Tractors that have previously been allowed to travel at higher speeds under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulation 1986 (as amended) aren’t affected by the recent changes to the law – provided the higher technical standards continue to be met. What is the combined weight limit for a tractor and trailer combination?

While Britain was focused on steam power, tractors with petrol engines were starting to arrive on American farms. Bear in mind that steam power in the 1890s had almost 200 years of development behind it and was relatively reliable, while the four-stroke petrol engine had been around for less than 20 years and its primitive ignition and fuel supply systems were often troublesome.

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For the 1903 version, a seed hopper with a chain drive from one of the rear wheel hubs was added to the cultivator to provide an early version of minimum tillage. He also added a gear-driven front power take-off to operate equipment such as a binder that could be pushed instead of pulled. It is more than 28 years since this legislation was last reviewed and in that time, the industry has changed almost beyond recognition. The maximum combination weight of a tractor and single trailer has increased from 24.39t to 31t. However, the maximum laden weight of trailers remains unchanged at 18.29t. This includes three-axle trailers with road-friendly suspension and top-notch brakes. Why has the trailer weight not increased? The age of the driver; they should have either a category F or category B licence, and if 16 with a category F, the above-mentioned restrictions apply.

One of a series of general purpose tractors with a rear load platform made by Herbert Saunderson in the early 1900sCase abandoned development work on this 1892 experimental tractor and continued making its successful steam engines Higher specification tractors, such as the JCB Fastrac (pictured below) and Mercedes Unimog have the braking, suspension and other special requirements to qualify for the “fast” tractor classification with its 64kph (40mph) speed limit. If a Quadtrac’s rear linkage won’t stay in the correct position, it’s likely that the potentiometer is the problem.

Nicolaus Otto had built the first successful four-stroke petrol engine in Germany in 1876, and engines based on his patents and carrying his name had been produced in America since 1878.Another early success was a company established in 1897 by Charles Hart and Charles Parr. They had built an experimental engine while they were university students and their company initially focused on engines, with their first tractor arriving in 1901. With considerate driving, they can last a reasonable amount of time, but they don’t stand up well to abuse – particularly when used to tow heavy trailers with poor brakes.

It was not a long-term success, but it probably inspired others to experiment with alternatives to steam. They included the JI Case company, which was emerging as America’s leading agricultural steam engine manufacturer. Tractor mechanic, Matthew Morgan details some of his recent repairs and offers a few tips to reduce the likelihood of a breakdown. Case New Holland – Matthew Morgan, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire High speed tractors only have two machines that fall into this category: JCB Fastrac and Mercedes Unimog, where the Unimog is registered as a tractor. The Unimog can fall within various categories and the rules which apply differ depending on its functionality, its use and how it is taxed with DVLA.A significant drop in the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir is a sign that they’re getting close to the mark. It can then be lifted off with a telehandler or forklift, welded and replaced. The job takes roughly eight hours to complete. Mr Morgan recently fitted one on a New Holland T7. In this case, the diaphragm had broken down, causing it to lose pressure and not function properly. He also made efforts to find non-farming markets, and these included converting an Ivel into a military ambulance with rough-terrain capability, armour plating and space to carry medical equipment and a patient on a stretcher.