Engineering Commons^™

Tractor Testing In Australia. Part 2, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN test procedures, though differing: in some details, and in some ways going further and telling more about the tractor, conform in essentials to overseas standards.

The tests are in four main parts—

(a) the physical properties of the tractor;

(b) the power of the engine, and its stationary outlets—the belt and the p.t.o;

(c) the power on the drawbar when working on a formalised test surface or track;

(d) the reliability of the tractor when running under test, and its condition after the test.

Australian Spark Arrester Tests. Test No. Spa-5 : Caterpillar 3b-2655, W. F. Baillie, G. H. Vasey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FORMAL tests on spark arresters are conducted by The Tractor Testing Committee* at the Testing Station, Werribee, on behalf of those companies concerned with tractors, engines or spark arresters who wish to have these equipments tested.

The arrester is tested on the engine for which it is specially designed or if this is not convenient (as in this instance) it is tested on an engine having the characteristics and power for which the spark arrester is intended.

A Useful Farm-Made Roller, V E. Western

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A very serviceable compacting roller can be constructed at little expense by using discarded truck tyres.

The roller described here has an overall width of 5 ft. 3 in. and carries seven 9.00 x 24 semi-trailer tyres which had been discarded when the treads were worn smooth.

Australian Tractor Tests : No. 31, G. H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS Report is taken from the full Technical Report No. 31 of this test; test results are shown here in briefer form: fuller explanations are added. Values quoted may be rounded out to two instead of three significant figures; to this extent the values may differ slightly but not significantly from those shown in the Technical Report. Graphs of belt test performance, shown in the Technical Report, are not shown here.

Tractor Testing In Australia, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIA is one of several countries that have set up "official" tractor testing schemes.

These schemes mean testing stations that, while providing a testing service for both the manufacturing industry and the consumer, in effect mainly the farming industries, are independent of either.

The Burnett Control Gate For Irrigation Channels, B Swan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS type of check-gate for use in irrigation ditches, was evolved on the Kimberley Research Station and has definite advantages over wooden or concrete structures in that it is termite-proof and can be removed and replaced in a few minutes to permit of the channel being cleaned out by straight runs with modern machinery.

Bulk Handling Of Superphosphate, H G. Cariss

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A MAJOR factor in our agricultural production is the outlay for fertilisers, including the cost of their application to the land.

Any means which can be employed to reduce these costs are therefore of extreme importance to the State's agriculture.

The bulk-handling of fertilisers could be one way of reducing these costs to the farmer.