Posted by MarkB_MI on January 06, 2014 at 17:42:24 from (75.219.126.223):
In Reply to: HP vs Cu. In. posted by Texasmark1 on January 06, 2014 at 14:04:46:
In short, there wasn't a demand for high horsepower per displacement, for a number of reasons:
Low octane fuels (really fuels of unpredictable octane) made high compression ratios impractical. What was the compression ratio of that tractor? Probably 7 or 8 to 1. Both horsepower and efficiency are directly related to compression ratio; without high-octane fuel you simply can't have either one.
It was simpler to engineer a heavy, slow-turning engine than a lightweight high-speed engine. There was no real premium on horsepower-to-weight, so make it heavy. The budget to create a new engine today is astronomical. Millions of dollars are spent on engineering before the first block is cast. Then millions more are spent on prototypes; thousands of hours are accumulated in test cells. This kind of effort is necessary if you want a high-horsepower engine that will last. Back then, everything was overbuilt, with the assumption being it wouldn't break if you built it heavy enough.
In some cases, the technology just didn't exist. Variable valve timing, electronic ignition, CNC machining, and closed-loop engine management systems are just a few examples of technology used today to improve efficiency and/or performance.
One thing we should not think is that engineers of the forties and fifties didn't know how to get a lot of horsepower out of an engine. Any engineering solution is a compromise between conflicting requirements: cost, reliability and weight, for example. Those engines made perfect sense at the time, and their longevity is a testament to their durability and utility.
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 ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
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.
