LF1030

Internal Combustion Tractors

    The earliest internal combustion engines were stationary.  The would run barn equipment like threshers and other machinery.  Some were mounted on wheels so they could be transfered from field to field.

	Early tractors utilized wide metal tires, especially in the rear of the machine to disperse the weight.   Front wheels often had ridges to help them steer in the dirt.  Problems with traction pushed engineers to come to another form of wheels.  A continuous belt with slats were  fitted to the front and back wheels.  This style has been made famous by Caterpillar company and is still used in heavy earth moving equipment today.  Fordson was one of the first mass produced tractors starting in 1916.  Plowing speed was 2.8 mph (4.5km) weighing over a ton.  It ran on kerosene and could plow 8 acres on one tank of fuel. (#18)
In 1932 Allis-Chalmers began to use pneumatic tires from Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.  The tires had a much better grip in the soils. They have many advantages over the metal tires, including their weight.   Today most of the tires used are wide and grooved for best  results.
	Today tractors come in all sizes and are used for a multitude of tasks on the farm.

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