Spotlight on the F&H 161/162 and D2628R Wheel Weights.
When one looks into early farm tractor development, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, we find lots of big personalities, heated competition, and rapid technological improvements.
With the newer tractors of the era, especially those with solid rubber tires, traction quickly became a problem in search of a solution. You can’t put water in a solid rubber tire.
It was not long before wheel weights marked F&H 161 or 162 (French and Hecht) and D2628R (Deere) were found hanging on the drive wheels of a large number of tractors, regardless of the tractor brand.
These wheel weights, and their stacking variations could usually be fitted on a variety of spoked wheels (round or flat spokes) and later on cast wheels and stamped steel wheels.
These are probably not the very first tractor wheel weights but are surely the best known of the early models. Prior to 1900 everything from ‘gravitational platforms’, springs and transfers, and even sliding seats used to shift operator weight had been employed with varying degrees of success. (Some might say “futility”)…
Recognition for improving these traction issues belongs to a great number of people, but one person does stand out. Warren M. Mansfield of Moline, Illinois and his patent 1,487,257. If you are at all familiar with early tractor models, you have probably observed this patent number on the F&H, 161 or 162 wheel weights.
To excerpt the patent:
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that WARREN M. MANSFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, county of Rock Island, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction Varying Means for Tractors, of which the following is a specification. The invention relates to traction varying means for tractors. The tractive effort, that may be exerted by a self-propelled vehicle is dependent upon the friction between the drive wheels of the vehicle and the surface upon which the
vehicle rests. This frictional contact is always a function of the weight on the drive wheels. In a vehicle such as a motor truck, the problem of providing greater traction when a heavier load is to be pulled, solves itself, because, when a heavier load is Carried, there is more weight on the drive wheels. In a tractor, however, the load that is hauled is put behind the tractor and the weight on the tractor wheels is approximately the same no matter what load is to be pulled. A tractor for universal use on a farm, must be as light as possible in order that it may be used for work to which only a light tractor is suitable. At the same time, it must be capable of pulling heavy loads. When it is made light, it is difficult to get sufficient traction for pulling heavy loads and, when it is made heavy for pulling the large loads, it is too heavy for use in light work. The present invention has been devised to solve this problem. The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for varying the traction of a tractor. A more specific object is to provide means for increasing the traction of a light tractor so that the tractor can pull a heavy load. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.
Mansfield’s initial patent construction called for flat disk weights of reinforced concrete and mounted to the wheel spokes with J-Hooks. This patent had a mesne assignment to the Moline Plow Company, a direct competitor to Deere. Despite the fierce competition between the two entities, this type of weight (concrete or cast iron) could be found available for almost all tractors produced during this time. The similar Deere D628R wheel weight came out in roughly 1940.
These weights, fitting spoked wheels, cast wheels, and steel wheels, were definitely ‘universal’ for their time. As we now know, 100 years later, things have certainly become more complicated.
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Read the Warren M. Mansfield Patent Details.
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