"Ultimate" Amphibious Tractor
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We first featured this amphibious tractor 21 years ago (Vol. 14, No. 3), soon after Kim Bickett built it on his farm near Ridgway, Ill. It's still the same tractor except that Bickett turned it end-for-end and repowered it with a bigger engine - a 190 hp Detroit diesel that drives a 5-speed Allison transmission. It has 44 forward gears and 16 reverse. Another change Bickett made was to add a water propeller. Originally the tractor was driven in the water by its big rice tires.
On land, the "ultimate" tractor does 30 mph. In the water, maximum speed is 8 mph. The tractor is 28 ft. long, 12 ft. wide, and 10 ft. high. It weighs a massive 25,000 lbs. It takes about 6 ft. of water to float it.
The 4 wheels are powered by differentials from 10-ton Mack trucks. The rice tires are 30.5 in. wide. A hydrostatic drive operates the propeller using the pump from a concrete mixer.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kim Bickett, 819 E. Sycamore, Ridgway, Ill. 62979 (ph 618 542-2133).
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Ultimate Amphibious Tractor TRACTORS Made-It-Myself We first featured this amphibious tractor 21 years ago Vol 14 No 3 soon after Kim Bickett built it on his farm near Ridgway Ill It s still the same tractor except that Bickett turned it end-for-end and repowered it with a bigger engine û a 190 hp Detroit diesel that drives a 5-speed Allison transmission It has 44 forward gears and 16 reverse Another change Bickett made was to add a water propeller Originally the tractor was driven in the water by its big rice tires On land the ultimate tractor does 30 mph In the water maximum speed is 8 mph The tractor is 28 ft long 12 ft wide and 10 ft high It weighs a massive 25 000 lbs It takes about 6 ft of water to float it The 4 wheels are powered by differentials from 10-ton Mack trucks The rice tires are 30 5 in wide A hydrostatic drive operates the propeller using the pump from a concrete mixer Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kim Bickett 819 E Sycamore Ridgway Ill 62979 ph 618 542-2133
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