TDT-40 - great-grandfather of modern logging machines

Truly original engineers inhabited now a non-existent country - the USSR. The working technique of this state was distinguished by an original embodiment of design developments, reliability and service life. And to this day she regularly performs her duties. An example of such a machine can serve as a tractor TDT-40, produced in the light in the distant 50's of last century.

Why is it worthy of mention?

Tractor diesel skidding 40 - a tool designed to work on the felling. Its main purpose was to move fallen trees and whips to the point of intermediate storage. To do this, he had everything he needed - a log transport board, located in front of the cabin, a winch and an additional loading and unloading device.

The machine came to replace the tractor KT-12A, it was produced by a plant in Minsk. Now the equipment was equipped with a diesel engine, which was optimally suited to the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia, had a capacity of 40 liters. from. And two ways of starting - by means of an electric starter and a start motor. But the main feature of TDT-40 was its remarkable patency.

Caterpillar propulsion, driven by a low-powered engine, could easily overcome stumps, felled trees, wetlands and even carry equipment along the bottom of the reservoir, which was actively used in timber mining. This quality allowed the car to survive until now. The Chinese tractor J-65a is based on this particular model.

Design

The Minsk production technique has a rather original design. The engine, four-stroke four-cylinder, is located in front. It is covered with a hood, and on top there is a platform for loading timber. The driving wheels are on the rear, above them there is a cab, and the transmission occupies an intermediate position. It is above it is a winch with a worm cock.

All the elements of TDT-40 are attached to the frame formed by two longitudinal members - longitudinal bars. They are located across and connect the body and the bottom into one. The rear axle has in its composition rotary couplings, brakes and final transmission. Powered by a cardan shaft, it transmits traction to caterpillar propulsors.

It is important to know!

A special word deserves the undercarriage of the car, for by the standards of those times it possessed a unique design that allows the technician to easily overcome any obstacles. The dynamic characteristics of the tractor were so high due to the elements that make up the running system. This is a double spar frame, a balancer-spring suspension, driving wheels and tracks.

TDT-40 had a frame of corrosion-resistant metal. Despite the high ability of the material to resist tangential and normal stresses, the designers decided to strengthen it by cross-linking. Due to this, the body possessed a high safety margin and could carry large masses by weight, rather than specified in the passport.

Suspension system

The suspension itself consisted of two balancers with fixed springs, two pairs of carriages and shock absorbers. It was the combination of these elements that provided high cross-country ability. When driving, the caterpillar literally "enveloped" the unevenness of the road, obstacles. At first the springs entered the work. When their course was exhausted, shock absorbers entered the case.

In TDT-40 (photo below) the wheels were made in the form of completely cast discs. The rear, leading, also had teeth, allowing them to transmit traction to the propulsion unit. This "asterisk" was the only minus of the system, as it was quickly forgotten by dirt. To solve this issue in the back of the frame on the brackets were located cleaners.

The younger brother and a new sample

But, despite the technical characteristics, the engineers of the plant in Minsk soon decided to improve the existing model. They created on its basis a tractor with a prefix 40M. The new representative of skidding machines was characterized by increased power, improved dynamics, maintainability. Although he retained the chassis from TDT-40 in his composition, he did not last long in the leading positions, acting as an intermediate link in front of the tractor TDT-55.

The skidding model with index 55 was produced until 2013. At its core there are some developments of the previous model, but basically it was constructed with the introduction of new working elements. In particular, a new engine, a torque transmission system, a hydrodynamic design and a number of other equipment were delivered. To a greater extent, the running gear has survived.

Now basically basically since 2010 the car "Onezhets-300" is made, which, it can be said, is a direct descendant of TDT-40. Technical characteristics of the model are incomparably better, as well as patency. The machinery is made at the Onega tractor plant. It is the wheelbase for a number of other fellings.