Crawler Tractor - Ransomes MG6, circa 1958

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Where is it from?

A Importer Melbourne, Australia
B Manufacturer Ipswich, United Kingdom

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Summary:: The Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Co. MG series single-cylinder four-stroke engine crawler tractors were designed to operate on small orchards, vineyards and market gardens. They were often fitted with power take-off drive and hydraulic three-point linkage. The first Model MG2 was released in 1936. This small tracked design was popular in the United Kingdom with other similar designs being by other manufacturers such as the Bristol Tractor Co. A total of about 15,000 Ransomes MG series tractors were built including about 1370 of the later MG40s. In Victoria the local importer for Ransomes crawler tractors was Ruston & Hornsby Ltd. In NSW they were imported by the Demco Machinery Co. Ltd in Redfern.

The Museum's example is a Model MG6, (Serial No.9544), built around 1958. Manufactured by Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd., Ipswich, Suffolk, England. With single-cylinder vertical air-cooled side-valve petrol engine. This tractor was donated to the Museum in 1995 and is currently operated at Scienceworks as part of the activated exhibits program. The engine bore is 3.420-inch (86.8 mm) x stroke: 3.976-inch (101 mm), with a capacity of 600 cc.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mr Mark Hallett

Discipline:

Technology

More information

Tagged with:	agriculture, tractors, ransomes cylinder mower, gutbrod
Themes this item is part of:	Engineering Collection, Sustainable Futures Collection, Transport Collection
Primary Classification:	AGRICULTURE & RURAL LIFE
Secondary Classification:	Internal Combustion Power
Tertiary Classification:	crawler tractors
Model Name/Number:	MG6
Manufacturer:	Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, Great Britain, circa 1952 Manufacturer of tractor.
Importer:	Ruston & Hornsby Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1956 Importer/Agent.

Comments

Martin Watkinson Posted on 05 Apr 2010 4:04 PM

I have a running diesel model Ransome. It has 3 pint linkage, PTO shaft. I want to know more about this model. How many were made? Are there any currently running in Australia?

Discovery Centre Posted on 12 Apr 2010 1:17 PM

Hi Martin, thanks for your enquiry. The diesel-powered version was called the MG40 and only about 1370 were built in the UK. Given that the MG series were mostly sold in the UK for smaller market garden operations I suspect that only a limited number of MG40s came to Australia. Tractors were imported in the post-war years under a government quota system and the larger type of crawler tractor was more useful in Australia.

Charles Gardiner Posted on 27 May 2010 6:50 PM

I have what I believe to be an MG 2 fitted with the petrol parrafin converion. The question is did the frame/shape directly behind the engine change or has mine been altered. I will be able to confirm the numbers once I have removed all of the oil, grease used to preserve it.

Discovery Centre Posted on 05 Jun 2010 10:18 AM

Hi Charles - To help with your query our Curators have suggested it would be helpful if you can send us an image of your MG 2 to confirm the layout of the machine. We can then consult our sources further. Email the Discovery Centre: discoverycentre@museum.vic.gov.au

Bernard Parfrey Posted on 10 Jun 2010 4:30 PM

I have a fully operational MG% single speed petrol model which has hydraulics fitted and incorporates a dozer blade fitted to the REAR end. The blade is 1.5 metres wide and the driver sits on the engine with legs over the gearbox. (common in UK with the "Dumper" version. I have a spare "new" short engine assembly and a full set of spare tracks. The "CalfDozer" is in regular use on my property, I believe it was new circa 1954 and was purchased at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds R&H site.

Graeme Male Posted on 01 Aug 2010 7:08 AM

This question is mainly for Bernard Parfrey,I myself also have a MG5 & also a MG6 wide gauge & need a set of tracks & may be interested in the motor if you are interested in selling them.Thankyou.

Chris Derham Posted on 06 Aug 2010 10:11 AM

i just picked up a mg40 is a club or group so that i can gather info?? also bernard, would love to get a picture of your dozer setup as i am wanting to fit a blade to my unit.

Neil Jarrett Posted on 16 Aug 2010 9:20 PM

Nice Site. However.
The statement that the Diesel tractor was called the MG40 is incorrect.
The MG40 was the final release of the crawler series that had a heavier track section and an improved track retaining guide at the rear idler wheel. It is true that many were fitted with a Drayton type 34R diesel engine and some with a Sachs diesel but others were still supplied with the petrol or TVO engine depending on area of use. The previous MG6 version could also be specified with the option of a diesel engine.
My hobby has led to me being the supplier of spares for the Ransomes crawler in UK and always pleased to help.

Discovery Centre Posted on 10 Sep 2010 12:39 PM

*the above comment refers to an error in the record that has now been corrected*

Hi Neil & thanks for your feedback. We passed this on to our curator, who has had a look and agrees with your assessment. He has corrected the record and the designation MG6 now appears instead of MG40. Thanks again for your feedback, we really appreciate this type of knowledge from and sharp eyes of the public to help us out with any mistakes.

Graham Bowley Posted on 04 May 2011 11:16 PM

hi Martin
the diesel if its a Sachs is a two stroke with separate oil and diesel tanks and mixes its own fuel and is started with a hot wick and pull cord-it will be a mg40-not a 6
Mg 40 also had mudguards which were optional and a hydraulic blade which works from a ram on top of the gearbox pushing up a "U" shaped bar over the tractor
MG 40 s have a small brass plate on the top LH corner of the body with thier model and number but the easy way to tell them is the track retainers sticking out behind the rear idler wheel.
My MG40 dozer is so equipped and is original as I purchased it from the original owner and thats the way it came new

philip opperman Posted on 08 Jun 2011 6:18 AM

I got a mg6 no 12197 and looking for a enjen for it the rest is in good working order.if someone can help me plz let me know

Bob Hart Posted on 19 Nov 2011 2:57 AM

I grew up with a MG5 in childhood and got hold of a MG6 in 1997. It had been abandoned in the bush after a rollover. The engine was ruined from rain and full of rotted gumleaves. A bushfire had also gone through it.
A guy over here in Western Australia named Dave, has a collection of most models including a diesel MG40. He has the engine out of my MG6 for parting or merge rebuild of an MG6 he has. He also has a punch for making track rubbers from conveyor belt. For each jount you need four, two between the track plates and one each under the caps. I think he also has .jpg files of artwork for MG5 and MG6. I recreated artwork for the MG6 then found that the artwork on it was incorrect, it had been renovated at some time.

I repowered mine with a watercooled Kubota 2 cylinder riceharvester engine as it was to be a working machine dragging firebreaks. The original engine was seized and most peripherals were missing. It was beyond my meagre restoration skills.