August 1979 Power Farming Magazine
The biggest yet four-wheel drive tractor, designed and built in Australia on a commercial scale is at this moment, receiving its finishing touches at a well known family owned engineering factory at Castle Hill, NSW. Behind the challenge to enter the high horsepower 4-wd market there is a wealth of design experience and ability as well as manufacturing know-how, as Power Farming editor, Harry Sweeting, found by looking at the project when it was well under way.
In recent years the advent of large four-wheel drive tractors, first in North America and quickly followed here, has been accompanied by some change in traditional tractor manufacture. The 4-wd concept removed limitations inherent in two-wheel drive tractors, in that power could be delivered more or less equally to all wheels thus paving the way for conversion of much higher engine power to tractive effort for field tillage work.
The use of these giant tractors in big acreage farming brought many benefits — increased productivity, timeliness of operations and greater efficiency, to mention a few.From the outset, the conceptual attraction of the 4-wd configuration has been component or modular construction which is possible, in contrast to the assembly line construction of larger volume smaller units. Moreover, as the concept took hold the rise in horsepower demand was so rapid that power units from traditional tractor makers were simply not big enough.
As a consequence, relatively small manufacturers with engineering ability and adequate prefabrication facilities, enthusiastically backed up by major engine and transmission manufacturers. quickly grasped the opportunity to set up a “new ball game” as far as tractor manufacture was concerned.
We have seen this happen in North America and some of the companies which started out in a modest way have grown significantly in the process.
In a smaller way, big four-wheel drive tractors are being built in Australia. In Western Australia. Phillips-Merredin has had moderate success, particularly in that state, with tractors up to 310 horsepower and Waltanna tractors, more or less custom built in small numbers, are offered in n range of horsepower sizes in Victoria.
In many ways, an articulated four-wheel drive tractor is of simpler construction than a two-wheel drive. With front and rear built in two separate sections, neither depending on the other for rigidity, the frame of the tractor is largely a matter of heavy steel fabrication. The front section basically houses the engine and gearbox and carries the cabin while the rear section simply sits on the rear wheels carrying the rear transmission arrangement which may or may not include a drop box depending on the drive arrangement.
Most companies involved in building four-wheel drive tractors largely rely on bought-in working components. That is, engines, gearboxes, transmissions, drivelines, axles etc. Some of these components have not been without their problems.
A company which Is about to launch a new venture in Australia with the introduction of a 525 gross horsepower tractor. Baldwin Engineering, believes it has the background and know-how to manufacture an Australian built machine that will more than compete with the world’s best.
After originally considering building Montana’s U S Big Bud under license, the company decided it may as well accept the full challenge and build a machine to which it could put its own name and the result is the Baldwin.
E. M. Baldwin Pty Ltd is a family owned general engineering business which commenced operations at Castle Hill near Sydney 50 years ago.
Run now by three sons of the original founder the company has several specialties. It has been building diesel/hydraulic locomotives for the sugarcane industry and for underground mining operations for many years. It claims to be a world leader in both fields and in conjunction with the latter, has a unique specialty in designing and fitting equipment for flame-proofing engines.
Fully flame-proofed locomotives built by the company for underground operations range from 40 to 375 horsepower and locomotives for above ground work range up to 650 hp.
The decision by Baldwin to manufacture a large agricultural four-wheel drive tractor in its own right was largely influenced by the company’s experience and ability in transmission design and driveline technology.
In looking over the operation during the building of its first prototype tractor these abilities are very evident. The company is designing its own gearbox from the inception and I saw at first-hand the massive gears and shafts undergoing various stages of manufacture. After seeing these, as well as the housing to contain them, the impression was that such a gearbox had enormous strength and indeed a high degree of specialty in design.
Details of other major components were impressive. The tractor as mentioned, is of articulated design and powered by a 525 gross engine hp, 1,150 cu in. Cummins KTA turbocharged diesel engine.
The 12-speed constant mesh gearbox designed and built by Baldwin has four gears and three ratios and two reverse speeds. The gearbox housing has been designed to facilitate easy servicing with large plates fitted to either side of the top of the box. A transmission oil cooler is standard.
In the design of the gearÂbox, Baldwin has deliberately kept away from power shift in the interest of ease of servicing. Baldwin engineers believe in the principle of simplicity of service and have designed the gearbox so that capable farmers will be in a position to easily carry out gearbox service if it is required,
In this connection, the tracÂtor is designed with a tilt back cab to allow easy access to the gearbox and other components. The cabin is planned to be modern in every detail — fully isolated, insulated, air conditioned and with all the “trimmings”. Other elements of the transmission include a Lipe Rollway 15/1/2 in, ceramic button clutch, and extremely heavy duty “Twin Disc” J310 drivelines. The company expects that the drivelines to be fitted to the DM525 will provide up to 4000 hour service free life.
This expectation is based on experience with the J310 driveline components in use on locomotives built by the company for heavy duty work above and below ground.
The life of driveline components has proved to be a somewhat critical factor in large 4-wd tractor performance.
The Baldwin tractor does not utilize a drop box for rear wheel drive, taking the drive to front and rear drivelines via a fore and aft output shaft from the gearbox.
The DM525, following the prototype, will be fitted with Clarke 75830 axles to which duals wheels and 30.5 x 32 tires will be fitted as standard.
A special feature of the transmission on the prototype will be a pushbutton gear change instead of the convenÂtional lever change. However, because of the constant mesh transmission, it will be necessary to disengage the clutch to change gear ratio.
Braking is to be discs on the front wheels.
Hydraulics will consist of Commercial pumps and Moore components. There will be two separate systems —one for steering and one for implements. There will be four remote outlets for the latter. Twin ram steering will afford articulation of 35 degrees in either direction and turning radius will be 22 ft.
Planned weight of the giant is expected to be about 19 000 kg (42 000 Ib) dry or shipping weight and 27215 kg (60000 Ib) gross or working weight.
Colours are to be sleek blue, white and black and the tractor is expected to sell at around $130000,
A spokesman for the company, marketing sales manager and director, John Pocock, is emphatic that the company is interested only in the giant trader market and stakes its success in that area. The company is extremely confident of its venture and plans to market its product direct to end users with its own service back-up anyÂwhere in Australia.
The Baldwin DM525 prototype will be a tractor highlight of AgQuip field days to be held at Gunnedah in northern NSW on August 21, 22 and 23.
POWER FARMING MAGAZINE — AUGUST, 1979
