Time would prove that Leyland’s 285 and 2100 were not without their problems, but fitting a six-cylinder engine was proof that the company was prepared to take the fight to its competitors. Today, these models and their four-wheel drive siblings are icons of the 1970s and prized by collectors. Chris McCullough meets a Leyland enthusiast with a passion for the 2100.
Built from 1972-78, the Leyland 285 and 2100 were unique for a number of reasons and very few examples of the models exist today. Boasting 85hp and 100hp respectively, the tractors were powered by Leyland’s 5.65-litre six-cylinder engine, which was also used in commercial vehicles too.
Using an engine perhaps better suited to commercial vehicles presented a number of challenges for the manufacturer when fitting it to tractors. The chassis had to be long enough to hold the engine and the exhaust system was designed to suit and ended up being channelled under the engine and up the rear of the cab. Plus, due to the fact that there was no longer space for a fuel tank at the front of the tractor, a rear-mounted tank was designed to fit around the cab.
The Leyland 6/98 NT-powered 2100, in particular, was a powerful tractor in its day and could manage speeds of up to 20mph with its 10 forward and two reverse transmission. The 285 used the Leyland 6/98 DT engine – where the ‘D’ signified a de-rated engine.
The problem associated with both the 285 and 2100 is that the design is fundamentally flawed. As individual elements, the engine and transmission are good – but they don’t work well together. The relationship between the rubber mounted engine and the clutch wasn’t properly thought out and as the engine mountings wore, the engine and clutch became misaligned and this resulted in clutch failure, sometimes in spectacular fashion!
When fitting new rubber mountings, shims had to be inserted to align the engine and clutch correctly and prevent further failure, although some owners reported recurring problems throughout their tractor’s working life.
This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Tractor & Machinery.
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This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Tractor & Machinery.
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