Steel wheels - Mennonite style

[RayP(MI)]

Visited a Mennonite farmer today, delivered a load of oats I grew on my farm. This sect of Mennonites farm with tractors, although they still travel by horse and buggy. His tractor, an older Case had steel wheels. Not the lug type we commonly associate with steel wheels... These were made of a ring of expanded steel, like the metal often found on gratings and decking. The diamond cutouts were probably 4" across, and the metal, probably 1/4" thick. They were approximately 1 foot wide. Asked him if he got good traction with them, and he kinda indicated they could do better. The metal was open to the back, and mud constantly dribbled down on the wheel disk, and axle. Really a mess! He also had a skid-steer loader. Wheels on that looked like the rim was covered with a rubber layer, onto which metal bars had been bolted. Seemed to work OK, flotation seemed good. I had seen other farmers in his neighborhood with smooth metal wheels, with cleats or bars, but these perforated metal wheels seemed quite novel!

 

[jd b puller]

Used to live in Ohio, had some of those types up that way as well. You'd see them out there, some with horses, some with tractors. All the tractors had steel wheels. They said they were "allowed" to use the tractors with steel wheels but not air filled. It was not allowed to "capture the air" in the tires.

I couldn't bear to tell him what that engine was doing to his air. Let's see, bring it in, hold it there for a split second, smash the crap out of it, then blow it up, then spit it out. Much better than capturing it in the tires, I guess.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Isn't it amazing, whatever mankind does with God's creation it seems to be able to handle it. Don't see any mutated chunks of air floating around. And water- it evaporates and leaves the sediment behind.

 

[Paul from MN]

My understanding regarding their use of steel wheels is that with steel wheels they would not be tempted to use the tractor for transportation.

 

[GeneMO]

We have a whole bunch of those folks just south of me in central MO. I never could quite figure out where in the Bible it specified they type of rear tractor tires you could use.

Funny what people will do in the name of religion.


Gene

 

[Mathias NY]

There are a bunch of them in the Finger-Lakes region of New York. My understanding is that they are not supposed to use anything that would be convenient, however the application of what that means seems relatively open to interpretation and varies by sect or even induvidual. Generally tractors will have heavy steel wheels, I have seen them use big articualted tractors with rubber tires but no seat. Most of them don't drive cars, although they can own them and ride in them. However, if the church is far away they may drive a car to church. Many can have phones, but no answering machine. It's interesting to see how they selectively adopt technology.

 

[Formerly PaMike]

The ones in my area are now getting cleaver. They have a steel wheel but they take the tread of the rubber tractor tire and bolt it on...
My amish neighbor has a skidloader but it has solid rubber tires so its "ok".

 

[Irv (Ia)]

I've alway wondered if the first question the Almighty is his infinite wisdom would ask them at the pearly gates is " Hey, ya didn't run any BF Goodrich's, did ya'"??. It just doesn't seem like it would be that important. I could be wrong, it's just an observation..

Irv*

 

[RayP(MI)]

Interestingly enough, his gravity box wagon, manure spreader, and a large planter were on rubber! I didn't get a chance to get a look in his other barns, these tools were outside.

 

[Pitch]

Here is a JD I saw. The picture is not the best.