A thing rarely seen

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 06/10/2016 at 18:25 • Filed to: Ford, Doe, Triple Major, Doe Dual Drive

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Yes, it’s three tractors in one. A British farmer called George Pryor needed more power than the tractors of the time could provide so he got the idea of combining two. Having built a working prototype he took the idea to a nearby tractor dealer, Ernest Doe, who refined it and went on to make nearly three hundred before the availability of more powerful, 4wd tractors made the idea irrelevant.

This particular one used two Ford Super Majors which are attached by a pivot which is turned hydraulically. The driver sits on the rear tractor and the control inputs are duplicated by hydraulic and mechanical linkages to control each element.

But that wasn’t enough. This one has a third element towed behind. This one isn’t steered like the front two but is just attached to a conventional hitch. To control it, the driver has to turn around and haul levers to operate the clutch and gearchange while simultaneously operating the other two elements. Depending on need you started one, two or three engines. When I saw it just the one was in use.

So there you have it. Innovation in the agricultural field.

duurtlang > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 18:27

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What year are we talking about here?

Cé hé sin > duurtlang 06/10/2016 at 18:28

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From 1958 to 1964.

TooLazyToNotBurner > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 18:34

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I helped my neighbor rebuild the engine from a Super Major. Interesting to see how well put together they were and how much abuse it could take. Sounded great when reassembled.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 18:35

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Pairs are reasonably common, but this is the first triple I’ve ever seen. Neat!

LongbowMkII > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 18:50

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This is what happens when you don't have small block Chevy swaps.

Cé hé sin > LongbowMkII 06/10/2016 at 18:56

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A high revving, fuel hungry petrol engine is about the last thing a farmer needs in his tractor...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 18:58

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That’s awesome

Cé hé sin > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 06/10/2016 at 19:01

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Here’s another shot showing how the third tractor is hitched up.

Note how using this prevents the three point linkage from being used.

LongbowMkII > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 19:14

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You're right. It should have a blower.

gmctavish needs more space > Cé hé sin 06/10/2016 at 20:08

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This doesn’t even look real. I love it.