What can't two wheel tractors do?

freedomlives · Feb 28, 2018

Agvg said:
I was looking at these at a exhibition and I was impressed by the quality and design

Brielmaier 26,5 PS + 4,30 Meter Mähwerk - YouTube

So there are a future for two wheeled machines

I've seen those in video before. You saw it in person?

Does Norway have the sort of mountain pastures where these would be most justified?

freedomlives · Feb 28, 2018

An alternative name we could use for clarity would be a translation of how they are called in Czech, Slovak, and German (and probably other languages)-- Single Axle Tractors. This way is covers those models with tracks instead of wheels installed as well. ;-)

Ford850 · Feb 28, 2018

freedomlives said:
An alternative name we could use for clarity would be a translation of how they are called in Czech, Slovak, and German (and probably other languages)-- Single Axle Tractors. This way is covers those models with tracks instead of wheels installed as well. ;-)

Would that also include the single wheeled tractors?

freedomlives · Feb 28, 2018

Not only single wheel tractors, but also you've surely seen how some people put two wheels on each side of their Single Axle Tractors for greater stability, and in that case a BCS or Grillo becomes a 4 wheel tractor. Referring to number of axles is obviously the best approach.

Although I guess for those with differentials it is more like Double Half Axle Tractors

BrokenTrack · Feb 28, 2018

freedomlives said:
To answer the question about hauling stuff in trailers, that is what the powered trailers are for-- you have to have a two wheel tractor with a groundspeed option on the PTO. There are different types though, and what I have has a steering wheel, so in truth, its more like I have a small 4wd pickup with ag tires, and it took me so long to undo all the borden cables to go back and forth that I bought a second two wheel tractor for rotary plowing, etc. and just leave the first (which has the diesel engine) set up with the trailer. At one point we had nearly a cord of wood stacked precariously on it. Goldoni 140 Super Special - Google Photos

Yet, you can go with a powered trailer where the handle bars stay on and you steer and control it with them. Such an option would be quick to put on and off. http://www.labinprogres.hr/ea/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GreenPP1000-1.png

Unpowered trailers behind two wheel tractors are only useful where there is no significant slope.

Nice! I saved your website to show my father!

I wonder though; could a work around to the requirement of a groundspeed PTO be overcome with a transmission going back to the rear end of the trailer? When we had old powered trailers that is what we did. We knew that 2nd gear was equal to 4th gear on the tractor for instance and so in that way, the trailer speed matched pretty closely to that of the tractor.

Another work around might be to couple the PTO to a hydraulic pump, then send the oil back through hydraulic lines back to a hydraulic motors powering the wheels. A flow control could send the proper volume back to get the right speed.

Code54 · Feb 28, 2018

Having a powered trailer for my 853 would be awesome. I know the PTO speed does not match the wheel speed but with an adapter that would be super handy!

Most people around us call them walking tractors or "Gravely's" - because the true Gravely's were made locally and are extremely well known so some just picked up on the brand name.

mark02tj · Mar 1, 2018

Code54 said:
Most people around us call them walking tractors or "Gravely's" - because the true Gravely's were made locally and are extremely well known so some just picked up on the brand name.

Yup, Dunbar WV! Just the next county or two over from you, isn't it?

My Grandpa (from WV) had Gravely's. My uncle (from WV) had Gravely's. So, of course, I've had a few of them as well. Still have two of them - "newer" (mid-80's) with Kohler engines.

Gravely is back in the 2-wheel (or "single axle") tractor business again. Pro-QXT™ Tractor | Walk Behind & Push Mowers | Gravely Although, calling this newer one a "tractor" is a bit of a stretch. It's pretty nice, but I think that it misses the ruggedness factor of the old cast iron tractors.

Code54 · Mar 1, 2018

Yep - next county over! (About 20 minutes). Drove over there one day and found the old smoke stack from the plant where they used to build them.
Around here Gravely's are extremely common and seems most farms have one somewhere in a barn. I love looking at all the attachments people have made or acquired for them. Everything from backhoes, to a big saw blade that acts as a brush mower. Really a solid and well made machine, especially impressive considering when they were built.
A lot of my neighbors have had them and most refer to them as "man killers." They don't have a lot of safety devices and it seems a lot of guys put them in reverse and then walk backward into a tree and of course the tractor follows them right in to it. Had to hit the lever back to neutral or forward to stop it before it would squish ya. If that didn't get ya, sometimes working the WV hills (especially if you didn't have steering brakes) could give a strong fit man a heart attack.