Half Size Steam Tractor

Half size steam tractor TRACTORS Antiques 17-3-20 "I always wanted to own a steam-powered tractor. So one day I went to Fulton, Michigan to talk to Maurice Miller and his son, Paul, who have a lot of experience with steam traction engines. We went to a couple steam shows and I wanted to buy one but they talked me into building one myself. "After talking about the project for hours, Paul also decided to build one and we both started looking for parts. The biggest difference between our two projects is that Paul built his on rubber tires and I wanted steel. "Here's a list of some of the parts I used. The large rear wheels came off a New Idea manure spreader. I just welded two wheels together to make each rear wheel. The gears came out of a Deere model A tractor, although we had to modify the differential to make it work. The steering wheel came off an old æbean hauler' and the smoke stack is actually a piece of silo pipe. "The main body of the tractor is made out of heavy-walled pipe. The steam engine itself was built in Kansas by Tom Terning of Valley Center, Kan., and is modeled on a Case 65. It's one of a kind. Gross weight of the tractor is 3,522 lbs. and it has brake horsepower of 18 in the belt. Cylinder dia. is 5 in. with a 5 1/2-in. stroke. "It really talks to you when you put it to work. After a year and a half of work and a lot of late nights in the shop, I've now got the tractor I always wanted." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stan Blauvelt, 302 Milton Ave., Battle Creek, Mich. 49017.

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.