Tractor in a novel

If that's not quite realistic, how could he start and get a tractor going, without grownup help? This character is a city kid, but could have watched his grandpa drive the tractor before.

Can anyone suggest feasible options? It's fiction, but I do want to get the details right! (And as you can tell, I'm no expert.)

Thanks much for any advice you can toss my way.

Bob Elmer
writing from the Idaho Panhandle

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Here is another good one a 1956 Cockshutt Blackhawk with a simple push button starter. It also can be started in gear and will take right off at full speed if one should accidentally lean on the hand throttle and push it down.

PS you can use any pictures or come take some of your own for the book would be proud to any of my old tractors in print.

By the way, if anybody's curious, the book's called "Homespun Harvest" and it's part of a series called "Home to Heather Creek," which is a series put out by the Guideposts book club. I think it's due out next year sometime. Safe to assume the readership is predominantly female (book club, you know) but hey, I still want to get the tractor details right! End of plug. -Bob

My 1945 Case LA could be started by either the starter button or rolling down hill and engaging the clutch. would be a great tractor for this as its big and has lots of room for kids to sit on the big fenders or stand on the floor by the seat. while trying to stop it.

So far we have several good candidates for the tractor in my book. I'm still thinking a '49 or '50 Farmall H would work well, but it sounds like a '40s Case LA (among others) would work, too.

Again thanks for all the input!

Bob Elmer

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Even on tractors with neutral interlocks, it was (and is) common for farmers to disable or bypass them. As someone else said, this often leads to tragic results.

Hey Bob,
Good luck with your story for Guideposts Magazine. I've attached a picture of me at 12 years old on my Dad's Ferguson TO-30.(1966). Another picture of me and the tractor 40 years later. The tractor has held up better than me. I know the paint scheme isn't right, but it sure is shiny.
I can't remember how old I was when I started helping Dad by driving tractors, but I was around 13 or so when I had my biggest mishap. Dad had a Massey Ferguson 65 with an American loader & I was on his Massey Ferguson 50 that was hooked up to a manure spreader. We were in the feedlot & He was loading the spreader & I was taking it out to a near-by field and spreading it out. I was setting on the seat waiting for him to load it up. I was waiting and I had the small Hi-Low shifter in neutral...just day dreaming. He hollered for me to jump off and bring him a scoop shovel. I jumped off, picked up the shovel and started toward him. He yelled and pointed, I turned around and looked. The tractor and spreader was rolling down the hill. I started running after it...he yelled to get the heck out of the way. The MF 50 stopped after it dozed out a windbreak tree down the hill. Dad said I would likely have gotten caught under that rear wheel and run over in trying to stop that run-away tractor. Dad got the tractor fixed,.... it took me awhile to get back in his good graces.
Tom

Gary

Drove my first tractor that way at the ripe old age of 5 (Farmall M).

My mom was absolutely frantic, came running out of the house, jumped up on the Farmhand behind me and couldn't figure out how to stop it.

So, I showed her. :>)

Allan

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer. If I ever have any other tractor questions, I'll know where to go.

Regards,

Bob Elmer
www.RobertElmerBooks.com

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The kid could easily pull the kill switch and press the starter button. A well tuned H will take off in just about any gear (1-4) except road gear (5th) with the touch of the starter button. The same tractor will go through the wall of a shed and keep going until it rolls over or the operator figures out how to shut it off or push in the clutch peddle.