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off topic: what do you all do

Yesterday's Tractor Forums
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young gun

Member
Kind of an off topic conversation but oh well, I"m bored at work. I know from reading posts that some of you guys are retired and some are machinists, but I was just curious to see what other varieties of people are into antique tractor pulling. What do you do for a living and how did you get into pulling?

I worked on a few farms as a teenager but other than that, being in tbe construction industry is far from being a professional engine mechanic lol. I did a lot of learning on my own but as for pulling I got interested at the ones held at our local fairs.

Thanks for sharing...

Dane
 
I build aircraft engines. I got my start living on the farm and playing with the old tractors. Been pulling since the age of 12. Ive had everything from stock garden tractors to highly modified ones. Antiques, Hot farm, now back to building a Hot antique. Just cant get rid of the pulling fever.
 
I'm the 5th generation on our family farm. We've been farming with Olivers since Great Gpa traded in the horses in 1936. He bought an Oliver
Hart/Parr 70 with "styled" tinware, 6 cyl engine, lights, fenders, mechanical lift, and electric start. The Deere, AC, and Farmall offerings were not even close to matching that. I've always thought Olivers were at the top in terms of engineering and workmanship. So my interest has expanded from the field to the pulling track.
 
I am a heavy equipment operator up here in Ontario Canada. I pull a ih super w6, and are building a farmall 560 for 8mph 5500 class. In the past I pulled a case dc4 and a ih 400
 
I am a Mechanical Engineer and I work for General Electric in the locomotive engine plant.
I grew up on a farm in W Pa, farming with Olivers, mostly because used ones were cheaper than comparible IH or JDs.
Watched pulls at the local fairs and started pulling the farm's tractors, put it on hold while going to school and raising a family, got back into when our youngest expressed an interest when she was 10. Been pulling antiques for 13 years this time.

Rich
 
I am retired now and helping my son farm a little. Lately I have been a trucker, just hauling grain. before that pulled a dry bulk tanker. Before that hauled diesel and gas. Back in the 60's was a Moline mechanic. Started pulling a U with a 423 motor. Kids came along and 3 wheelers and horses. Pulled a cub cadet and also a mini-rod with a 327 chevy. Stoped pulling for almost 20 yrs. started again with my son and a 366 in WC Allis. Looking at a big sleeve and piston now while I type this for a Jumbo with a Chrysler. For my son, he wants to go fast! Always farmed a little. Vic
 
Owner operator truck driver been tractor pulling over 20 yrs. Grew up around farming to not enough to make a living.
 
Super 6, what part of the province are you from? I organize a pull at our local fair. A year ago we started up an 8 mph "non stock" class. First year was kind of slow. Would love to get a few more 8 mph tractors out.
 
I'm a construction and industrial electrician. I've built new buildings, renovated old ones, worked maintenance in industrial factories, buy now find myself settled in a traffic signal construction and maintenance position. Its outside and i get to go somewhere a little different each day.

I got into pulling about 10 years ago after watching the antique pulls at a local show for a few years. My first tractor was a super W6 bought off a local farm.
 
How's you get a great job like that? I had to take up dancing after corn dropped to $4.00 to support my farming, cattle ,mechanical work and my 29 year pulling habit.
 
I work in the precision ag/data management field for a John Deere dealer in Tennessee. Graduated college a couple years ago then started doing this. Been pulling about 12 years. This is a cool thread, lets keep it going.
 
I am a machinist for caterpillar by night, and I farm with my dad during the day. Started pulling on grandpas super M 19 years ago. Currently pulling a Case 900 and building a 10000 pound farm stock Case 1030. Grandpa farmed with case tractors and now we pull case and farm with Case IH.
 
I lived on a dairy farm growing up....I took auto body in boces(votech school)during this time I was tinkering with sleds and atv's and worked at BJ's wholesale club installing tires......I then went to wyo tech for autobody I also took trim and uphostry..... I work in a body shop for about a year and got offered a job were I am now at haun welding supply.....I always loved fabercation work....I always leaned tords machinist work so the last couple years I ben buying a machine at a time....everything is paid for in my shop.....I bought good used machinery...(there is a ton of it out there at really good prices) I ben pulling tractors since I was 16.......I am 34 old that enjoys pulling tractors and making new friends....
Kelly
 
I'm an industrial mechanic by occupation, a jack of all trades by necessity. I owe any mechanical knowledge I have and my love of pulling to my older brother. I've been pulling my Massey 44 for 16 years.

