The Lister Tractor Project
Page 4
Click on the pictures for a larger, more complete, color view.
Use your browser's BACK button to return to this page
With all the components reassembled, the tractor starts to take shape. With some lubrication applied to important areas, the tractor is now able to motate under it's own power. Several test runs are made in this configuration, to locate any major problems or needed improvements. The only real major change needed will be to redesign the service brakes. This was no surprise since this tractor is much bigger and heavier than the original Suburban tractor and it was doubtful that the Suburban braking system would be large enough. Since all my weight applied to the brake pedal was insufficient to stop the tractor, I believe a change is in order! The eventual larger rear wheels/tires will just aggravate this problem. Also, the gear shift mechanism will require beefing up, but the new configuration does work.
A left front view.
A view of the 'clutch'; three loose fitting belts with a moving idler to remove the slack. The idlers position is controlled by the clutch pedal through linkage underneath the transmission. Also, the oil filters position in relation to the driver allowed an easy placement of an oil pressure gauge. It's hoped that an oil bath air cleaner will mount in the open area to the left of the gauge with a tube up to the intake of the engine.
A chassis view showing the rear belt drive from the transmission back to the rear end. The engine being a hand crank start, I thought a crank holder would be a unique idea.
The seat mount idea was taken from several similar versions used on various models of real tractors. Ideally, the spring tension should be adjustable for different drivers, but I'll probably be the only driver most of the time. The two 3/16" rods either side of the spring limit the upward travel and hold things together. The 3" square tubing the assembly mounts to is now filled with about 50 pounds of lead for extra weight over the rear wheels.
Finally, after nearly a full year hiatus, work is again underway on the tractor! Needing a revised brake system, I took the idea used on my other small "Fairmont Tractor" and installed a service brake on the input to the rear end. The advantage to this setup is the mechanical advantage the rear end gear train adds to the small brake drum, and the fact only one drum and band are required. The disadvantage is that any failure in the rear end will most likely result in a lose of service brakes. Being a slow vehicle, this should not be a major problem. Once the first version of the brakes was removed, one of the brake drums was machined, along with the hub of the rear end pulley, so the two would fit together. They were then brazed to create a single unit. A new stationary mount for the brake band was machined and mounted to the frame and some of the old linkage was modified to operate just the one band. Actually cleaned up and simplified the whole system.
Now to protect my ankle! With the finalization of the power train, I fabricated a shield to go over the drive belt. Again, this also cleans the tractor up and takes away from the 'boxiness' of the frame.
Foot pads would be nice now! After a long wait, I finally managed to get around to making up some diamond plate foot pads, further giving a finished look to the project. I'm hoping to also add rounded fenders over the rear tires to balance the looks of the complete vehicle, not to mention making it a bit safer.
I finally located some new rear wheels, not quite the 16" narrow wheels I had looked for, but these 15" are also off of some vintage David-Bradley equipment, and worked out fine. The wheels where sandblasted and then primed and painted to match the front wheels. New tires were bought and mounted, and the new pair were then installed using the previously fabricated adaptors. The nose down 'rake' will be eliminated by adding a spacer block between the front axle mount and the frame.
A left front view.
A view of the 'clutch'; three loose fitting belts with a moving idler to remove the slack. The idlers position is controlled by the clutch pedal through linkage underneath the transmission. Also, the oil filters position in relation to the driver allowed an easy placement of an oil pressure gauge. It's hoped that an oil bath air cleaner will mount in the open area to the left of the gauge with a tube up to the intake of the engine.
A chassis view showing the rear belt drive from the transmission back to the rear end. The engine being a hand crank start, I thought a crank holder would be a unique idea.
The seat mount idea was taken from several similar versions used on various models of real tractors. Ideally, the spring tension should be adjustable for different drivers, but I'll probably be the only driver most of the time. The two 3/16" rods either side of the spring limit the upward travel and hold things together. The 3" square tubing the assembly mounts to is now filled with about 50 pounds of lead for extra weight over the rear wheels.
Finally, after nearly a full year hiatus, work is again underway on the tractor! Needing a revised brake system, I took the idea used on my other small "Fairmont Tractor" and installed a service brake on the input to the rear end. The advantage to this setup is the mechanical advantage the rear end gear train adds to the small brake drum, and the fact only one drum and band are required. The disadvantage is that any failure in the rear end will most likely result in a lose of service brakes. Being a slow vehicle, this should not be a major problem. Once the first version of the brakes was removed, one of the brake drums was machined, along with the hub of the rear end pulley, so the two would fit together. They were then brazed to create a single unit. A new stationary mount for the brake band was machined and mounted to the frame and some of the old linkage was modified to operate just the one band. Actually cleaned up and simplified the whole system.
Now to protect my ankle! With the finalization of the power train, I fabricated a shield to go over the drive belt. Again, this also cleans the tractor up and takes away from the 'boxiness' of the frame.
Foot pads would be nice now! After a long wait, I finally managed to get around to making up some diamond plate foot pads, further giving a finished look to the project. I'm hoping to also add rounded fenders over the rear tires to balance the looks of the complete vehicle, not to mention making it a bit safer.
I finally located some new rear wheels, not quite the 16" narrow wheels I had looked for, but these 15" are also off of some vintage David-Bradley equipment, and worked out fine. The wheels where sandblasted and then primed and painted to match the front wheels. New tires were bought and mounted, and the new pair were then installed using the previously fabricated adaptors. The nose down 'rake' will be eliminated by adding a spacer block between the front axle mount and the frame.