Re: Just how efficient were steam-powered tractors?

Posted by Rev JJ on April 25, 2002 at 15:07:06 from (64.12.103.41):

In Reply to: Just how efficient were steam-powered tractors? posted by Alberta Mike on April 25, 2002 at 08:35:50:

depends. The thermal efficiency on a slide valve, volume steam governed reciprocating engine(the type used on tractions) was likely never better than 3%. corliss engines could get as high as 18-21% in staionary service. A gasoline-kerosene engine, around 30+% thermal efficiancy, and a diesel cyle can get as good as 40%. That being said.........

which is cheaper to run, cash money? In many situations, the steamer. In the days of cheap(and free family labor),the farm itself provided all the engine needed. Most farms had plentiful wood, and if you were up on the treeless plains, put on a straw door and burn whatcame out the other end of the threshing machine. If you didn't want to buy petrolium oil for lube, many oldtimers mixed up tallow and maybe a little beeswax.

The most aggravating thing wasn't the fuel for heat, but carrying water to the thing, which is why steam lingered on longer in the east than in the dryer plains.

Look at it like this, if you threshed with your steamer in the summer, you could set it up to pull a sawmill that winter, and just burn your mill scraps. if water was cloe at hand, your power was all but free.

And if the engine was taken care of, it would last forever. Despite misconceptions that they needed a lot of mechanic-ing, they very seldom broke down; in fact, a steam engine in poor mechanical condition will continue to run and do its work, which can't really be said of an internal combustion engine in a comperable condition.

Rev JJ, owner of Two Tractions, Restorer of several locomotives, certified engineer and fireman.

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