Mark G.
 
Retired Ironworker, started going to pulls 25 years ago, and bought my first pulling tractor 5 years ago -- got the bug and bought 3 more -- never looked back , just like to get out and have fun !!
 
I am a supervisor for a large masonry contractor.I grew up in northeast Pa. around oliver tractors. I started pulling olivers about 18 years ago. My son works as a machinist and he has joined me pulling as well. We have a small work shop and do most of our own work. we recently purchased Bridgeport mill (thanks Kelly Baldwin!). great off topic question, Lets keep it going! think spring, Doug
 
Farmed ever since I have been big enough to work,Growed tobacco, vegtables and cattle,worked and managed tobacco warehouses and did mechanic work as a have to ,to keep the farm stuff working.Started pulling a stock B John Deere around 93,94 when most tractors in our area was stock.Now retired due to health reasons but still tinker in the shop on pulling tractors when I feel like it.I've built several John Deere's for myself and others.I was raised on a John Deere 39B 35D 52G bought in 64 and a 420 crawler dad bought new in 1957[still have the G and the 420]just love the sound of a Two Cylinder,just can't hear them as good as I use to.
 
I was a pipefitter welder then I got certified for welding inspection now i tinker on motorcycles and sell enclosed trailers my dad and uncles all started pulling when they retired i caught the bug and now I am in the process of getting an Oliver 77
 
Alloy wheel repair and custom polishing. I grew up on a dairy farm, dad used oliver tractors. Still have grandpa's oliver 60.
 
Little village called Feversham. About 20 min south west of Collingwood. 20 min north west of shelburne. 1 hr east of Hanover. 4 mph, and new last year 8 mph.
 
Doug,
Not a problem...I am glad I found you one....I knew the history of it, and it was a steel at that price......Wil will have great use of it and will benefit both of you.......I need to get mine finished and the rest of it all wired up....LOL .Enjoyed the day you spent up here visiting in my shop......glad to help at buddy ;)
Kelly
 
I have a degree in mechanical engineering but don't do much design work anymore. I just finished almost 9yrs at Daimler Trucks (Freightliner). While I was there I did the final design for the 2009 and newer Coronado grille, bezel, hood ornament and associated parts. After that I was responsible for a CAD development group and we were migrating to a new CAD system when I left. Our family business is called UniMeasure and manufacture position sensors. I do mostly sales, operations and HR work now as I am better at it than engineering. I am also a certified auctioneer, have done professional speaking, and wrote The Antique Tractor Pull Guide book series. Yes, I like to keep busy! I have pulled for 22yrs and lately have been representing for the few and far between Massey Harris tractors, although the bulk of our tractor collection is MM. My latest project is a big engine in a 101 Senior. Stay tuned.

Zack
The Antique Tractor Pull Guide
 
I own and operate a Dairy and crop farm in Central PA, and operate it with the help of my parents and uncles. I grew up with it my whole life, and can't imagine anything different. I also teach High School Agriculture. I milk before and after school just about every day, and do whatever else needs done on weekends and summer. Hope to get to it full time in the next few years.

Our big tractors were always Case growing up (930, 970, 1070), and we had some Farmalls around for wagon hauling, etc.. We started pulling over 20 years ago with the farm's Super M, and have stayed mostly Farmall with our pulling fleet except for my Case CC.
 
thanks for sharing everyone. Btw I am 24, been pulling mostly stock since I was 15. I am a mobile crane operator, both large hydraulic and lattice boom crawler. Working on my second deere build currently. From south central PA.
 
I play the banjo for a local dancer(click below) and got hooked on old JD's my uncle farmed with. Always loved the sound of the 2 big cylinders (Harleys too) lugging like they know what they"re doing. Before the dancer gig, I was a banjo builder, cowboy, ranch manager, miner, blaster (still am) and owner of an excavating company. Life is good.
playin for the dancer
 
Worked on my uncles dry land farm in south central Kansas every summer from the 7th grade until I was a sophomore in college. Loved every minute of it. Got a degree in industrial arts and went to work for a company the makes high end hydraulic cylinders as a draftsmen. Now run the inside sales dept. and traffic manager. Walked away from 40 years of drag racing cold turkey and had to have a new hobby. A fellow racer got me started in antique pulling and have been doing for 4 years now. Also I am working on restoring my 3rd 66 Ford mustang.
 
