te 20 housing

[blacksheep1875]

Hello to all!
I recently picked up a te 20 in really bad shape that is destined to be parted out. During the teardown I found the mid case (between the engine and the rear end) to be aluminum. I was a bit surprised.....my question is "Were all the te"s like this and why did they do that?"

 

[John (UK)]

The first 500 were cast iron then they switched to Electron which is what you have. It was done partly because there was a steel shortage in the early days and it was also lighter and it deadened any noise from the transmission too, but the main reason was steel shortage. They did aluminium Hoods and Fuel Tanks as well for a short time, but they didn't last as long as steel so they switched back again.....John

 

[blacksheep1875]

Thanks for the info! Was that on the TE's only or did that apply to the TO's also?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Aluminum was very available from junk bombers after ww2. Also magnesium, copper, brass, etc. Steel and cast iron was much better.

 

[Jeff-oh]

Only the TE's were Electron. TO's were all cast iron

 

[John (UK)]

It was only the Tractors made in the UK and France, the TE20 series. The USA didn't have a shortage of steel like we did so they kept the original cast-iron housing. They could have gone back to cast iron later but they didn't, possibly because the Aluminium Electron was easier to machine and to mould.....John