Truck to tractor conversion kit

barnesdavie · Jan 9, 2009

I was wondering whether anyone has any information on a kit that was used to convert a truck into a tractor. About 1915 -1916, my Dad, John Barnes, purchased a kit which would convert his REO truck into a tractor. I assume that this kit would fit other trucks as well. The back truck wheels would come off, and sprockets would go on instead, which would engage with teeth on the inside of rear tractor wheels, with spike lugs, like inverted ice cream cones.

Dad had the truck with that kit- I don't know whether they were purchased together, but they were purchased in Edmonton, Alberta.
I haven't been able to find information on this kit on the Internet, and wondered whether someone might have some information.

Thank you,

Davie Barnes

Jon Hagen · Jan 9, 2009

I have a book of farm machinery ad's from the early 1900's, and they list quite a few companys that made a tractor conversion kit to convert a car/truck to a tractor.
I am sure it was tempting to farmers of the day to convert an older car/truck to a cheap tractor. I suspect they would be short lived, as most had no cooling system upgrades for tractor use and most cars /trucks up to the late 20's did not have any sort of air cleaner to keep dust out of the engines.

glennster · Jan 9, 2009

heres a few companies that made tractor conversion kits, the model t was a pretty common vehicle that got converted.
fon du lac tractor company, pullford company, quincy illinois, kelly springfield truck company, knickerbocker forma-tractor, geneva tractor co, geneva ohio, e.g. staude mak-a-tractor, standard detroit tractor company-tracford, shaw from california, thieman from albert city iowa to name a few. there is a collector in norther illinois, glenn heim, that has an extensive collection of the conversions. i dont know if it available for public viewing.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 9, 2009

I have Clymer's book on Model T Fords. He shows several versions of the tractor conversions for T cars. I'd not looked about conversions for other brands but they'd all work about the same. Some used an internal gear, some and external gear, and some used a chain drive to the new rear wheels. Some claimed to be quick to change so you could plow all day and still take the family to town in the fliver that evening. I doubt the changes were quite that simple though. I bet more went to town at tractor speed than were changed back for the evening.

Some heavier (1 ton) T trucks had a GM style transmission behind the T transmission to give 7 speeds forward and 3 reverse, its sure that with both transmissions in low gear that the truck would pull a plow limited only by its traction. I've seen three T trucks with the second transmission now.

Gerald J.

Fixer · Jan 9, 2009

Sears Roebuck sold a kit for model a Fords. Our neighbor had o ne when I was a youngster. Bernie Steffen

Jim H SW-PA · Jan 9, 2009

Here Ya go.!!

http://www.fowlkesrealtyandauction.com/images/1924-ford-tractor-conversion-smith.jpg

Truck to tractor conversion kit

barnesdavie

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Jon Hagen

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glennster

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Anonymous-0

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Fixer

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Jim H SW-PA

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