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Screw drive tractor

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JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2009-01-28          159885


http://www.flixxy.com/snow-vehicle-concept.htm
Posted this on the tbn forum and for those on this site that don't go to the other one here is a video that many enjoyed.

Added dirct click on link at bottom.



Link:   http://www.flixxy.com/snow-vehicle-concept.htm

 


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Screw drive tractor

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-01-28          159886


John, that is neat. Here it is better to post a web address in the Link URL:

How long has it been you have seen a tractor operator wearing a tie and dress coat?

Hey EW, made me think of you. Probably would work in the swamps of the gulf coast and the snow of MI.
....


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JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2009-01-28          159892


KThompson. When I entered this address on other forum it made it a click on link. Don't know how to do it here. Can you in a reply? ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2009-01-28          159893


Kenny I know you were trying to poke at me, but back in the '60's I saw a picture of such a machine that looked like a pontoon boat with twin screws like the Fordson. It was used for swamp work and hauling tourists in Florida (I think).

In 'sippi I saw many a tracked swamp machine that resembled a flat platform atop two tracks. The tracks alone stood about 8-10', about 6' wide each, and about 40 feet long overall. They were spaced about 10-12' apart. The tracks treads themselves were wooden and looked like what we call here "wire-and-wood slat snow fence".

Ford I believe actually mass-produced those screw machines which were marketed to snow-belt regions. The advertisement I saw showed "US MAIL" on the tractor hood with the operator wearing airplane-style goggles and bomber jacket. An article I read said the product didn't live long because the tractor's ring-and-pinion sat too high and was spur-gear type, not helical gear type, which developed too much heat that was transferred up to the operator's Kenny...err...buttocks and legs.

The Fordson and Ford tractors were mass-produced just a few miles from my home. And Ford built a power house and plant just a mile from here on a river he dammed up. The plant made the headlamps for T and A models.

A year or so ago I conserved a barn Henry Ford had built in 1873 on his many local soybean farms. The soybeans were used to make things like plastics and paint---as saying went "any color you wanted as long as it was black." ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-01-28          159894


There used to be quite a few companies that made 1/2 track conversion kits for regular 2WD 'chore' size farm tractors like the MF35 and Fordson Major.

It was just an extra axle like a trailer axle, the same wheel track width as the rear tire, and it was mounted usually ahead of the rear axle, but sometimes out the back. A large rubber track with steel cleats then went around this new tire and the regular rear tire.

We had one for years for getting wood and maple sap out of the bush during the winter.

The big advantage, other than the low initial cost of the kit was that you could put it on or take it back off in just a few hours with (usually) no modification to the tractor itself.

I even helped build one like that but built to go on a MF lawn tractor some years back. The guy wanted a groomer for setting cross country ski trails but just wanted a very small machine capable of climbing big hills at slow speeds.

Jeff, I also suspect Fords soy bean farms were because early diesels were designed to run on veg. oil, and he was experimenting with them. He just couldn't get the cost down and so they never made it into production in anything but tractors. He thought it would give him an edge into the oil business also.

Best of luck. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-01-28          159895


Quote:
Originally Posted by JOHNWTHOMAS | view 159892
KThompson. When I entered this address on other forum it made it a click on link. Don't know how to do it here. Can you in a reply?


John when you have a screen open like this one to enter your message below the white part is some fields in blue (at least these are the colors on my screen). The top one is where you can enter the title such as in the case "screw drive tractor" and the one below is is a field to enter the link. The way you entered it here which is fine just requires it to be copied and paste to use it.


EW, the reason I really thought of you, it was produce in Michigan. ....


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JOHNWTHOMAS
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 48 SOMERSET, KY
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2009-01-28          159896


Let's see if this inserts address so it can just be clicked on. Thanks KThompson. ....


Link:   http://www.flixxy.com/snow-vehicle-concept.htm

 

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-01-28          159897


Hey, that's a pretty neat idea. Thanks for posting.

Probably not so good on hard surfaces but for mud and snow that has to be the way to go.
....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2009-01-28          159898


Kinda going off topic, but Murf that little half-track you built...I saw a documentary on how a mountian-peak copper mining road was built. They showed helicopters air lifting garden-tractor size dozers that were used to shave off the very top of a mountain. Then successively larger dozers were air-lifted in until the roads were wide enough for big D-9 Cats and larger. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2009-01-29          159900


It's not been so many years ago that I remember that track system still being offered, I have no idea who sold them. One of our neighbors had one on an old Ford, don't remember what ever happened to it. At one time Ford offered a fold out steel lug system on the outside of the regular rear tires that kinda looked like a wheelweight when it was folded up. ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-01-29          159905


Quote:
Originally Posted by kwschumm | view 159897
Probably not so good on hard surfaces but for mud and snow that has to be the way to go.


Actually about 20 years earlier than that the Peavey family of Maine, the same people who invented, and for whom the "Peavey" log tool is named, invented and patented a machine for getting logs out of the bush. It was remarkably similar to this machine, except it used 4 rollers and was articulated.

They ran into the same problem as with this machine, in order to float on a soft surface it has to exert minimal ground pressure, but that doesn't allow for any traction for pulling a load. In dry fluffy snow it can barely move, it requires heavy wet snow that will pack slightly and provide grip for the small teeth.

None of these vehicles were able to traverse hard soil though, it slowed them to nearly no forward speed at all.

In the end the track won out as the best all around way to move in soft material like snow, especially since they can roll over any terrain with nearly equal ease.

Best of luck. ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2009-01-29          159918


I gotta think any screw drive would make blood-curdling sounds as the screw wound it's way across anything but a very resilient and slippery/lubricated base. Think: nails on a chalk board. Not to mention the wear from friction.

Murf, that Peavey roller thing--I can't quite picture how rollers are situated. ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-01-29          159919


Quote:
Originally Posted by earthwrks | view 159918
Murf, that Peavey roller thing--I can't quite picture how rollers are situated.


Picture the machine above, but as an articulated device instead of differential steering.

Two rollers and the engine constituted the front half, two powered rollers on the back half, with room a log skidder type arrangement above them.

As said though, the problem was it didn't work.

Have a look at the article linked to below, pictures included for those that don't JUST read the articles. ;)

Best of luck. ....


Link:   Peavey Screw Propulsion tractor.

 

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