The Avery 40-80 "Lightweight Gas & Oil Tractor"
View some movie clips! (Windows Media Videos, .wmv format)
Rhys Baker starting the machine easily (1.62 Mb)
Running at idle in the fall, warming up for work (1.55 Mb)
"About the 1920 Avery 40-80 Experimental”
The Avery Company of Peoria, IL began to produce a line of kerosene burning tractors that would ultimately replace the steam engine. The largest of these “Prairie Tractors” as they were called was the 40-80 H.P. It incorporated several unique design features such as the sliding frame transmission whereby the entire engine and radiator are moved by a lever in the cab to meet the driven gear. Very advanced at the time it had the distinction of being the only two-speed tractor of its size, has removable cylinder sleeves and connecting rod bearing inserts. In keeping with the steam engine theme of the day, Avery continued to use a locomotive style cab as a canopy and a smokestack that gives it a distinct look and sound. The sound is similar to Avery’s steam engines.
This particular 40-80 Avery is a one of a kind experimental test tractor. After failing the Nebraska state tractor test in 1920 and being forced to de-rate future tractors as 45-65 horsepower, the company built this tractor with an 8” cylinder bore instead of the 7-3/4” bore that had been the standard in order to attain more power. They abandoned the idea as subsequent units maintained the 7-3/4” bore and were rated 45-65 HP. We restored this tractor to factory specifications in 2003-2004. All of the paint and striping was taken from the original machine and is exactly how it looked when it left the factory.
Years Manufactured……………1913-1924
Weight……………………………26,000 Lbs. (With Extension Rims)
Horsepower……………………....40-80 = 40 HP drawbar, 80 HP belt, (engine)
Engine Speed……………………..500-600 RPM
Cylinders………………………….Qty. 4, Opposed, 8" Bore X 8" Stroke
Engine Displacement…………….1608 Cubic Inches (Four 402 car engines)
Carburetor……………………….Kingston Dual Chamber, Cork Floats
Ignition……………………………K-W Type HK High Tension Magneto
Lubrication System………………Gear type pump, continuous, sight feed
Radiator…………………………...616 Copper Tubes, ½” Dia.
Cooling System……………………Thermosyphon , Draft Induced Air Cooling
Transmission………………………Sliding Frame, 2 speed Fwd, 1 Reverse
Top speed………………………….3.1 MPH
Fuel………………………………...Starts on gasoline, runs on kerosene, naphtha or distillate with water injection
Plow Capacity…………………….10 Bottom, 14" or 16 Disk Plows.
Front Wheels……………………...42” Dia.
Rear Wheels………………………7’ 3-1/2” Dia. With 12” W. Extension Rims
Length……………………………..18’
Width………………………………11’ 6”, With Extensions
Height……………………………...10’ 4”
Cost New………...$5800 Owned by Dave Sniader, Winnetka, IL