pulling tips

[ziemerj]

I'm fairly new to the sport of tractor
pulling and pulled in a few this past
summer and had a blast. I'd like to work
on building a tractor strictly for pulling
this winter. I haven't bought another
tractor yet. But it will be some kind of
diesel. What kind of things should I look
for when it comes to the engine? Are there
other things that I should look for when
buying a tractor.

 

[VicS]

Buy the lightest model with the biggest motor. What brand and model are you leaning towards?

 

[mattwillson]

my local MF dealer told me this morning that my 180 should work in the 5500 and up classes, now that would would be kinda nifty. until then, i m stickin with the turbocharge M.

 

[north puller]

Find something that has, our can easily have 38" back wheels. Preferably 9 bolt hubs.

 

[ziemerj]

I'm not real sure I'd like to find a John Deere something along the lines of a 4020. I know where there's a international 560 for sale for a reasonable price but still can't make up my mind.

 

[VicS]

I am a JD kind of a guy but. The 560 is probably a better option. I think a 460 would be better yet. You can take everything off a 460 and put a 301 engine in it from a 503 combine.and be competitive in the Antique classes. Or step on up to a 501 RD engine. Or a DT466 All these engines will bolt in to a 460-560. So you can pull Antique or Hot Farm. Vic

 

[VicS]

O forgot to add. They are crushing old state trucks now. So you can find a DT466 with a inline pump for practically nothing. In the Antique classes a 460-560 with a 466 with turbo taken off is competitive also. Vic

 

[Robert Major]

Hi
I would buy a tractor with a strong backend/ gearbox, some makes/ models had bad reputations, for weaknesses working in the field standard.

Try to Find something that parts are easy to find used. There is nothing worse than phoning 20 wreckers for used parts, only to find every tractor has that part bad, and new is $2000 from a dealer, If they can get it!.

Also with a diesel pick something you can get parts for cheap if it breaks, and maybe something guys have used a lot in pulling and tuned up before.
There will be guys that know what to do with them. Also there is a greater possibly of off the shelf parts around when you get bored , and want higher gears and more power for better classes!. One off custom stuff for motors is expensive and might not work like guys thought.
Regards Robert

 

[PretendFarmer]

I'd love to pull with a 560.

 

[johns]

Do you want to pull 4500-5500# or 6500# and up? You'd have a hard time getting a 70/720/730 diesel below 6500# and to my knowledge JD never made anything smaller in a diesel rowcrop except a 435. A 560D would be a good choice for 6500-up. The Roosa pump is easy to upgrade, along with injectors from a 656IH and/or a 301 out of a 715 combine. For lighter classes a 77,88-880 Oliver are cheap and easy to make competitive.

 

[toolz]

Your gonna have to settle in on a class (or classes) that you want to pull in. The antique groups I"ve pulled with won"t allow anything newer than "58 or "59 tractors to compete, so a 2nd gen JD won"t work. Pick the classes and find out what the rules are in your area, then see what"s winning. If your not using a turbo, you need all the cubic inches you can get. A 560 IH is a great platform for a lot of classes, but stock, not a very big engine. Just look around and ask questions, and you"ll find what makes you happy.

 

[1965lonewolf]

Whats your limit on buying a tractor ? You know as soon as you buy something you will have to spend money right away , try to buy something already done and it"ll save you alot of $$$ in the long run

 

[PretendFarmer]

Another thing to consider, and this is defintely something one might debate with me, is getting a low geared tractor. My club speed limit on stock classes is 3mph. Now, noone is out there with radar but we know whats excessive speed and what isnt. If your looking to pull in such a class as I do, would look for a tractor with a low gear option. If you pull in 3mph or less classes, low gears (with a good tire to ground hookup) typically dominate. It's very evident, as my farmall H doesn't power out when all the others do.
If your looking to do enhanced classes, then its a whole different story as in my club, there is no speed limit in the enhanced class.

 

[blue924.9]

(quoted from post at 12:29:37 09/23/13) Another thing to consider, and this is defintely something one might debate with me, is getting a low geared tractor. My club speed limit on stock classes is 3mph. Now, noone is out there with radar but we know whats excessive speed and what isnt. If your looking to pull in such a class as I do, would look for a tractor with a low gear option. If you pull in 3mph or less classes, low gears (with a good tire to ground hookup) typically dominate. It's very evident, as my farmall H doesn't power out when all the others do.
If your looking to do enhanced classes, then its a whole different story as in my club, there is no speed limit in the enhanced class.

what weight classes do you pull and what has been done to this farmall H. also to the op, find something that you can get lighter semi easily. D19s or D21s (for the bigger classes) do excellent, also if you can use a TA or something along those lines, find a tractor with it, and figure out how to use it right. as it will help tremendously

 

[blue924.9]

(quoted from post at 12:29:37 09/23/13) Another thing to consider, and this is defintely something one might debate with me, is getting a low geared tractor. My club speed limit on stock classes is 3mph. Now, noone is out there with radar but we know whats excessive speed and what isnt. If your looking to pull in such a class as I do, would look for a tractor with a low gear option. If you pull in 3mph or less classes, low gears (with a good tire to ground hookup) typically dominate. It's very evident, as my farmall H doesn't power out when all the others do.
If your looking to do enhanced classes, then its a whole different story as in my club, there is no speed limit in the enhanced class.

what weight classes do you pull and what has been done to this farmall H. also to the op, find something that you can get lighter semi easily. D19s or D21s (for the bigger classes) do excellent, also if you can use a TA or something along those lines, find a tractor with it, and figure out how to use it right. as it will help tremendously

 

[PretendFarmer]

(reply to post at 14:04:37 09/24/13)

My H is bone stock, rebuilt with firecrater pistons. It has a low gear option. I pull 4500#-6500# class, 3mph or slower and have pulled 8000lbs. Both transfer sled and stone boat.

 

[blue924.9]

My H is bone stock, rebuilt with firecrater pistons. It has a low gear option. I pull 4500#-6500# class, 3mph or slower and have pulled 8000lbs. Both transfer sled and stone boat.[/quote]

why would you pull 8000 in a stock tractor?

 

[PretendFarmer]

Cause it can, and does do it.