Competitive Tractor Pulling

[Jeff Higgins]

Has some pretty impressive machinery, what with multi-engined gas and diesel rigs, and even some gas turbines. All kinds of noise and commotion, spinning tires, smoke, and all of that. But, I guess when they really need to just move the sled around, they break out the real tractor and git 'er done...

[ckelly78z]

With the duals, and the full cab of the pulling tractor, that rig weighs about #25,000, while a super modified pulling tractor weighs about #6500-8000.

https://www.sdstate.edu/south-dakota-agricultural-heritage-museum/1915-j-i-case-steam-engine-65-hp#:~:text=Steam%20engines%20also%20powered%20many ,without%20water%20is%2020%2C600%20pounds.

[Evans, Marv]

I actually remember a big steam engine tractor (?) being used by my grandfather in Illinois when I was no more than a few years old. I think a lot of neighbors & workers got together to do some kind of harvesting. I remember the thing was big & black and was hooked to another piece of equipment via a huge, long belt that was (I guess) driviing the other machine that was stationary. I don't remember what the other machine was doing.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Has some pretty impressive machinery, what with multi-engined gas and diesel rigs, and even some gas turbines. All kinds of noise and commotion, spinning tires, smoke, and all of that. But, I guess when they really need to just move the sled around, they break out the real tractor and git 'er done...

Too funny, I just watched this in the last day or two.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That’s awesome. There are few things cooler than heavy equipment.

[mjohnson]

Totally minor league in comparison but Lakewood CO has a historic farm/park in the old orchards. They do a "harvest-days" festival every year (but this one of course) with a tractor pull featuring really old diesel and even steam tractors. So very cool and everyone is super friendly, letting kids sit on them and everything.

They also had a big tractor/PTO driven sawmill for demonstrations featuring all of the safety gear you'd expect in the 1910s.

That weekend is also one of the big-time pumpkin shooting events in Aurora, for your 'mericuh! double header.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

With the duals, and the full cab of the pulling tractor, that rig weighs about #25,000, while a super modified pulling tractor weighs about #6500-8000.

https://www.sdstate.edu/south-dakota-agricultural-heritage-museum/1915-j-i-case-steam-engine-65-hp#:~:text=Steam%20engines%20also%20powered%20many ,without%20water%20is%2020%2C600%20pounds.

It's actually darn near double that. From the description on Youtube:

Some information about the engine from the owner Josh Maschhoff: "We run at 150 psi.
The Engine weighs around 42500lbs loaded with coal and water.
Torque is 3000 ft lbs at 240 rpm

Originally Posted by Ayles

Too funny, I just watched this in the last day or two.

Yup, I bet it popped up in a lot of folks' recommended lists if they watch a lot of gearhead stuff. I do like how Youtube seems to find the odd and esoteric stuff like this. Someone is writing some pretty good algorithms... Which I don't mind, since it succeeds in directing me to things that interest me. Like Sherman tanks with radial engines:

[mattdavis11]

Full pull! Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to crank up the 80, drop it in low and lock the center differential.

[Eric 951]

Used to go the the sanctioned pulls when they would tour (truck/tractor). Still remember some of the more popular rigs
Gone AWOL--army Kaiser/Jeep PU
OLD Iron--427 -powered late 70's ford
Orange Blossom Special--30's Chevy
Green Monster--jet powered tractor
Mountain dew--El camino-based rig

There were some crazy multiple-engine tractors--some with driver out front, some with driver in rear--when one of those motors blew--it was quite a show.

Plus--as an extra attraction--Bigfoot (truck not the monster)

[asphaltgambler]

Those large steam tractors are referred to as Prairie Tractors. Because of their size, weight and HP rating they could only be efficient pulling large or multiple large implements over many acres. While this is impressive, Case made a larger version a '150' and there is one on UT, restored pulling a 36 bottom plow........36. Unbelievable.

[unclebilly]

As a kid, I remember going to an indoor truck and track for pull and thought it was pretty cool. I was at an antique tractor pull in 2000 and asked if I could enter with my 91-1/2 dodge diesel that I had back then. They would let me. Fast forward a year, and there was a big truck and tractor pull in a nearby town, they were looking for ‘stock trucks’ or was it tuff trucks to enter. I signed up.

A close friend of mine had an uncle that used to have a super modified tractor pulling ‘rig’ so I called him for advice. Being a stock truck meant that there were no class rules, no weight requirements, nothing. His advice was to hang as much weight off the front as I could, (‘Fill the cab with bolts’ was a quote from that conversation), block the rear suspension, and shut it down as soon as it starts to bounce. He suggested 2nd gear which was a mistake. The one rule we had was hitch height could not exceed 30”. I brought along a second set of baldish mudder wheels and tires and tire chains that I considered using (against everyone’s advice). I built a custom hitch out of heavy wall 2” tubing and gussets with a hitch height of 28” (this was to allow for the bigger tires if I decided to switch).

I remember pulling in there with my truck and hanging 700 lbs of tractor weights off the front bumper, blocking up the rear suspension with some blocks I had made at work that were held to the rear springs with vice grips.

The first day, I came in second place because my gear choice was too high and I couldn’t get the turbo to spool up. I could have done a repull but didn’t.

The second day, I did damn near a full pull and won the whole event. Our ‘points’ were the aggregate of both days pulls.

I also drove to and from the town the event was at both days, many of the other stock trucks broke or weren’t stock or road legal.

If I can find a photo of the truck, I will post it. I still have the competitors shirt and trophy...

[GH85Carrera]

The torque of steam is just had to fathom. And from my understanding they throw sawdust in the fires to make all the sparks, so the sparks are just for show. He could drag that sled all the way home if he wanted.

[Ayles]

[asphaltgambler]

^^^^That's it^^^^

[GH85Carrera]

That Case 150 is really cool. Impressive that they built one from scratch from just the blueprints.



Jay Leno has the coolest toys. He has this set up to run on compressed air if he just wants to move it around since firing up a steam engine inside his garage is not a real good idea. He gets it outside and fires it up. Pretty cool.

[pavulon]

The local steam show. This isn't representative of this mill's capabilities as they routinely run 3 ft diameter oak logs through it. The tractors shudder as they strain against that belt. Amazing.



Also at the show are assorted steam engines used to power different implements such as oil jack pumps. Apparently, those engines run continuously for years as long as they have water, lubrication and fuel source. Nuts!

[asphaltgambler]

There are several steam shows like that near my area but unfortunately were canceled this past summer because of Covid

[Rednine11]

I work a little with steam engines. I have a Stuart Double 10 vertical twin cylinder Steam powered marine engine.