Tractor works question

[Dave BN]

Were tractors driven off the assembly line or were they pushed/towed off then loaded on trains or trucks? Just wondering as driving would require all fluids be filled and at least some fuel. What about auto or truck plants also? In the old days, modle T's forexample, could have easily been pushed by hand as could our smaller tractors like A, B, Regular Etc. Larger equipment and tracked equipment would be a different story.

Dave

 

[Janicholson]

I think they were given 2 gallons each and driven. I have done pre-delivery inspection/service on hundreds of cars from Ford Nissan, Toyota, IH trucks, and Honda. Each had enough fuel to register on the gauge, but no more than that. Most had 1 to 1.5 miles on the odometer. I watched 2 Richard Petty Dodge stock cars being removed from the end of the production line in St Louis Mo in 1968. They did not put fuel in them they were primer only, and neet to see. A special team of "helpers" pushed them into unmarked white vans. All other cars (about 1 every 45 seconds) were started and driven on a dyno for 30 seconds. Jim

 

[DR. EVIL]

I worked at FARMALL during most of the 86 series production and the start of the 88-series production. Every tractor got about 4 gallons of fuel, even the three 686 & H86's with gasoline engines built every day till about 1978 got 4 gallons of gas. Took a little fuel to prime the whole diesel injection system, they started the tractor a couple times while still on the assembly line, during tests, and finally to drive the tractor outside by the water tower on the south east corner of the plant. They had tow tractors, Hydro 100's, H186's, with a tractor lift on the 3-pt, hyd cylinder replaced the top link, lots of frt weights on them, lower lift, back the swivel plate under front axle, raise frt wheels of new tractor off the ground and take it away, could back them up like a 2 wheel cart.

Cars and trucks also started and drove out of assembly plants in every plant I've seen.

 

[Bob]

My brother in law works at a FIAT dealership in northern North Dakota.

They drive the combiners off of the assembly line at Grand Island with #2 diesel in the tank.

When they arrive by truck in this area in the dead of winter and have to be jacked up and have the tires installed, and then need to be started to drive off the trailer how do you think that works at twenty below?

According to him, NOT well.

 

[Brownie450]

We went through the Rock Island plant when they
were building the '66 series.
The end of the line, they started the tractor &
didn't spare the engine any---wide open & tested
the 3-point draft control.
I asked the guide if any units didn't start---
what happened?
They got towed out in the yard. "Goodies for
the dealer" was the answer.

Got to go through the combine works some years
later. Wish I could do it again.
Jim

 

[KWRB]

Forgive my ignorance, but why no fuel in the Petty cars? Was it because they were going to tear the engines down when they received them, or because they were going to put their own special fuel in them, or was it something else?

 

[Janicholson]

The engines were removed and "blueprinted (plus whatever they could change and not get caught at doing or was leagle but not as made from the factory) They had no oil or coolant either. (or brake fluid, or interior, or trunk liner.) They were Hemi based shells. Jim

 

[tomdowling]

My uncle in law worked in the Case racine wisconsin tractor plant before they bought IH and through caseIH until they closed the plant. They made magnums there and drove them out. He took me on a private 4 hour tour, at that time they made everything there except the engine and plastic, rubber and glass.Starting at the foundry and following the line through every process was an amazing thing to see.

 

[DR. EVIL]

TOM - Was that at the old Downtown tractor plant? Or the new tractor plant out in STURDEVANT?

I had a job placement in January of 1976 for college at Case's Service Parts Supply, in the traffic dept. Worked for 4 weeks at their warehouse in Sturdevant, think it was exactly where the new tractor plant is.