Nine-Engine Tractor

Nine-Engine Tractor TRACTORS Made-It-Myself You ve never seen anything like this 9-engine tractor built by Jim Weppler of Morse Sask      When people see it for the first time most of them just shake their heads in wonder says Weppler     The one-of-a-kind rig is powered by a single row of nine 5 hp Briggs & Stratton gas engines The engines bolt to a sheet of plywood that mounts on top of a frame made from 2 by 3 steel tubing The rear axle and differential are from a 1964 Dodge 1/2-ton pickup while the front steering axle is off a 1948 Ford car The 4-speed transmission is off a 1946 Ford car and chain-drives the differential     The engines belt-drive a jackshaft that runs along one side of the frame and is connected to the transmission by a double pulley that serves as a clutch There s a separate hand-controlled belt tightener for each engine     To operate the tractor Weppler first rope starts each engine and also activates the belt tightener on it Then he gets on the tractor and operates a foot pedal to engage the transmission      It s built from a little bit of everything says Weppler The brakes are off a 1964 Dodge pickup and the master cylinder off a 1979 Ford car The hubcaps on the rear tires are off a boat trailer It will travel at speeds up to 48 mph      It s quite a job to get all nine engines going I plan to install a Ford ring gear and starter so I can use a button to start all the engines at the same time right from the tractor seat At first the tractor was quite noisy and with all the engine fumes I could hardly stand it To solve the problem I added an exhaust manifold above the engines A series of curved pipes lead from the manifold down to an automotive muffler underneath the tractor s frame Now the tractor runs so quiet I can hardly hear it     The rig turns surprisingly short Steering is provided by a power steering pump off a Chevrolet car that s belt-driven off the jackshaft The pump sends oil to a hydraulic cylinder that s connected to a tie rod on the front axle      I mounted a padded seat over the rear end housing and use a shift lever to put the transmission in gear I used 1/8-in thick sheet metal to build the fenders     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim Weppler Box 60 Morse Sask Canada S0H 3C0 ph 306 629-3569

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