Loader Tractor Fulfilled Lifelong Dream

2005 - Volume #29, Issue #6, Page #10

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Melvin Putikka's big loader tractor with crab steering was built with parts from an Army truck's front axles, a Continental engine that dates back to the 1950's, a transmission from a 1947 Ford truck, and other parts he fabricated himself.
With a full metal housing and bright yellow paint, it looks too good to be homemade. "I had a guy ask what brand it was," says Putikka. "When I told him I made it myself, he said, æYeah, and I'm President of the United States'."
Putikka got the idea after seeing the famed deuce and a half 6 by 6 trucks in action during World War II. He figured they would make a good tractor. With no money to try building one at the time, Putikka set the idea aside. When he retired some 50 years later, his old dream came to life. After three years, he had his tractor.
The 52 hp, 225 cu. in. Continental engine was like new when he bought it for $450. It had been the power source for a hydraulic system demo at a vo-tech school. He says similar engines were common in the old Massey Harris 44's. The engine has more than enough power to handle the 2 1/2-yard snow bucket, 1-yard dirt bucket or 2 1/2-ton forklift Putikka uses on the tractor. With the 16-50 16 tires, he can go where he wants, and with the 2-speed transfer case that came from a World War II army truck, he gets up to 25 mph on the road.
"It steers with both front and rear axles, but I can lock the rear steering for road travel," says Putikka.
The front axle is mounted solid to the 3 by 7-in., 3/8-in. wall, rectangular tubing frame that Putikka also built. The rear axle is mounted on a pivot point, allowing it to oscillate. The tractor can ride over an object 20 in. high before lifting both wheels on a side off the ground.
"I built the pivot point with a stainless steel shaft and brass bushings and machined them myself so they should last longer than I will," says Putikka. "So many pivot points on machinery have grease zerks in places difficult to reach, so they don't get greased. I put hoses on mine to bring the zerk out to a conspicuous spot so they are easy to remember and service."
While the engine hooked up easily to the transmission, he needed to drop the drive 6 in. to match the power splitter. Putting in a U-joint would have taken up too much space, so Putikka made his own transfer gear box with a #60 roller chain in an oil bath.
"Roller chain will last forever if it runs in oil," explains Putikka. "I replaced the ball bearings on both the input and output shafts with needle bearings. There is a lot of load on a chain like that, and the bearings get most of the load. I knew ball bearings couldn't take it."
Putikka also had to modify the front and rear drive axles. The original axles had the differential off to the right side, so Putikka cut the housing off the left and shortened the axle to bring them to the same internal length.
The power steering came off a big 4-WD Minneapolis Moline tractor with orbit steering. Putikka modified this as well, putting a cylinder on each side for steering. He also modified the cylinders to match cylinder stroke with steering reach. He points out that manufactured cylinders are often built with a longer stroke than the steering reach, resulting in stress and breakage over time.
A Vickers hydraulic pump is direct coupled to the engine at the crankshaft. A second pump dedicated to steering runs off the cam gear on the front left side of the engine. Putikka also added Vickers spool valves to lift, lower and tilt buckets on the Davies industrial loader. Even though it is a heavy-duty loader, he quickly found it needed to be reinforced.
"This tractor is built to put out more force than was intended for that loader, and it's one of the best I've ever seen," says Putikka. "I put 3-in. cylinders on the arms to replace the 2 1/2-in. cylinders that came with it. After watching the plate start to crack where the cylinder meets the arms, I welded 3/8-in. plate all the way down to the bucket."
Tired of years of working with equipment where play developed in clutch and brake linkages over time, he used needle be

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Loader Tractor Fulfilled Lifelong Dream TRACTORS Loaders 29-6-10 Melvin Putikka's big loader tractor with crab steering was built with parts from an Army truck's front axles, a Continental engine that dates back to the 1950's, a transmission from a 1947 Ford truck, and other parts he fabricated himself. With a full metal housing and bright yellow paint, it looks too good to be homemade. "I had a guy ask what brand it was," says Putikka. "When I told him I made it myself, he said, æYeah, and I'm President of the United States'." Putikka got the idea after seeing the famed deuce and a half 6 by 6 trucks in action during World War II. He figured they would make a good tractor. With no money to try building one at the time, Putikka set the idea aside. When he retired some 50 years later, his old dream came to life. After three years, he had his tractor. The 52 hp, 225 cu. in. Continental engine was like new when he bought it for $450. It had been the power source for a hydraulic system demo at a vo-tech school. He says similar engines were common in the old Massey Harris 44's. The engine has more than enough power to handle the 2 1/2-yard snow bucket, 1-yard dirt bucket or 2 1/2-ton forklift Putikka uses on the tractor. With the 16-50 16 tires, he can go where he wants, and with the 2-speed transfer case that came from a World War II army truck, he gets up to 25 mph on the road. "It steers with both front and rear axles, but I can lock the rear steering for road travel," says Putikka. The front axle is mounted solid to the 3 by 7-in., 3/8-in. wall, rectangular tubing frame that Putikka also built. The rear axle is mounted on a pivot point, allowing it to oscillate. The tractor can ride over an object 20 in. high before lifting both wheels on a side off the ground. "I built the pivot point with a stainless steel shaft and brass bushings and machined them myself so they should last longer than I will," says Putikka. "So many pivot points on machinery have grease zerks in places difficult to reach, so they don't get greased. I put hoses on mine to bring the zerk out to a conspicuous spot so they are easy to remember and service." While the engine hooked up easily to the transmission, he needed to drop the drive 6 in. to match the power splitter. Putting in a U-joint would have taken up too much space, so Putikka made his own transfer gear box with a #60 roller chain in an oil bath. "Roller chain will last forever if it runs in oil," explains Putikka. "I replaced the ball bearings on both the input and output shafts with needle bearings. There is a lot of load on a chain like that, and the bearings get most of the load. I knew ball bearings couldn't take it." Putikka also had to modify the front and rear drive axles. The original axles had the differential off to the right side, so Putikka cut the housing off the left and shortened the axle to bring them to the same internal length. The power steering came off a big 4-WD Minneapolis Moline tractor with orbit steering. Putikka modified this as well, putting a cylinder on each side for steering. He also modified the cylinders to match cylinder stroke with steering reach. He points out that manufactured cylinders are often built with a longer stroke than the steering reach, resulting in stress and breakage over time. A Vickers hydraulic pump is direct coupled to the engine at the crankshaft. A second pump dedicated to steering runs off the cam gear on the front left side of the engine. Putikka also added Vickers spool valves to lift, lower and tilt buckets on the Davies industrial loader. Even though it is a heavy-duty loader, he quickly found it needed to be reinforced. "This tractor is built to put out more force than was intended for that loader, and it's one of the best I've ever seen," says Putikka. "I put 3-in. cylinders on the arms to replace the 2 1/2-in. cylinders that came with it. After watching the plate start to crack where the cylinder meets the arms, I welded 3/8-in. plate all the way down to the bucket." Tired of years of working with equipment where play d

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