Anyone know what this is? Rototiller? Tractor?
 

Apparently my dad was "gifted" this and he asked me if I knew what the heck it is. I can't tell if it's some type of early rototiller or some type of farm equipment?

Ever seen anything like this? Thanks!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551761698.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1551761698.jpg

Mobile stationary power unit. Walk it out to the well pump, or whatever stationary farm implement that has a wheel that needs turning, attach a leather belt around the front flywheel, lite it up, let it run all night, irrigate the cotton patch.

Thank you! Just couldn't get an idea of what it was until your post. Was this something that several companies produced? I have no idea what he thinks he's going to do with it. :)

Looks to me like an old Vaughn Flex-Tred tractor (that has seen better days). Essentially a walk-behind tractor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX4YWsswSeI

Look up Antique Powerland - most likely somebody there will want it if your father isn't interested in it:

http://www.antiquepowerland.com/

Vaughan Flex-tread tractor (tiller), per Pinterest. Made in Portland, OR. Looks like it could tear some stuff up
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjA5Pa3n-rgAhVBHqwKHZdFCJUQjhx6BAgBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fww w.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F455004368580336178%2F&psig =AOvVaw2lk4tydu6A3ULRJjezI_-i&ust=1551849085535547

Garden tractor. Old school walk-behind. Has crawler treads vs tires.

Google up "walk behind crawler tractor" for some similar rigs.

Cool!

Thanks! I'll see what his plans are. It looks like a pretty major job to restore it so not sure it's something he wants to tackle. Will for sure keep the museum in Brooks in mind - they've got some great stuff.

Thank you! It really does look like (if running) nothing would stop it once you put it in gear. :)

Hope you guys can get it running.

That's some beautiful rusty gold right thar, a treasure.....

Thanks! I was bummed he didn't end up with one of those little bulldozers instead. :)

Worth a shot tearing into it to see just how rough it is. Although if I knew my dad was looking for a project I've got several things I could have shifted over. :)

I think my mom is concerned dad will try and pass it off as yard art. :D

My G'pa had one similar to that one with a twin-cyl Continental engine.
It was too old to have a spring loaded pull start...had to wrap a rope around the pulley and give a good pull. It was a B to start...but it would plow or cultivate the garden easily.

I vaguely remember a go kart from way back in childhood that required a rope with a knot at one end that was the key to start it. I also recall it smacking me in the face about every 5th time as it slipped out of the pulley. :D

that is awesome is what it is. will the engine turn over? I have lots of hit miss engines

The engine apparently does turn over. Is this something worth entertaining the thought of restoring? It's a complete unknown for me and wasn't sure if parts were even available.

Back in the late 1900’s, oh around ‘72 or so, I was labor for my dad who was a bricklayer (they call ‘em masons nowdays). We had a big ole one-lunger seement mixer that we used for bigger jobs and concrete footings and such. That thing was old then. A pulley was welded to the flywheel and we held an electric motor in our hands attached to a fan belt. Turned the motor on, leaned back to get some tension and the thing would eventually start and run all day long, if needed.

OSHA woulda zhit if there was one back then.

I think it would be fun to at least take it apart to gauge whether it could be resurrected.

I am pretty curious to hear just how loud it might be once fired up. :)

+1

Looks like the shaft is attached to a fan, and a radiator?

Either way, it's pretty cool! Yet dangerous for the time. You can see why they went to a drive shaft, and 3 point system!

Be careful that you don't sell it to some steam punk dude.

We could always go the street rod route and just swap in a Chevy 350. :D

Restore it.......i would love to stumble into something that cool

I'll see it this weekend and find out what his actual plan is. It would be cool in a "what the heck is that thing?" way.

:D:D

If it did replace a mule pulling a one disc plow/harrow, there are some pieces missing I think. Wouldn't there be a handle bar gizmo so the operator could keep it on the straight & narrow? Or did it operate more like a rototiller?

The flywheel reminded me of some stationary pump engines I've seen around Ventura County that are now restored museum pieces. The one lung engine fires intermittently to keep a huge flywheel spinning a leather fan belt to some related farm contraption. Scary things to watch. Farming was dangerous.

The wooden handles are missing. You can see them in this video:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hX4YWsswSeI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Those hit-and-miss engines were extremely crude, but they were relatively cheap and they worked. The intake valve was "atmospheric" ie. air pressure opened it when the piston moved down on the intake stroke. The fuel mixer was sometimes just a chamber with a pool of gasoline that the intake air passed over and picked up gas fumes on it's way by. Speed was governed by holding the exhaust valve open when the operating RPM was reached and letting it close when the speed dropped.
The engine on the Vaughn appears to be throttle governed (has a carburetor).

Thanks everyone! I've learned that these were actually produced here in my hometown and that there's a group of local people who enjoy restoring them. I'm thinking we'll pass it along to someone familiar with them and maybe they can get it rolling again. It was headed for scrap so nice to hopefully give a piece of history another shot.

Great! Post some pictures if you get to see any they've restored.

Will do! I've already got a few "that makes no sense $-wise whatsoever" things going so a bit of a relief not to start another. :)

MO - it would great to get that running and operating, but don't paint or clean anything. Preserve agricultural history - which is a very strong trend in the vintage farm tractor world.

Put a chrome exhaust pipe on it - you'll have a rat rod!