tightens the belts and there are no brakes.   He said he bought it with a blown engine and only installed the B&S.

I'm not sure he understands a possible F/R function as you described.

[Handy Don 12,561]

I agree, Ed, that the linkage is push/pull. I’m putting a nickel on the idea that the fore/aft sliding “tongue” is mechanically (via lever or slot) pushing that cradle containing a locking collar on the shaft left and right. The driven pulleys are on the axle of the differential--they have no freedom for fore and aft movement!

 

Owner’s comments are interesting. My assessement is that they never really understood how it was intended to work? Or maybe they don’t want to acknowledge that the reversing system is broken and/or was partially removed during the re-engining? Even if it wasn’t a reverse, it could easily have been a two-speed with different pulley sizing.

 

Loving the overhead view the operator had of the plow action--no craning their neck--and wondering where they rested their feet?!

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

4 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

My assessement is that they never really understood how it was intended to work?

Yes, I agree. I asked him for a close up of the pulleys and he sent this pic with the comment " the pulleys were originally made of wood ".

So now I am confused.    

 

 

 

 

[oliver2-44 9,888]

21 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

" the pulleys were originally made of wood ".

 

Make me wonder if it had a flat bell drive. 

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

10 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Make me wonder if it had a flat bell drive. 

         Me too.

[rmaynard 15,675]

No matter how you look at it, it's ingenious. He must have had a lot of free time on his hands.

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

BTW, If anyone is interested in purchasing this tractor, PM me for the contact info.

[953 nut 56,046]

I also agree on the flat belt with wooden pullies which would have been time appropriate for this build.

            If the differential that is being used as a right angle gear was a a limited slip it could also be used for reverse.

 

[Ed Kennell 38,936]

7 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I also agree on the flat belt with wooden pullies which would have been time appropriate for this build.

            If the differential that is being used as a right angle gear was a a limited slip it could also be used for reverse.

 

 

Care to explain this Richard.    I was assuming this axle would have been permenantly locked to allow power to be transmitted from the other axle to the drive shaft.

[953 nut 56,046]

3 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

Care to explain this Richard.    I was assuming this axle would have been permenantly locked to allow power to be transmitted from the other axle to the drive shaft.

Looking at the first picture you posted I too figured the axle stub was welded to the flange. In the close-up I saw the hole drilled for a pin and the axle didn't appear to be stationary.

Wish I knew what the right angle drive differential came from so I could dig a bit deeper into this theory. I don't know if there were any limited slip rear ends at that time, but if the stub axle turned with the driven axle going forward I would think it would reverse the output at half the speed when it was stopped by the brakes.   Or it could be wishful thinking and I'm barking up the wrong tree.

Once you buy it and get it home you can check this out a bit further.