Tractor Principles The Action, Mechanism, Handling, Care, Maintenance and Repair of the Gas Engine Tractor — Themes and Context

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THE ACTION, MECHANISM, HANDLING, CARE, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE GAS ENGINE TRACTOR

AUTHOR OF “MOTOR CAR PRINCIPLES,” “GAS ENGINE PRINCIPLES,” “MOTOR-CYCLE PRINCIPLES,” ETC.

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK LONDON 1920

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The tractor of to-day is built in almost as many types and designs as there are tractor makers, and is far from being as standard as the automobile. There are tractors with one driving wheel, with two driving wheels, with three and with four, as well as three arrangements of the crawler principle; there are two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers; tractors that are controlled by pedals and levers and tractors that are driven by reins.

Thus if a man who is competent to handle and care for one make is given another make to run, he may be entirely at a loss as to how it works and how it should be handled.

It is the purpose of this book to explain and describe all of the mechanisms that are in common use in tractor construction, to the end that the reader may be able to identify and understand the parts of whatever make he may see or handle.

PAGE CHAPTER I TRACTOR PRINCIPLES Comparison between tractors and automobiles—What is required for each—Advantage of understanding the mechanism—No standard tractor design—Principal parts of a tractor—Necessity for each 1

CHAPTER II ENGINE PRINCIPLES Power attained from heat—Combustible mixture—Principle of engine operation—Combustion space—Gas engine cycle—Dead strokes—Flywheel—Starting an engine—Inlet stroke—Compression stroke—Importance of compression—Ignition—Advance and retard of ignition—Power stroke—Exhaust stroke—Production of power—Vertical and horizontal engines—Firing order 9

CHAPTER III ENGINE PARTS Base—Bearings—Cylinders—Crankshaft—Piston—Connecting rod—Wrist pin—Piston rings—Valves—Cam—Valve mechanisms—Cooling system 30

CHAPTER IV FUELS AND CARBURETION Oxygen necessary for combustion—Forming a mixture—Rich and poor mixtures—Carbon—Preignition— Carbureter—Spray nozzle—Evaporation of fuels—Carbureter principles— Extra air inlet—Effect of heat on mixture—Loading— Strangler 52

CHAPTER V CARBURETERS Carbureter parts—Manifold—Action of carbureter—Float feed—Kerosene and gasoline—Descriptions of carbureters—Pump feed—Use of water in the mixture—Application of heat—Fuel pumps—Air cleaners—Governors 70

CHAPTER VI IGNITION Principle of ignition—Point of ignition—Preignition—Advance and retard—Parts of ignition system—Magnetism—Induction—Magneto—Action of armature—Armature windings—Circuit breaker—Circuit—Shuttle and inductor armatures—Sparking current—Grounded circuit— Magneto parts—Impulse starter 102

CHAPTER VII BATTERY IGNITION SYSTEMS Principle of spark coil—Windings—Timer—Atwater-Kent system—Vibrator—Spark plugs 131

CHAPTER VIII TRANSMISSION Transmission parts—Clutches—Necessity for change speed gear—High and low gear—Types of change speed gears—Necessity for differential—Principle of differential—Drives—Worm 143

CHAPTER IX TRACTOR ARRANGEMENT Tractor requirements—Tractor types—Engine position— Front axles—Spring supports 167

CHAPTER X LUBRICATION Importance of lubrication—Effect of oil—Kinds of oil—Effect of temperature on oil—Using the right kind of oil—Burning point—Viscosity—Lubrication charts—Oiling systems—Oil pumps—Mechanical oiler— Oil cup—Grease cup 175

CHAPTER XI TRACTOR OPERATION Using a new tractor—Breaking in—Daily inspection—Driving—Shifting gears—Driving on hills—Using the engine as a brake—Cold weather conditions—Starting in cold weather—Protection against freezing—Starting a tractor 201

CHAPTER XII ENGINE MAINTENANCE Fuel system and carbureter—Carbureter adjustment—Dirt in the fuel—Running on kerosene—Care—Magneto and ignition system—Care of magneto—Smoothing platinum points—Adjustment—Timing a magneto—Testing a magneto—Ignition trouble—Compression—Testing for compression leaks—Valve grinding—Valve timing—Carbon—Removing carbon 213

CHAPTER XIII LOCATING TROUBLE Engine will not start—Engine loses power—Engine stops—Engine misses—Engine starts; but stops—Engine overheats—Engine smokes 245

CHAPTER XIV CAUSES OF TROUBLE Troubles and their causes in tabular form 259