Threshing Machine Towing

[Duane Sargent]

Hi. I've got a threshing machine I have to move about 15 miles to my farm. It's a late style Goodison on a very heavy frame. I was wondering if my old Case 530 would be up to the job. There's one fairly big hill and a few very small ones in between. Everyone's advising against it as the 530 is a pretty light unit. What do you guys think?
 

[fixerupper]

This summer after our threshing show I pulled the separators out of the field with my SC Case so the guys could put them away. One of the separators was a big old Aultman ( I think) double feeder on steel that had rocked itself into a hole. It's tongue was so heavy I couldn't hardly lift it. The SC pulled it out but it was spinning and digging. Once the separator was out of the hole it pulled fine.

Is yours on rubber tires? That'll pull easier. If you're pulling it on gravel your traction will suffer. The more I think about it the more I'm inclined to advise you to get a heavier tractor. If you get 3/4 the way up the big hill and spin out and it starts dragging you backward you're in trouble. BTDT!!!! It's a helpless feeling. Jim
 

[Duane Sargent]

Thanks! I'm still not quite sure what to do. It's on rubber and the roads are paved all the way. I'm inclined to give it a shot and see how it goes.
 

[j hikemper]

take it home with that 530,and have a beer along the way ///,my god ,, how in the world do you think the oldtimers moved the thresher ?/ wc allis , a jd , rc cases,
 

[fixerupper]

If the roads are paved you're good to go. Jim
 

[Duane Sargent]

Thanks everyone! You've confirmed my belief that I'll be fine. I've moved our old McCormick thresher around a lot with our old Fordson Major without even thinking about it, but people got me worried about this move.
 

[ss55]

Dry paved roads should give you plenty of traction. Stopping will be your biggest problem. Down-shift as needed going up the hills, throttle back at the top of the hills and don't try to go down a hill in a higher gear than it takes to climb that hill. Runaways are a dangerous ride. If your tractor's brakes are not in top condition, or if there is an intersection on a down-hill run, consider down-shifting one more gear before going downhill with a very heavy load pushing you.

Check the tresher's tires and air them up. Maybe jack up the tresher's wheels, lube the wheel bearings or wheel bushings and make sure they spin smoothly before starting out on the road. It may have been 50 or 60 years since those wheel bearings were last checked.

A chase vehicle with the emergency flashers turned on would be a safe idea.
 

[cd1]

Here is what I think, If you have to get on the internet and ask a question like this it shows you do not have a ton of personal experience. So do everyone sharing the road with you a favor and find someone, a friend, guy down the road, whoever, that has been around things like this before and can give you a hand making sure the job is done safely. Honestly if you have a 1/2 ton or bigger pickup I'd just use that to tow it.
 

[d beatty]

Just an idea if you think you might have trouble going down the steep hill you could get somebody with a 3/4 ton pickup with heavy duty tow hooks and a 4 inch tow strap and hook to back of threshing machine and help you brake on the way down.
 

[1206SWMO]

Go for it....Just take your time and have someone follow you with their flashers on..If you have a couple of weights put them on the tractors 3pt..

For years my Dad pulled an A-6 Case pull type combine with a 1947 8N Ford tractor...The combine outweighed the tractor but he made it work..