The 8-16 Mogul is one of International Harvester’s first small light-weight tractors designed to enhance efficiency in small to medium-sized farms. The tractor’s compact size and relatively light weight made it versatile for various farming tasks, from plowing to threshing.
International Harvester manufactured the 8-16 Mogul at its Tractor Works factory in Chicago, Illinois. IH produced the 8-16 Mogul from 1914 to 1917. The assembly line ceased operation in 1917, ending with a production run yielding 14,065 tractors.
The tractor produces 16 horsepower on the belt and 8 horsepower on the drawbar. The engine uses make and break ignition with a high tension magneto. The 8-16 has a one-cylinder, hopper-cooled engine rated at 400 rpms. The cylinders have an 8 inch bore and 12 inch stroke giving it 603 cubic-inches of displacement.
Operation
The engineers designed the engine to start with gasoline (or distillate) and, once the engine warmed up, to switch over to burning kerosene, a cheaper fuel.
The transmission has one forward speed and one reverse. This transmission is similar to a Model T Ford automobile, in that it has a metal band around a metal pulley. A lever is pulled that tightens the band on the pulley.
To drive the tractor, it has two levers, pull one and the tractor goes forward, pull the other and the tractor goes backward. There is no tractor platform, instead you have a set of “stirrups” your feet rest on. You sit on a pressed steel seat held on with steel leaf springs. In this configuration, you can easily hit your knees on the engine’s moving rocker arms.
In the image above you see the make and brake ignition with the high tension magneto that trips it. Underneath the magneto, is a lever that is moved to retard the engine while starting and advance the engine speed once running. The hopper over the cylinder holds the water that cools the cylinder. The early Model 8-16 Moguls had a steel hopper that was soldered and the later models had a cast iron hopper.
In the image above, you see the “stirrups’ where your feet rest. On the left side of the tractor is the hand brake. You screw down a handle that tightens a band on the left-hand wheel.
Specifications
- 8 horsepower on the drawbar
- 16 horsepower on the belt
- Speed of the motor is 400 revolutions per minute (R.P.M.)
- One cylinder engine
- Fuel – burns both kerosene or gasoline
- Top speed 2 miles per hour
- Total length is 135 inches
- Total width is 56 inches
- Total height is 61 inches
- Weight is 5,000 pounds
View an 8-16 Mogul Tractor Catalog.
Learn about the 12-25 Mogul Tractor, the first light-weight tractor International Harvester built.
About International Harvester
International Harvester was a prominent American manufacturer of agricultural machinery, construction equipment, trucks, and household appliances. Founded in 1902 through the merger of several companies, including the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and the Deering Harvester Company, International Harvester played a vital role in shaping the agricultural and industrial landscape of the United States.
The company became known for its innovative farm equipment, such as tractors, combines, and plows, contributing significantly to the mechanization of agriculture. International Harvester also ventured into the production of trucks and construction equipment, solidifying its presence in various sectors.
International Harvester went through significant changes over the years and ultimately evolved into a different entity. In 1985, International Harvester, facing financial difficulties and seeking to focus on its more profitable segments, sold the agricultural and construction equipment divisions to Tenneco Inc. In 1986, International Harvester rebranded the remaining portion of the company, primarily consisting of the truck and engine manufacturing divisions, as Navistar International Corporation.
Navistar continued to be a major player in the production of trucks, buses, and engines, while the agricultural and construction equipment divisions were no longer under the International Harvester umbrella. Over the subsequent years, Navistar faced various challenges, including financial struggles and legal issues related to engine technologies. In the early 2020s, Navistar agreed to be acquired by TRATON SE, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, marking another chapter in the company’s history.
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