Field evaluatoin of a high-clearance, two-wheeled tractor designed for local manufacture in Mexico

The design and field performance of a high-clearance, two-wheeled tractor is reported in this article. Field operations include primary and secondary tillages, planting, row crop cultivation, spraying and local transportation. The tractor was primarily designed for primary tillage and cultivation on the main crops of the country: corn, sorgum, wheat and barley. The design of the tractor is especially oriented toward manufacture by medium-sized companies, and incorporates a mechanical transmission based on belts and chains. No special steels are needed, and a reduced number of machining operations are required. The annual cost of the tractor has been calculated and found to compare favorably with the price of tractor contracting services.