Doing good. Working on a growing family. No.2 will be here soon. I think your away at another pull the weekend of Feversham? If you ever want to try something different, come on out. Just a fun, good time at a fair pull. Rumor is there's gonna be a new pull Fri may 30 in Owen Sound. No details yet.
 
I pull olivers and a 60 JD with my father and two kids. My girl been on the 60 since she was 10 and my son on the 88s, dad is a retired chemical operator and Mayor of our fine city; and I work for the Il Dept of Corrections in varied capacities including Officer, Locksmith, and Maint. We have never farmed. We just love the antique tractors, competition, and family fun. Curt and Ken
Vanessa and Nathan Smith. Marshall IL
 
Im glad everything is going well congrats on number 2 coming soon. The 560 motor is in pieces on the shop floor now. I was planning on coming up there this year to play around, if the motor is finished. Between work and the family I don't seem to get a lot done on it. Any more projects in your shop this winter
 
I am the manager of a midget freak circus.....lol

Actually I work for a NASA contractor. We design, assemble and test products used on the space station. Attention to detail is crucial in my line of work.
 
Farm, raise cattle,buy and sell nice equiptment.I like 1456/1206/1466 and the 69/72 20 series green tractors.2520s to 4320.Still pull a pickup in local pulls and liked everything better when you just ran what you had and farmed with it the next day.
 
Grew up in a farm using 2 cyl. JDs and a few outcast red tractors. Studied electronics in tech school, went from TV repair to appliances, to Telephone Technician for local telephone co.

Just to fill in the spaces got my class A CDL a few years ago and drive for a farmer and local fertilizer co. part time.

Started pulling with one of the farm"s JD A tractors about 6 years ago. Have pulled a B and the farmall MTA, but like the old A best.

Rode a Harly FLTCHU for a few years and just seem to be drawn to the 2 cylinder advantage!
 
I work at a nuclear power plant and a 3rd generation puller. Family has always farmed but the volatile livestock prices isn't stable enough for me.
 
Aircraft mechanic by trade. Also operate a heavy landscaping business on the side. Have always had tractors, when my father retired we got into pulling.

Cory McCracken
 
I work as a Mechanical Designer (CAD) for Denso Mfg. in Battle Creek, Michigan designing nd modifying jigs and machines for the production of radiators, condensors, evaporators, and HVAC/ECM assemblies. I grew up with a few horses, hay, and a love of old stuff, including M-M tractors. Dad had them and Grandad had them. I was coaxed into pulling, elected to secretary of my local club, helped form "The Michigan Shootout" event, and put it on for the 7th year. For a short time a friend and I sold fiberglass pulling parts as well as old tires, wheels, and M-M parts. I've since walked away from much of it with the intention of creating a large Michigan pull for 2015 or 2016 if economic conditions are favorable for such. Meanwhile, I have about half a dozen mild pulling tractors to get running. Thanks for the post. It's great to take a peek into what everyone does for a living.
 
Im 28 and I'm a Industrial engineer for a company that makes headlights. I grew up on our family farm where may Grandfather has a antique tractor salvage yard. I went to school first to be a machinist, and worked as one for 3 years as i finished that school then went on to SIU for my engineering degree. My Dad and uncle pulled 2 M's a 77 oliver and a U moline 15-20 years ago. Ive been slowly working my way into it the last 4 years builiding up the old 77, and i mean slowly. Been learning alot and have gained some very useful knoledge from Gary Baker, and hope to work with him more in the future to finish my 77 and build my dad (steve il) a M. Things may come to a hault for a while with the expected arrival of my first son on April 22! Great to hear what everyone does!
 
Semi retired with a hobby farm. Have done some amateur theater. The School Master in a Christmas Carol was a favourite role.
Used to work on electrical and control system for PHWR's .Was also a Fire Captain and radiological Green man. Still work in the industry.
 
level 4 nuclear maintenance fin technician . Got into pulling from other nuclear maintenance technicians that do. Nuclear power pullers ! :wink: half owner of machine shop just to support hobbies.
 
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