GEARLESS TRACTOR TESTED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 8

GEARLESS TRACTOR TESTED

Hydraulic transmission has been used for some time in cars, trucks, and heavy earth-moving machinery, but what is claimed to be the first application of the principle to a farm tractor in Britain has recently been demonstrated. A discussion of the system is given in a recent issue of the English agricultural publication. “Farmer and Stock Breeder.” When the method of transmission is perfected for farm tractors the need for the gearbox, clutch and differential will be eliminated, the article claims. For the demonstration a popular make of English tractor was used with the hydrostatic drive replacing the normal transmission.

The system is simple. A variaule delivery, swash plate pump feeds a fixed capacity drive motor and by operating the tractor’s single control leaver the swash is tilted and so feeds more or less oil to the drive motor, thus varying the speed. A change from forward movement to reverse is made by pulling the lever back. In the central position the tractor is stationary. A change from full speed forward to full reverse can be made without stopping or damage (except to the tyres). Acceleration is smooth and free from jerks and there is no need for stopping to change gears. ' This»form of transmission should prove ideal for a wide range of farm jobs, the ability to crawl suiting it to planting or precision drilling, while getting the best from the tractor engine when heavily loaded will be a lot easier, the artidg aaya.