1913 Fairbanks Morse Tractor

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thegallery

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I have completed the running gear, frame, steering, and canopy. Now the real work and fun begins, the design and build of the engine and drive train.
 

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I got a start on the engine, crank shaft and crank case. The back main journal is not compete, it will also support the cam shaft and governor shaft. I will cut the years next.
 

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The crank case is steel and a lot of brazing. There are hours of grinding and hand filing. Because of some health issues I can not use an electric welder. I though about making patterns and have some parts cast but that gets costly.
 
There are a lot of times I think silver brazing is more appropriate than welding anyway. Or maybe I'm just better at brazing when the parts are small.
Your crankcase looks really good, and while it probably could have been whittled from a solid, brazing was the better way.
Doug
 
I got the timing and governor gears cut. I also finished the cam shaft and governor with weights. Both the cam and governor shafts run on mini ball bearing ( ID=8mm. OD=12mm). I am using cotter pins to temporarily hold the weights and lever until final assembly then I will be tension pins. Tomorrow I will do final youths and prime these parts. I did purchase unfinished castings for the fly wheels. Next step finish machine and mount the fly wheels.
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The flywheel looks like it was cast and then machined.
Did you do your own casting?
If so details would be appreciated (grin!).
Yes, it is cast iron. I bought a generic raw case fly wheel from PM Research. The spoke configuration was okay but the job and rim required major machining. They were about 8 pounds each before I machined a lot of material away. Not cheap but cheaper than pattern making and casting.
 
I have not posted pictures in some time. I have made major progress. The project is 90% complete. I have the fuel system complete except for the fuel pump. I have a plan in my head but it is not as compact as I would like. I am looking for suggestion and or plans for a fuel pump. I have started the painting function which is not my thing. I will post pictures soon. You can see some on my web site: www.thekilmerlace.com
 
I have thought of building a tractor in scale for many years. Back in the 90s I knew an old man from Iowa who had scaled and built a Rumely Oilpull. I had pictures some where. It was maybe 18" long. He used the crystals from Pezo lighters and made mini Wico mags. I really liked that Rumely. I heard his family still had it. It ran and drive as I recall.

Another man built a Waterloo Boy Tractor and a D John Deere Tractor. They bith showed at LeSuer Mn show, 30 years ago.

I have also seen an IHC tractor built in scale. Do not know where it came from. I knew a man from Kansas, Bob Manske who scaled and built 2 Holt Crawlers with the large front wheel. He even made dies to stamp curved tin sheets for a canopy. He used the Coles engine. They were in Central Iowa .

Fabulous work you have done, congratulations.

Will be watching along. I am new on the site, but have belonged to other groups and have watched this site for some time.

Do you have the full scale tractor? Did you make engineering drawings to exact scale? Or are the drawings available some where?
Thanks for sharing.
 
I have completed my Fairbanks Morse Tractor project. I also built a six bottom John Deere gang plow so I had something for the tractor to pull. I don't know what I will do with these items. I may just give them to a history Museum in the small town Where I grew up.
 

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