Homemade Austin Tractor

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,703]

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 13,189]

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 47,592]

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 32,842]

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 80,912]

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 69,802]

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 10,088]

@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. 106]

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 3,703]

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 23 hours ago by Mike'sHorseBarn

[Achto 32,842]

29 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

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

 

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

[oliver2-44 11,782]

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 22 hours ago by oliver2-44

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,703]

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. 106]

That is a cool slice of history.

 

Dave

[ri702bill 13,189]

5 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

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 5 hours ago by Mike'sHorseBarn

Possible to convert it to 12 volts?? Much easier to find a battery & lights...........

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,703]

27 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Possible to convert it to 12 volts?? Much easier to find a battery & lights...........

 

I guess I could if I add an alternator. Just swap the coil as well and call it done. 

[squonk 48,215]

Diggin that starter solenoid! Good ol Delco Remy starter and distributor. Wonder who made the engine. Continental? Hercules? I guess Austin made their own! 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Motor_Company

Edited 17 hours ago by squonk

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,703]

2 minutes ago, squonk said:

Diggin that starter solenoid! Good ol Delco Remy starter and distributor. Wonder who made the engine. Continental? Hercules? 

 

It's an actual Austin Engine.

Edited 17 hours ago by Mike'sHorseBarn

[953 nut 69,802]

My 1948 Ford was equipped with a 6 volt positive ground system. I removed the generator and voltage regulator replacing them with a GM one wire alternator, added an ignition resistor, changed out the light bulbs and put in a 12 volt battery with a negative ground and everything worked fine. The starter whipped over a bit fast but didn't overheat.

Edited 13 hours ago by 953 nut
fat finger

[oliver2-44 11,782]

I've seen generator distributor combinations like that before somewhere.

Does anyone recognize it?

[ineedanother 2,882]

14 hours ago, Dave D. said:

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

Very cool tractor!

 

Dave

I was born in Butler and grew up near there. My dad took me to a couple car shows with Austin and Bantam on display back in the early '70s and I remember the small chassis and 4-wheel steering Jeep models that were made there. Lots of engineering in that part of PA back then, Pullman Standard being another. Cool stuff and a nice find @Mike'sHorseBarn !

[squonk 48,215]

15 hours ago, 953 nut said:

My 1948 Ford was equipped with a 6 volt positive ground system. I removed the generator and voltage regulator replacing them with a GM one wire alternator, added an ignition resistor, changed out the light bulbs and put in a 12 volt battery with a negative ground and everything worked fine. The starter whipped over a bit fast but didn't overheat.

I got my Dad a 39 crank start Allis B so of course I had to convert it to electric start. 12V battery with a 6V Napa starter. Touch of the starter button and that engine practically flew out of the tractor! 

[Dave D. 106]

8 hours ago, ineedanother said:

I was born in Butler and grew up near there. My dad took me to a couple car shows with Austin and Bantam on display back in the early '70s and I remember the small chassis and 4-wheel steering Jeep models that were made there. Lots of engineering in that part of PA back then, Pullman Standard being another. Cool stuff and a nice find @Mike'sHorseBarn !

Went to the Bantam Heritage festival in 2011.

That was fun.

Very Cool little tractor.

 

Dave

[953 nut 69,802]

11 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

seen generator distributor combinations like that before somewhere.

Does anyone recognize it?

Four cylinder Indian Chief motorcycles from the late 30's early 40s had ones that look about like that. What information is on the tag on the distributer?  

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,703]

25 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Four cylinder Indian Chief motorcycles from the late 30's early 40s had ones that look about like that. What information is on the tag on the distributer?  

 

I'll get a picture of the tag tonight for ya.