The Latil H14 TL10 is an all-wheel drive agricultural and forestry tractor produced by Latil and later Saviem from 1947 to 1962 through various evolutions. It was replaced by the Saviem TL21/22/23 range.
| Latil H14 TL10 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 1947–1962 |
| Assembly | |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Latil H4 TL9 |
| Successor | Saviem TL21/22/23 |
History
editIn 1947, Latil unveiled its H14 TL10 agricultural and forestry tractor, mounting the H14 engine, a slightly modified H1.[1] By 1949, it was sold in the United Kingdom as a multiporpose tractor (adding tractor unit for road and off-road) with the name H11 TL10.[2]
In the 1950s, TL10s equipped with a winch had some military use by engineering corps of the French Army.[3]
In 1957, after Latil was integrated into the Saviem company, a minor evolution of the TL10, the H14 TL12R, was introduced. In December 1960, the company unveiled the H14 TL12, a cheaper variant of the TL12R without trailer brake (which meant it could only be used as a towing tractor and not as an agricultural one).[4]
Technical details
editThe main engine used for the tractor is the H14, an evolution of the pre-World War II H1 with a direct injection system licensed from Gardner.[1] It is a inline-four diesel engine with a 108 mm bore and a 152 mm stroke, giving a displacement of 5,585 cc (earlier version)[5] and 5,569 cc (later version).[4] Its power was between 65 PS (64 bhp; 48 kW) at 1,500 rpm (earlier version)[5] and 85 PS (84 bhp; 63 kW) at 1,850 rpm (later version).[4] As an optional, earlier TL10 versions could be equipped with a similar petrol engine codenamed as M14.[3][5]
The British version had a different engine codenamed as H11 by Latil and supplied by Meadows, the 4 DC-420. It is an inline four diesel with a bore and stroke of 130 mm, giving a displacement of 6,902 cc. Maximum engine power was 70 bhp (71 PS; 52 kW) at 1,900 rpm and its torque 233 lb⋅ft (316 N⋅m) at 1,000 rpm.[2]
The gearbox is a 4-speed unit with a transfer case giving 8 forward speeds and 2 reverses. The gearbox output shaft is connected to the front and rear axles, making the tractor on permanent four-wheel drive. Levers in the cabin are connected to the differential system to lock the drive on any axle.[2]
The tractor has a four-wheel steering system, with the steering drop arm connected to the stub assemblies of both axles, giving it a turning radius of 15 ft (4.6 m).[2] The H14 TL10 and the H14 TL12R were available in a "navette" version, with a panoramic cabin, double driving positions with two vertical steering wheels and reversed gears.[6]
The tractor's wheelbase is 2.4 m (7.9 ft) and it weighs over 3 tonnes. It has air brakes. Suspension is by straight leaf springs.[2]
Later developments
editAs the company marketed the H14 TL12, it also introduced the TL20, a simpler version with mechanical instead of air brakes, a 3-speed instead of four-speed gearbox, and a redesigned grille.[7]
In October 1961, Saviem unveiled a new range of tractors with various design changes: the TL21, TL22, and TL23. The TL21 was an agricultural and forestry tractor, the TL22 a towing tractor and the TL23 a prime mover of 24 tones gross combined weight. The first has mechanical braking and the others air braking. All of them are powered by the F 120.51 Fulgur engine, an inline-four diesel engine with a 110 mm bore and a 120 mm stroke, giving a displacement of 4,561 cc. The maximum power of it was 100 PS (99 bhp; 74 kW) at 2,500 rpm.[7]
In 1962, the licence for the tractors' production was sold to the Creusot-Loire conglomerate, which marketed them as the Latil Batignolles.[7]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ a b Colombet 1995, p. 27.
- ^ a b c d e Cotton 1949, pp. 18–21.
- ^ a b Vanderveen 1989, p. 86.
- ^ a b c Colombet 2020, p. 52.
- ^ a b c Latil 1954.
- ^ Colombet 2020, p. 73.
- ^ a b c Colombet 2020, p. 71.
Bibliography
edit- Colombet, Jean-François (1995). "Les Latil H14 et H16 A1" [The Latils H14 and H16 A1]. Charge utile (in French). No. 25. Paris: Histoire et Collections. ISSN 1266-8508.
- Colombet, Jean-François (2020). "Saviem 1960–1961". Charge utile (in French). No. Hors-série 100. Paris: Histoire et Collections. ISSN 1266-8508.
- Cotton, L. J. (1949). "'Roughing it on' with a four-wheel drive tractor". Commercial Motor. Vol. 89, no. 2305. London: Temple Press. ISSN 0010-3063.
- Tracteur Latil, Suresnes: Latil, 1954
- Vanderveen, Bart (1989). Wheels & Trucks Historic Military Vehicles Directory. London: Battle of Britain Prints International. ISBN 0-900913-57-6.