COPYRIGHTED 1917 AND 1913 BY THE NORMAN W. HENLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THIRD IMPRESSION Nearly every illustration in this book has been specially made by COMPOSITION, ELECTROTYPING AND PRESSWORK BY BRAUN WORTH & CO., BROOKLYN, N. Y. 17706923 222712 JAN 20 1919 TK •P14 PREFACE The internal combustion motor has been responsible for many developments in the industrial sciences, but its greatest achievement has been the promotion of economical and efficient transportation. The improvements inthe design of the modern gas tractor, which have made it an entirely practical and satisfactory source of power, have also opened up fields where it can be used to advantage and profit that would have been impossible with steam traction engines formerly the vogue, or other forms of power. It is not the writer's intention to underestimate the advantages and utility of the steam tractor; it has and still is performing work of great value. The gas tractor, however, in its modern forms, is able to accomplish everything the steam propelled type can do, and has important advantages the other construction does not possess. It does not require services of a skilled engineer to operate, it has a wider range of action, is more independent of fuel and water supply in that it does not. consume much liquid in cooling, and is more economical of fuel because it utilizes a larger proportion of the potential energy or heat units of the combustible by burning it directly in the cylinders. The many advantages of the internal combustion or gas motor have made it the recognized prime mover where economical operation and minimum attendance is required, so it is but natural that it should reign supreme in the field of general transportation. This treatise is intended as a guide for the average farmer and mechanic. It is not presented as a technical or engineering exposition, yet endeavor has been made to present some principles of design in a simple manner so they may be readily understood by those without technical knowledge. The object of the writer has been to discuss the engineering features of various constructions only with a view of familiarizing the reader with the salient points of design, so the advantages of the various systems of construction may be intelligently analyzed in order that the mechanism best adapted to individual requirements be selected. There is a large field to select from. Tractors may be obtained ranging from motor propelled lawn mowers or ploughs capable of use as light traction power to the heavier constructions employed in tilling the broad township farms of the Middle West. Special designs have been evolved applicable to use in swamps or rice fields of the South or the snow bound lumber camps of the extreme North where no other form of power can work, so the range of utility of the gas tractor is practically unlimited. The chapters on maintenance and repair should be of special value, while the various applications described cannot fail to offer the up-to-date farmer some suggestions whereby he can improve his present methods and save money. The student is always interested in construction and design, the practical man wishes more specific information. This treatise is intended to bridge the gap existing between the purely technical work and the manufacturers' instruction book dealing with one specific construction. If it has accomplished this, the writer will feel amply repaid for the time and labor expended on its compilation. June, 1918 THE AUTHOR. ANNOUNCEMENT The Author desires to acknowledge his appreciation of the valuable assistance accorded him by many of the leading firms in the field of Tractor Manufacture and associated industries. Many of the illustrations have been furnished by progressive manufacturers whose publicity efforts and excellent product have done so much to popularize the gasoline farm tractor, and many valuable suggestions regarding treatment of the subject have been obtained from the literature so kindly supplied by them. The following list of firms contributed materially to making this work complete and of value: Rumely Products Company, La Porte, Ind. The Hart-Parr Company, Charles City, Iowa. Minneapolis Steel & Machine Co., Minneapolis, Minn. Auto Tractor Company, Chicago, Ill. |