garden tractor pulling

[JRSutton]

I realize this discussion group is probably geared more towards "real" tractors, but...

My kids are in 4H, and we're at a lot of local fairs. My 13 year old son has taken a serious interest in the garden tractor pulls he's seen at many of the fairs.

I have a little john deer 13hp lawn tractor in the yard that he's been tinkering with and I know what he has in mind. But I really think that thing's just going to frustrate him.

I hear that the old cub cadets are a better way to go, but I'm not sure why that is, or which models are better.

I'm considering buying something for him, nothing crazy, something cheap that he can fix up. But every time I search, I come up with so many different model numbers. There seems to be an endless number of models.

I assume higher horsepower is probably the first thing I should look for?

Are there any other features I should be looking for? Is there a particular model that is better than others?

Are there other brands that are equally good for pulling?

I'm a farmall guy, he'd probably think it's neat to have an international harvester of his own... (but of course, he might like something different for the same reason)

Any advice I could get would be greatly appreciated.

Cost is a big factor. I'm hoping to find something under 500, and the more "under" the better. (I expect to help him fix whatever it needs) Thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

Check with the local club on rules first. When it comes to garden tractors many times classes are divided by weight and also the HP the block/motor started with 10, 12, 14, etc... I would suggest staying in the 12 hp class, lots of cadets around and easy for parts, get a gear drive, weld up the rearend into a posi, and do some minor carb work and he will have something to "start" with.

On the other hand, if the rules are lax, its hard to beat a old Power King for weight/pulling power. Those things would drag a small house!

Like anything else the garden pullers have lots of money tied up most guys have around 50-75hp out of a 12-14 hp block. So keep try to remember its all about fun, and that good balance with fair power can go a long way!

 

[JRSutton]

Those powerkings are pretty cool looking little tractors. I've seen a few of them around, never know what they were though. did a quick search, they seem a little pricey, but I'm glad I at least know what they are now anyway.

Thanks.

 

[MH49]

About any Cub model will work as a puller. However I would not recommend an 'original' (belt drive) and any post MTD buyout cub. Also, 8-speed Wheel Horse tractors work well.

 

[Super Trucker]

My 7yr pulls garden tractors and most of the time you see 3 brands 1 CUBS 2 SIMPLICITY 3 OLD SEARS SUBURBANS 12 they have a hi/lo trans. Look for a KHOLER 12 model K . Turn the rpms up to limit and sit back and laugh your a!@ off. We run a Simplicity Broadmore from the mid 60's as it was given to us by the boy's great grandparents who are gone now. I sit and laugh when I see him pull what his great grandparents would think seeing it wheels up and goning for broke!

 

[Eddie Ward]

Go to Midwest Super Cub's web site and you will see why cub cadet is the way to go. There are alot of aftermarket parts. If you club has a belt drive class, the old sears with the high and low rearend works well too. Biggest thing to understand is that alot of these guys have tens of thousands of dollars in them and are making 10 time the stock horsepower.

 

[bobidan]

any gear drive cub cadet will work you want the even numbers 100,104,126,1200,etc if you want to go the belt route a wheelhorse is hard to beat with the hi-lo trans be glad to talk with you more in depth if you want to just email me

 

[Twin Tracks Mom]

Garden Tractor pulling would be a great experience for you and your son. My oldest son started pulling when he was 11 years old the tractor looked like a piece of junk as I put it when him and his father and little brother brought it home. Our family pulls cub cadets. We went from one that people called junk yard
pullers. So start slow and steady. We know have five. Single and Twin garden Tractors. My sons are know 24 and 22 years old and our daughter is 26 she also pulls when she can. When they go done that track whether they are on there garden tractors or antique tractors you will know that pulling has helped your family stay close. And they also have a pulling family.

 

[VicS]

We Garden tractor pulled back in the 70"s. Started with a 10 hp 100 Cub Cadet. Even built our own sled. The fast ones are running billet engines! If I was starting out from scratch, I would go to a few pulls and buy a Cub Cadet that was already being pulled. Will be cheaper than you can build one. But not as much fun! Vic

 

[cmickgo]

My vote is the sears with the hi-lo trans if you are staying close to stock HP. Light tractor so you can balance it and a lot of speed choices. The cubs are strong when souped up because of the plate style clutch. Our family pulled and won with sears for many years.

 

[JRSutton]

Thank you all for your great responses.

The more I look into this, the more I realize it's a pretty big thing. People take it more seriously than I thought. Which is great.

We never considered pulling with the bigger tractors since we're always carting cows and goats around to the fairs, it'd be impossible to do both. But a lawn tractor could be squeezed in like another cow.

I hope my son sticks with it, looks like a lot of fun.

... might end up with TWO little tractors!