Borg Warner T-20 Skid Steer History

[jpswift1]

I have been doing some research on the famous and bullet proof AATV transmission known as the Borg Warner T-20 Skid Steer. I have heard that the T-20 was also used in these rigs that were used to spray rice fields with. I found out some information on these sprayer rigs here:

Self propelled agricultural spraying vehicle

Self propelled agricultural spraying vehicle - Patent 4168802

I have been searching all over the place for more info on the development of these transmission and how/why Borg Warner sold the rights to this unit. I also heard that Recreatives and Hustler Corporation held the rights to the unit as a partnership. I am going to do some more asking around about who was on the design team, what years these significant events occured, and any other general information. If you have anything to add to this please post it up.

[racerone3]

new forum?

mike, with all the interesting stuff jeff has been digging up lately a forum just for AATV history might be a good addition to the site. i'm fairly new to the scene and love hearing about the beginings. swift, keep the great info coming!!

[jpswift1]

Thanks, Im happy to provide this information for everyone. Take a look at this pdf file of the machine. The patent was assigned to Hustler Corporation of Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1979. Charles Hurt (listed as the inventor) must have been an engineer of the company at the time. I have never seen one of these vehicles but Im sure there is one, along with the T-20 still mounted on it behind someone's barn somewhere. Lets go find it!

Patent Login

[racerone3]

sounds good to me... i like digging in peoples back yards... even if it pisses them off!! unfortunatly there don't seem to be too many 6 wheelers around here. that or everyone has them in barns and isn't letting on! that stuff about the raycliff was really cool, and anything that to do with hustlers will definetly peak my intrest

[jpswift1]

I forgot to mention, I believe this machine was called the Hustler "Wing-it" or "WingIt" offset sprayer. Does anyone know what areas of the country have a large concentration of rice farms?
I remember when I lived in Georgia I never came across one AATV. I was able to get my friends down there introduced to these machines after I went back to visit and get my Hustler BIGFOOT in Alabama, and now my one friend is currently restoring a standard Hustler 6x6. Its going to be a really nice rig when he's done and hopefully this will help spread the word about what these machines can do to other people in the area.
And by the way, Im not sure if the pdf will load unless you have a membership to the site, so I pasted it all into a Microsoft Word document if you would like to take a look at it. The Word document excedes the space allowed to upload unfortunately, so if you would like to see it you can send me a message and I'll email it to you or maybe Mike can post it up for us. Does anyone know the number of the patent that is cast onto one of the halves of the T-20 by any chance? If so could you post it up so I can find out some more information on it. All of my T-20's just say "patent applied for" since they must have been older units that were manufactured before the patent numbers were officially published.

[Mike]

Jeff, just email it to me and I will post it. Good stuff here!

[jpswift1]

Thanks guys. Mike, did you happen to notice any pattent numbers that were cast onto your T-20? Im still trying to locate the patent numbers so I can dig up some more info on it.

[Mike]

No, I didn't but I also didn't look that closely. I have a few pictures that I will go back through just to check.

[liflod]

I think I posted the patent # on Route 6x6 a few years ago. I'll have to dig through my archives to see if I have it anywhere. There is some really neat oddball stuff that never made it on the Patent web site.

One of the neat design features mentioned in the original patent is using each side of the transmission separately. You can make the thing as wide as you want to by making new covers for the internals and a longer input shaft or you can split it totally and drive each side independently. Something to think about. If you split them and drive them in the center from a chain mounted on a jackshaft with the clutch, you can actually center the engine in the machine. Using a jackshaft and a chain to drive the T-20 would allow you remove the transmission without dealing with a belt wrapped around it. Also, the mounting location of the engine and transmission would be more flexible.If you mounted the clutch between the T-20 halves, changing the belt would be a real pain in the...

[msafi65]

I was told a long time ago the t-20 originally designed far the millitary as a skid steer tank trainer. Havent been able to contact the guy that told me this. Patent # 3581600 was filed May 29,1969 and granted June 1,1971. John W Holdman listed as inventer Borg Warner Corp as assignee.I also found Borg Warner printad a news letter called the Gear-O-Gram. Page 8-11 Gear-o-Gram dated 1970-09-25,vol26, no.01 has more info. The Skid Steer unit had been in testing for at least 15 months at the printing.

[jpswift1]

Very cool information! The T-20 was in fact used in the Attex 8x8 tank trainer.......I believe it was around 1971 or 72. I bought one a couple years back then sold it to Hydromike, who then in turn really made it into a nice machine.