Homemade Austin Tractor

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,699]

Picked this up over the weekend. It was made by a local gentleman who passed away probably 10 years ago. It has an American Austin 4 cylinder engine that runs, but not happily. Has the transmission and rear end off the same vehicle. It smokes like a freight train, but is fun to drive. He made a gear reduction for it to keep the speed down. 

 

What's the chances anyone here knows anything at all about American Austin cars that could help me with parts for the engine? 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ri702bill 13,187]

An interresting build. I must say that I have never seen a double lever steering setup where each wheel is steered by a common shaft and no tierod between them. Nice touch with the Heim joints - Pete would approve.... @peter lena ??

[Ed Kennell 47,586]

Made right here in Butler< Pa. from 1929 - 1941.      My neighbor has one that looks like a 3/4 size model A Ford.   If you have a specific question, I can ask him.

[Achto 32,839]

Cool little tractor !! Looks very well constructed.

 

 

 I only know one thing about those cars.

 

There once was a man from Boston

Who went out & bought an Austin

There was room for his *** & a gallon of gas

But his b***'s hung so low that he lost 'em

 

Probably not much help. 

[ebinmaine 80,904]

10 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

What's the chances anyone here knows anything at all about American Austin cars that could help me with parts for the engine?

 

 

@Stepney

 

 

10 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

It was made by a local gentleman

 

Awesomeness! 

[953 nut 69,787]

10 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

He made a gear reduction for it to keep the speed down. 

Is the speed reduction chain drive?

The Gear drive to the generator and gear drive to the distributer is a bit unusual,  I like it.  

3 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I have never seen a double lever steering setup where each wheel is steered by a common shaft and no tierod between them

Ford used the double pitman arm steering for years, some others may have too.

[peter lena 10,087]

@Ed Kennell  definitely  had the style of the era , in todays world , a turbo 4 would absolutely make that  , lots of  related make up parts , seen a few in vegas , weekly  parking lot car shows , and related storage warehouses , were stuffed with  Duesenberg's , etc of the era. incredible  original , solid rust free cars . pete   

[Dave D. 105]

Austin and Bantam in Ohio were the predecessors of the Jeep protype. I would think replacement parts would be available.

Very cool tractor!

 

Dave

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,699]

3 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Made right here in Butler< Pa. from 1929 - 1941.      My neighbor has one that looks like a 3/4 size model A Ford.   If you have a specific question, I can ask him.

 

Does he know where parts can be had?

 

Side note for everyone. It was never wired up to charge, so I'm thinking of adding a mini 6v alternator, rather than try to rebuild the weird generator and add in some kind of voltage regulator. Then once I have that, I can add some lights.

Edited 4 hours ago by Mike'sHorseBarn

[Achto 32,839]

29 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

I'm thinking of adding a mini 6v alternator,

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188348573178?

[oliver2-44 11,777]

The Fredericksburg Tractor Club has an American Austin Tractor donated to it by a deceased members wife. 

It is well built and reportedly was a prototype of a tractor that never made it to production.

It has a similar looking 4 cyl engine, and a gear reduction after the transmission. 

Has the same "Austin" badge in the front of the hood

So interesting similarities.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by oliver2-44

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,699]

4 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188348573178?

 

Fun fact, this is 6V NEGATIVE Ground. Couldn't believe it until I was looking at it lol

[Dave D. 105]

That is a cool slice of history.

 

Dave