Show your tractors

[s o c]

cool! is it a renault?

[Stephen Blair]

Fantastic!!! That must of been bonkers sitting there with the water coming up !

 

Did you wear scuba stuff?

[Pat Ferrett]

It passed its test and they bought it in 1998. I joined the crew and launched the boat many times using this and the trailer I designed to go with it.

After 8 years it was starting to show a bit of corrosion from the constant salt exposure, so we replaced it with a very similar, but larger one.

 

8 years is bloomin good going for anything that comes into contact with salt water let alone drives into it

[GardenKit]

Yes, a Renault 106-54TL, I sold them at the time.

 

No scuba gear, just a dry suit. The trouble was that the Renault has a very tall cab, and as the water rose inside I floated off the seat and could not reach the pedals!

 

Still driving in this pic with my head jammed against the roof and holding my breath whilst I headed back to shallow water.

[mendiplogs]

I just found some photos that I thought i had lost of a contract I had in 1997.

 

The brief was to modify a tractor to launch an Inshore Rescue 21ft Rib over a steep shingle beach.

 

The tractor would have to operate in 1.25 metres of water, but may at times be immersed by breaking waves.

 

Before the customer would sign the cheque (for £30k) I had to prove the tractors ability by driving it in 2.5 metres of water on a rising tide.

 

Then I had to stop it, shut off the exhaust and snorkel valves and let the tide cover it. I then had to be able to restart it at low tide and drive it back to the beach.

 

These are the long lost pictures of the first sea trial, the tractor was moving in each picture. It was quite a unique experience.

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HI GARDEN is that west bay nice tractor mate jon

[GardenKit]

The whole thing had been heavily repainted and then heavily wax oiled. The wheels were galvanised. The gearbox, clutch housing and axles were pressurised by exhaust gas to keep the water out. Extra seals were added to all shafts and linkages.

 

I installed water hoses and nozzles all round and also a fresh water tank and pump, so as soon as it left the sea it gave itself a fresh water shower.

 

Then a thorough wash down at the boathouse.

[Stephen Blair]

Haha, I thought the cab wold be air tight, your mad!!!!

[GardenKit]

HI GARDEN is that west bay nice tractor mate jon

Sidmouth, Jon

[GardenKit]

Haha, I thought the cab wold be air tight, your mad!!!!

No, firstly the glass would have imploded, and secondly the thing would have floated with a cab full of air.

 

Yes, plenty said i was mad.

[Stephen Blair]

I thought you would of engineered the tractor to sink and be full of air!

 

Hence why I one has asked me to try making 1:001_rolleyes: