About 1950 the Sheppard Diesel tractors appeared. For
several years, Sheppard ofered three diesel models — the
SD-2, SD-3, and SD-4. The SD-2 was a two-plow model
with a two-cylinder 4% x 5 inch engine. An intermediate
size, the SD-3, used three 4 x 5 inch cylinders, and the
largest model, the SD-4, used a Sheppard Model 16 engine
with four 4 1/2 x 5 inch cylinders. Orchard and industrial
models were available within these three sizes.
R.H. Sheppard started the R.H. Sheppard company around 1933. He began by marketing diesel engines to various industries for multiple uses. The company went on to try and retrofit a Farmall M with a Sheppard diesel engine around 1949. The company was the first ones to produce a diesel tractor in the United States and manufactured units from 5 to 58 horsepower. Sheppard discontinued their tractor operations in 1956.
Content contributed by:
Model |
Configuration |
Years |
# Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD-1 | 1948-1950 |
||
| SD-2 | 1948-1958 |
||
| SD-3 | Row-Crop |
1949-1956 |
|
| SDG-2 | 1950-1956 |
||
| SDG-3 | 1950-1956 |
||
| SDO-Orchard | 1950-1956 |
||
| SDO-3 Orchard | Orchard |
1950-1956 |
|
| SD-4 | 1953-1956 |
||
| 6E | 1955-1957 |
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