31 replies to this topic

[tractorjeff]

Here is my Junior Tractor made by Pony Tractor Co Most were sold as amusement park rides.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[caseguy]

tractorjeff Welcome to GTTalk! That is a beautiful restoration! Awesome machine, thanks for sharing the pics with us!

[mjodrey]

tractorjeff,welcome to the forum.Glad to have you with us.
That is one cool little tractor.

[MH81]

Tractorjeff, neat ride. Is that a REO engine on there?

[tractorjeff]

No they came with Continentals.

[olcowhand]

Here is my Junior Tractor made by Pony Tractor Co Most were sold as amusement park rides.

I figure the bumpers with rollers were guides for the rides? Wonder why most were sold for rides? Didn't sell well to the consumer? It would make sense that "normally" a ride would be built without actual engines to keep costs down, but as I understand, these amusement ride tractors were fully functional tractors otherwise?
Thanks for the post.....quite interesting. And your tractor is in superb condition!

[transammike]

Here is my Junior Tractor made by Pony Tractor Co Most were sold as amusement park rides.

Is that the Continental AA7? I bought one for my David Bradley Super 3 Deluxe, but I really needed the AU85 with the carb on top.

[tractorjeff]

They were driven by the kids and adults on a track that was probably 10' wide and a several hundred feet long. Unlike the cars that had a single guide rail you followed you could steer them all over the track. Parents could also stand on the back. The tractors are big enough for adults to drive. Of course this was before all the liability issues. They were driven by sliding the engine forward as the belt tightener. There were other tractors that were used in amusement parks also. I also have a Brownie but know Bantams, Hiller Yard Hands and Chipmunks were also used. I'm working on an article on amusement tractors if any has any info or would like to talk about them I can be reached at jeffmalm(AT symbol)comcast(dot)net

Edited by caseguy, December 10, 2011 - 03:03 PM.

[caseguy]

...I'm working on an article on amusement tractors...

We have an excellent section here that allows you to publish articles to the site. When you're finished, we'd be proud to have a copy of it here!

[tractorjeff]

Yes it's an AA7. I haven't figured out the differences in the Continentals yet. I also have an AA7 with the carb on top. The Pony tractors used the engines with the carb on top but it made it harder to reach so I used the lower carb engine. I think they were the AU8.

[olcowhand]

Oh, I understand now. I thought the tractors were pulled by the ride like a merry-go-round. I never seen the rides like these tractors ran in.

[transammike]

I maybe wrong, but I believe the AU8's were 2 1/4 hp, and the AU85's were 3 hp. I can find very little info on the AA7's, so I think they were quite rare. If you have an AA7 with the upper carb, someone probably switced the shroud onto an AU8.

[tractorjeff]

I have 3 Continentals and all 3 have AA7B cast in the block. The two with the upper carbs have AA7 on the model tag but the 3rd engine didn't have the shroud so no tag. I just assumed it was an AA7 with a lower carb. Like you said there is very little info on the Continental engines especially the AA7. I did see that the AU7 is 1 1/2 hp and an AU7B is 2 hp. But what the difference between the AA7 and the AU7?

[transammike]

I'm not familiar with the AU7. Just when I thought that I was figuring them out, you come along. lol

[tractorjeff]

It only get worse the 1952 Continental Service Manual covers models AC5, AC6, AA7, AD7, AU7, AV7, AW7, AA7B, AD7B, AU7B, AW7B, AA8, AD8, AU8, AV8, AW8. Covers both vertical and horizontal but I don't know which are which. I'll have to purchase the manual.