Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

tractor started by gunpowder

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
John Abel

05-20-2007 17:05:23




Report to Moderator

I was wondering if anyone could hepl me learn more about a tractor I saw once that was started by gun powder shell




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
LenND

05-21-2007 19:17:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
In the late 1940's after WW2 there was a tractor on display here and for sale I guess. It was a Sheppard and I think a diesel. It looked just like our WC Allis and even painted the same color orange or close. It was started with somekind of shell and I think you had to hit with a hammer to start the tractor



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Wardner

05-21-2007 10:32:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
The shells use a special load. You can't go down to Walmart, buy a box, and remove the shot. The powder has a slower burn rate and an altered chemical composition.

I have been told that using gunpowder to start a Field Marshall is not kid's play. Sometimes unburnt residue will accumulate in the pipe and it will destroy that pipe due to an overload. The pipe is also subject to weakening from the corrosive effects of the charge.

Electric starters were later fitted by the factory. All the tractors can be started with a crank and an automatic compressiion release. I think most people pull start them.

The pictures below are of my Series 3 Field Marshall. I doubt if I will ever get it running. Kinda lost interest.

third party image

third party image

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Roger P

05-21-2007 08:34:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  

I have a Field Marshall I would like to sell if anyone interested...U.S.A.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Roger P

05-21-2007 08:31:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  

I have a Field Marshall I would like to sell if anyone interested...U.S.A.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
CLW

05-21-2007 06:41:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Wonder if you need to be 21 to start one?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave Sherburne NY

05-21-2007 06:01:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: LANZ BULLDOG in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
This is the Lanz Bulldog The other one was the Field Marshall



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave Sherburne NY

05-21-2007 05:57:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Field Marshall in action



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Howard H.

05-21-2007 07:15:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to Dave Sherburne NY, 05-21-2007 05:57:54  

But they didn't start either tractor in either of the video clips by shell - were only some tractors out of that model equipped with that type of starter? Or could you use either flywheel or electric start or the shot shell??

Howard



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
richard in nz

05-21-2007 22:57:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to Howard H., 05-21-2007 07:15:10  
The Marshall M and Lanz were not equiped for cartridge (or Hoffman) starting. The later Field Marshalls were. but most people start them with the handle (big handle!) because of the cost of the cartridges which have a slow burn filling and I think are only available from Crawfords of Frithville in England. Using normal shotgun powder can damage the engine small end bearing, also I have been told that normal powder leaves deposits. The Lanz, if started correctly needs a lot less muscle to start as it uses a surface ignition engine, pre heated by blowlamp, rather than a compression ignition engine like the Marshall. Both tractors however are single cylinder 2 strokes, but the Lanz is not a true Diesel, in fact they are quite happy on cresote, tar oil or any thing that will run down a pipe and will burn!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
cj3b_jeep

05-21-2007 05:10:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Back when I was in the Air Force (84-90) every once in a while they would "cart start" the FB-111's I worked on. The Cart was a shotgun shell type thing about the size of a coffee can. I think they held two, one for each engine. Was loud and smokey but it did work.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JOHN HARMON

05-20-2007 20:38:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
The Lanz "Bull Dog" is started by the use of a Concussion Shell similar to a Shot Gun Shell without the load of Shot.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
John Abel

05-21-2007 18:42:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to JOHN HARMON, 05-20-2007 20:38:52  
How does this work excatally



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JOHN HARMON

05-20-2007 20:38:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
The Lanz "Bull Dog" is started by the use of a Concussion Shell similsr to a Shot Gun Shell without the load of Shot.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
135 Fan

05-20-2007 20:17:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
I saw an old crawler on the Prairie Farm Report that was started with a shot gun shell. It may have been a UK model. The shell was put in a hole on the side of the tractor near the front and then was hit with a hammer to start the engine. It would save on starter repairs and batteries. Dave



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
NE IA Dave

05-20-2007 18:47:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
I live real near to Frolick Iowa where the first form of the JD was invented. It is said that the first tractor was started with a primer.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
phil25

05-20-2007 18:18:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Not sure about the tractor brand but can sure it was the norm for something somewhere, but the gunpowder idea is seen in the movie" flight of the Phoniex" when its time to start er up, airplane/tractor engine all interesting regardless.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Gene Davis (Ga.)

05-20-2007 18:10:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Weren't some of the older tractors with low tension magnetos and impulse drives on magnetos started with blank shells also?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Formerly super99

05-20-2007 18:08:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Maybe David in Wales will jump in here and set this straight, but I believe the Field Marshall was made in England. 1 cylinder 2 cycle diesel. 25 to 30 hp? Not sure how they did it, but was started by a shotgun shell. Chris



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dave Anderson

05-20-2007 17:55:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Never seen the field marshall, but I have heard of a few John Deeres being stopped by a shotgun aimed at the fuel filter (LOL)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
MF Poor

05-20-2007 17:41:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
Field Marshall????



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jhill52

05-20-2007 17:41:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
I believe you are talking about the Field Marshall made in England and exported to Canada.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
georgeky

05-20-2007 17:32:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to John Abel, 05-20-2007 17:05:23  
I seen that too, don't remember what it was, but it started with a 12 gauge shotgun shell.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
davpal

05-20-2007 20:04:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to georgeky, 05-20-2007 17:32:19  
Once in a while they show those Field Marshal tractors on RFDTV on the classic tractor special. It is a really neat looking thing that is green and fairly short and has a big stack sticking out the top that looks like a stack on a locomotive. They rock back and forth when they are running and puff, puff. I remember thinking it was pretty unusual. I would imaging if you had one at a tractor show it would draw a crowd.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rex in Australia

05-21-2007 00:08:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: tractor started by gunpowder in reply to davpal, 05-20-2007 20:04:03  
No, not the Lanz, but the Field Marshall. A friend of mine has one here in Australia that I did some work on recently. Yes, from England in the 1950's.
Yes starting with a cartridge is an option, but does not have to be used.
Normal procedure:
Prime the oil pump
Pull the decompressor
Mount the large crank handle in to the flywheel on the side of the tractor
Turn over for 2 or 3 compressions to ensure that the injector is primed and you can hear it squeaking as it injects
Jig up the decompressor in to a large threaded worm drive on the outside of the flywheel
Remove a paper holder from the combustion chamber, in the front of the tractor, insert a rolled up paper in the tube at the end, light the paper and insert the holder back in through the head
Grab the crankhandle and give it all you have got! Does about 2 turns to get up some momentum, then the decompressor drops off the side of the flywheel and gives compression. HOPEFULLY you have enough momentum to get over the compression and it should fire up.
Fantastic old tractor and sound just great. Pop Pop Pop, maximum revs around 700rpm.
If I were clever enough I could post some photos.
God Bless,
Rex

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy