Fowler lorrys

[modelman093]

Those large rear wheels must have meant some pretty serious reduction gearing - and would there have been a diff?

Hi Angus,
The short answer is I don't know.
Reduction gearing Yes.
I suppose there must have been a diff or the thing would have ploughed straight on in spite of where the front wheels wanted it to go.
Fred

So now showing my ignorance of matters steam - did traction engines, road locomotives and steam rollers have some form of diff or was there enough weight over the front to drag them round?

[Jeremy Rowland]

I'm guessing no diff but a very large chain drive.

Jeremy

[FOWLER MAN]

I'm guessing no diff but a very large chain drive.

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,
As I said The short answer is I don't know, But I thought there must be a diff of some sort.
I knew there were diffs in the diesel rollers I worked on.
Curiosity got the better of me and I searched the net and found this.

img283.jpg

It's a Wallis & Stevens steam roller transmission from the same era as the Fowler tractor, and you can clearly see the spur reduction gear drive with a diff. on the pinion shafts.
Fred