Two-wheel tractor
For clarity, the rest of this article refers to the self-propelled, single-axle, multi-attachment tractive machines called the two-wheel tractor.
Other implements include: chipper/shredders, log splitters, electrical generator, pressure washer, crimper-roller, fertilizer/salt/lime spreader, and stump grinder.
Two-wheel tractors are also extremely common for agricultural use in the mountainous countries of Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, etc.
Development of single-axle tractors and power tillers worldwide began in the early 20th century and for many decades involved a mixture of people working independently in local contexts and, in other cases, of people expanding on the inspiration provided by others' work in distant locales, learned about via exports, travel (whether for jobs, business, or military service), or reading (magazines, newspapers, journals).
The idea was quickly abandoned and Siemens began using two and four cycle single cylinder internal combustion gasoline/petrol or diesel engines to power their two-wheel tractors.
[citation needed] Starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s, many European two-wheel tractors underwent an "evolution" which sharply contrasted them from the Asian and American machines: The introduction of fully reversible handlebars, allowed the machine's PTO (Power Take Off, where implements are mounted) to be effectively in the front or rear of the tractor, depending on handlebar position.
[11] As early as 1911, Benjamin Franklin Gravely of Charleston West Virginia began with connecting the Indian motorcycle to a manually operated push plow.
[13] Through the 20th century, Gravely became arguably one of the most successful and recognizable two-wheeled tractors produced in the United States, at one point offering 120 individual attachments for their all-gear drive machines.
[14] In 1915, Rush Hamilton of Healdsville, California, designed grouser drive wheels for his tractor, which came with an articulated two-iron-wheeled sulky to which wagons or plows could be attached.
[15] In 1932, Mando "Steve" Ariens, having just taken over the reins of his fathers' Brillion Iron Works, had to declare bankruptcy at the height of the Great Depression.
In 1946, Cecil Pond of South Bend, Indiana, started the Wheel Horse Company, whose first product was a walk-behind two-wheel tractor.
Since then, they for a short time imported a Swiss machine (the Rapid brand) and sold it under the Gravely label; they have discontinued this as well.
According to Francks (1996) an Okayama farmer Nishizaki Hiroshi (born 1897) was returning from the World War I determined not to walk behind his father's draft animals and began experimenting with attaching a plow to the newly available small horsepower kerosene engines that farmers were beginning to use for pumping water and threshing.
By 1926 Nishizaki had made his first version from a diesel powered engine connected by a belt to rotating blades mounted on a wooden frame with two wheels.
As these gained popularity many Japanese manufacturers "...taking hints gleaned from foreign machines..." started production using the American as their initial model (Francks 1996: 789).
As the early 2WTs did not have steering clutches, longer handles were provided for turning and controlling the tractor more easily in fields.
The "Thai tractor" eventually evolved into a more general standard "NC" type models with three gears forward, one reverse, and steering clutches.
Attachments that are available are moldboard and disc plows, spiked tooth harrows, trailed-type (non-powered) rotary puddlers (lateral drums with protruding paddles), various types of levelers and simple trailers (usually without brakes or lights).
Recently (2010), a new NC Plus model offered by Siam Kubota comes with a power take off (PTO) that can drive a rotary tiller and other attachments.
Recently, inexpensive Chinese-made NC models have come on the international market but attempts have been made by Siam Kubota and others to keep them out of Thailand, Cambodia and elsewhere due to claims of copyright infringement.
An early attempt to mechanize farm labour during the Green Revolution, it was eventually manufactured and marketed worldwide by the Landmaster company in Nottingham, UK.
Despite the increased competition from China, Kirloskar's KOEL division, began production in 2015 of their indigenously developed Mega-T brand 15 horsepower diesel engine 2-wheel tractor as well as offering various attachments like rotovator, reaper-harvester, seed drill, etc.
Indian manufactures that did not survive are: JK Satoh Agricultural Machinery Ltd. a collaboration between JK Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd (based in Kanpur, UP) and Satoh Agricultural Machinery Ltd., Japan, began production of two-wheel tractors in a plant with a capacity of 6000 units per year but from its beginning in 1972 till closure of the plant in 1977 only produced and sold 800 units.
With no prospect for timely restoration of the bullock population, the government began to allow what they once considered inferior quality Chinese two-wheel tractors to be imported to aid in fulfilling farmers land preparation needs.
The operation of these version of Kuliglig has been banned by Metro Manila to decongest noise pollution but are still present in some provinces.
Their previously noted multiple work roles is said to have a large percentage used for transport in rural areas as well as peri-urban construction sites, etc.
[25] The operation of two-wheel tractors for transport at night is a recognised hazard in many countries,[2][26] particularly as single headlights can be mistaken for a motorcycle.
[26] Research undertaken in Cambodia and Laos concluded that two-wheel tractors are involved in around five per cent of fatal accidents.
[2] Occupational health and safety reports have recommended regular breaks for the machine operator due to vibrations.
[32] Other Italian manufacturers include Goldoni, Bertolini, SEP/Barbieri, Casorzo, Lampacrescia, Fort, MAB, Meccanica Benassi, Nibbi, Adriatica, and Mira (as of 2014).
