HT-340: A tractor ahead of its times

[Hillbilly]

The one and only HT-340, International Harvester paired a gas turbine engine with hydrostatic transmission. The turbine engine was similar to the turbo-prop engine used in some aircraft, but much smaller. The engine weighed only 60 lbs. It had a speed of 57,000 rpm and required much reduction gearing to drive the hydraulic pump. The pump, in turn, drove a hydraulic motor which propelled the tractor. The first public showing of this unit was at the Nebraska Power and Safety Day in Lincoln in 1961. The tractor now is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

 

[Woodbeef]

Pretty sharp looking tractor even by todays standards!!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

1961 International Harvester HT340…. With 80 HP Turbine Engine

 

[RobS]

Very cool, and still looks reasonably up to date style-wise. I've always loved turbine engines. It only makes sense to keep all the moving parts of an engine going in the same direction all the time.

I had a class in school called "Gas Turbine Theory". I only remember a couple of things about the class: 1) It was by far the most difficult class I ever took. 2) The turbine section of a turbine engine is easy, it's the compressor section where all the challenges lie and 3) The only thing we learned about the actual combustion chamber was that wherever there is a "hot spot", cut a hole in it. Not terribly scientific, but apparently the way it is done (at least back then).

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif