| ARPS Corporation of New
Holstein, Wisconsin manufactured unique job specific farm and specialty
equipment. This highway mower is a fine example. It is powered by
a Ford Model A engine, coupled to a Model BB transmission, and 1/2 ton
axle with gear reductions at each wheel. The snow plow frame and lights
are not OEM and have already been
removed. Restoration is currently underway and images will be posted as
it progresses. |
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This tractor is sporting 7.50 x 16
front tires and 7.50 x 20 rears. The front wheels are ARPS
manufactured with solid centers. The rear wheels are modified shallow
dished AA
truck rims. It is not yet known if they are ARPS manufactured. The
advertised models from 1937 to 1941 actually had 7.50 x 16's front and
back as standard equipment with air tires.
click links to viewFront Wheel image Rear Wheel image use your Back button to return here. Enclosed gear reduction units are mounted on the rear axles,
giving the tractor the ability to travel
at very low speeds. Top speed in low is 2.5 mph and in fourth gear is
about 38 mph.
click
links to viewFinal drive inside view Final drive front view use your Back button to return here. If you bought an ARPS' Blackhawk
kit it would have the radiator shell, hood and cowling of the vehicle
used. If it was made by ARPS it had its own distinctive radiator
shell. The top is cast iron and the center bar is cast aluminum.
The side panels
are stamped steel. When the shell is restored there will be
square mesh steel fabric panels in the openings. Later, I will post a
picture
of the hood-gas tank assembly.
click
link to viewRadiator Shell use your Back button to return here. The engine is a standard 1929 Model
A
engine. This is not the original engine, which should be a Model
BB. Although still unconfirmed, the apparent year of manufacture
is either 1940 or 1941. The Model A engine is going to be
restored as the power unit for now. It will be fitted with a Model B
distributor, since there is no place for a mechanical timing advance.
Later, I will acquire a Model BB engine and restore it and then make
the swap. The Model A will be sold to help defray some of the costs of
restoration.
As you see the head has been removed. In the water jacket are the remains of many winters of being a chipmunk condo. It is packed to the deck with the left overs of seeds and acorns. The plan is to do an in the frame tear down, cleaning, inspection and reassembling with the necessary new parts. The cylinder bores are smooth and without pits. I am anticipating that a good honing will be adequate. There appears to be very little ring wear in the bores. click
link to view
Headless Engine use your Back button to return here. The dash is not original at all.
Originally, the Blackhawk comes with one guage, the key and a choke
control mounted in a small rectangular plate. Part of the plate mount
still exists but the face was cut off. A new one will be easy to
fabricate, unless I opt to go with a Model A instrument panel. It
won't be original, but I like being able to see what is going on.
The steering wheel appears to be what was used on 1940 and later models. You can also see it in the
radiator shell photo. Photos of earlier models
have the Ford Model A four spoke wheel.
click
link to viewAfter market dash use your Back button to return here. The transmission is from a Model BB
truck. The first-second and third-fourth slider gears were siezed
to the output shaft, but have since been freed. The tranny will
come out at sometime in the future for a full tear down, inspection and
rebuild. Like wise for the drive shaft, differential, and final
reduction gears.
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Most recent update 04.08.2004