Burr Oak Farm, 3832 Columbiaville Road, Columbiaville, Michigan
484211
I built this replica gas powered tractor during the winter of
1995.
I have always wanted to own an Oilpull tractor, but could never
quite justify the cost. In 1994 we were at a farm auction and the
owner had a small replica of a Rumely Oilpull for sale, which he
had built. He used a small LB engine. I must admit that it looked a
little crude, but it sparked my interest in doing such a
project.
I had a Montgomery Ward 3 HP Sattley engine sitting in the shed,
which had been there for years. I decided to start with this, and
other junk parts which had been lying around, also for years. About
the only thing I really had to buy was the 5′ channel iron for
the frame. I also used square head nuts and bolts to add
authenticity to the project.
I started by cutting the 5′ channel iron to length and then
heating it and bending it outward approximately 15′ to form the
rear platform, while the front part of the frame remained the width
of the engine.
The rear axle is early Jeep (because of its narrower width and
lower gearing). I had to make ?’ adapters to weld on the axle
ends to accept the iron wheels. All the wheels are from an old
Oliver Superior manure spreader, as is the front axle which used
tie-rod steering.
I used a double matched V belt drive from the engine to a right
angle gear box located under the frame (off an old Case combine).
The clutch is a belt tightener affair with a brake pad incorporated
to stop the pulley from revolving while shifting gears (similar to
an early John Deere pulley brake). The clutch is activated by a
hand lever.
The transmission is driven by sprocket and chain from the right
angle gear box. The transmission is from a 1940 Chevrolet pickup
truck, a three-speed stick shift. The high gear is locked out to
keep the speed within range. From the transmission to the rear axle
input is another set of sprockets and chain, which effectively
attains the gear ratios to produce the low speed required.
The brakes are on the hubs of the rear iron wheels external
bands activated by a cultivator control lever taken from a Farmall
H cultivator rig. The lever has the handle controlled locking teeth
which can be used to hold the tractor on a slight grade.
The steering gear is from an early Jeep, and is connected to the
front tie rod with an extended drag link.
I made a cover plate for the water hopper on top of the engine.
It vents both into the false radiator tank, as well as straight
above the engine. The exhaust, also, runs into the false radiator
and vents through the smoke stack. The false radiator tank is
formed of 22-gauge sheet metal.
I built the canopy out of clear white pine which I had stored
years ago. The canopy is covered with the same 22-gauge sheet metal
as the radiator tank.
I installed a three gallon passive air pressure tank behind the
radiator to operate a small steam whistle which is located just
above the top bend in the radiator tank. It is operated by an
overhead lanyard from the operator’s seat.
All the art work was done by my wife, LeDora. She has always
lettered my trucks and equipment and has a real talent for this
type of work. The reason for the name ‘Sattley Simplex No.
30’ is because of the Sattley engine of 3 HP. We were going to
use Rumely Oilpull decals and lettering, but decided to go this
route instead.
All in all, it was a fun project, and I now have a couple more
projects in the works helps to keep me busy now that I’m
retired.
Bob Rhode, 26 Lakeview Drive, Stansbury Park, Utah 84074, sent
the photograph above along with the following description:
‘Here is a photo of our ‘Miss Blue,’ a 1937 Twin City
MTA, that I got on an auction three years ago up in Idaho. She won
the gold medal in the heavyweight antique class (7500#) at the
world pull in Des Moines in the summer of 1995. My wife Cindy took
the picture.’
