Percentage pull tips/advice

[johns]

Hey guys, I pull an Oliver Super 77 in farm stock classes from 4,500 up to 6,500. There are a few pulls in my area that are going to percentage pulls in farm stock. Two classes, one 4,501-6,500 and 6,501-8,500. Without any other changes to my tractor, should I run 4,500 or should I weigh it up closer to 6,500? Would I have a better chance weighing somewhere in the middle? I have plenty of power, tractor usually spins out. Engine is mostly stock and I run 14.9x38 Firestone ATFR tires at 10 psi. I'm new to this percentage class any advice is appreciated.
John

 

[Anonymous-0]

Ive been pulling percentage several years now. im no expert but unless you have a dominating tractor usually the winner comes from tne top half 45-65 class 55up does best. not always

 

[GoodYears]

The secret to percentage pulls is to load the engine. If your spinning out easily, go up a gear and throttle back as much as you can while still moving the sled. In my experiences, lighter tractors have a huge advantage since they have to pull much less to achieve a higher percentage. ie...4500lb tractor pulling 9000lbs.=200%, 6500lb would have to pull 13000lbs. to get 200%.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Where i pull you have to pull low gear and be full throttle at 75 feet.

 

[GoodYears]

That does change things, huh? We pull whatever gear you want, strictly percentage based on the weight of the tractor. We have two attempts to pull the sled 10'

 

[41106]

I would double check your rules. Full throttle and 1st gear a 75 feet sounds like transfer sled to me.

 

[counterclockwise]

We do a lot of % pulling and it seems like lighter is better. As others have said, load the engine. Second gear with the engine working will get the sled pulled better than spinning out easily in first. It also matters how much weight is added for each hook. Jumping 10% each hook is different than 15 or 20. A Super 77 should do well anywhere below 6000 lb.(Unless it is really supered!)

 

[The Dukester]

Best I ever did at deadweight sled percentage pulling was with my '48 JD A that has pressed steel rear wheels and one set of weights, pulled 211% at 5000 lbs. Engine is stock with .045 overbore (just an overhaul, has factory cast pistons). Used 13.6 Firestone ATF's with 8-9 lbs. pressure. Was sure lucky, engine just about stalled in low, but "hung on" on winning pull. I've never done better...even with my 65 HP JD G...which does much better on the weight transfer sleds....A just doesn't have enough power...G has plenty for div. I 6500 and 7500 classes.

 

[RandyB(MI)]

First off , I have never pulled % pulls. That being said , I would think that you would still need to have enough traction to get at least 98% of the weight off the front wheels and transfered to the rears. If that requiers added weight to the rear then I would think that you would be wise to add just enough to get the front to "bob". That would be your ideal "tractor" weight. Then decide what gear / throttle to use. I may be missing something here but I don't believe you will do well unless you can get ALL the tractor weight on the rears. There are a lot of tractors on a "hard" track that will not achieve this without weight added to rear. So in other words I can't just take my JD B out on a hard track and leave it at shipping weight. I do not think it would transfer enough weight to bob the front without at least some added weight. I'm just saying that you need "enough" weight to do this. Just saying to keep it as light as possible , is not a recipe for winning. These are just my observations as I have never pulled % but plan to this summer. I welcome any and all add their experienced views and/or tell me I'm completely full of $hit. That's how we learn. I am all ears.

 

[johns]

Thanks guys for all the replys.

 

[F-350]

You want to be the lightest tractor in your class.When I pulled the 5500-6500 class I weighed 5510 and often won.When I pulled the over 6500 class I weighed 6510 and often won.We could pull 1st gear only.