Kaelble R
1 model in this series
Kälble R 18 – single-cylinder diesel with evaporative cooling, 1.84-litre displacement, 18 hp and a weight of 1,800 kg, from the post-war era (1946–1952).
Kälble is a German vehicle manufacturer based in Backnang, best known for heavy trucks and tippers. In the first post-war years the company also built smaller farm tractors, such as the R series, to which the R 18 belongs, produced between 1946 and 1952.
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The R 18 is powered by a single-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 1,840 cm³, running on evaporative cooling instead of a radiator with a water pump. It delivers 18 hp, or 13.3 kW, at 1,500 rpm. With a weight of 1,800 kg, a wheelbase of 1,500 mm and a width of 1,480 mm, the tractor, at 2,600 mm long and 1,500 mm tall, is compactly built, with a top speed of 19 km/h.
Evaporative cooling was common in simple single-cylinder diesels in the immediate post-war years, as it needs no water pump, radiator or fan, making it robust and low-maintenance, at the cost of build height and water consumption. Tractors of this design were built for smallholder farming during the reconstruction years, with simple mechanics and a low weight suited to heavy soils where modern draught machinery was not available.
When buying a used R 18, the condition of the coolant tank and the steam pipe is critical, since leaks in an evaporative cooling system quickly lead to engine damage. The single-cylinder engine should be checked for compression and bearing play, and the clutch for wear. Spare parts for this early series are today mostly only available through specialist vintage-vehicle parts dealers.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Kälble R 18
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