Tractor advances

[Charlie M]

The latest issue of Ageless Iron mentioned the latest John Deere Tractor has 850 horsepower and then mentioned the first Waterloo Boy tractors JD made were 25 horsepower. Tractors have sure come a long way since the 1920's. I'm sure every other manufacturer has a similar story. I've read stories where early 25- 30 horse tractors didn't sell well for a few years because they were considered too big. Now it doesn't seem like they can make them big enough. I'd love to drive one of the big ones but I sure don't want to pay for one of the big ones. I guess I will have to keep my Farmall M a few more years. LOL

 

[Texgasser1]

The latest issue of Ageless Iron mentioned the latest John Deere Tractor has 850 horsepower and then mentioned the first Waterloo Boy tractors JD made were 25 horsepower. Tractors have sure come a long way since the 1920's. I'm sure every other manufacturer has a similar story. I've read stories where early 25- 30 horse tractors didn't sell well for a few years because they were considered too big. Now it doesn't seem like they can make them big enough. I'd love to drive one of the big ones but I sure don't want to pay for one of the big ones. I guess I will have to keep my Farmall M a few more years. LOL

What is weird to me is how so many of those early tractors can pull so much compared to much bigger horsepower models.

 

[sms]

What is weird to me is how so many of those early tractors can pull so much compared to much bigger horsepower models.

Just for fun.

 

[paul]

Just for fun.

A pull like that is all about (well mostly about) traction, not hp.

The weight and the weight transfer from the angled hitch points and the surface of the wheels contacting ground.

It’s still a cool video and fun stuff to do.

Used to be on big forage choppers they put 2 engines. But now with the environmental rules using a single 700+ hp engine is much much cheaper. I would guess most tractors over 550hp will disappear and all go to the 700+ versions.


Paul

 

[flying belgian]

Just for fun.

Flip the switch for the fwa...But I know what you mean texgasser. I have a newer 1025 JD and our old JD "50" drag that around. wouldn't even know its back there.

 

[Brendon-KS]

What is weird to me is how so many of those early tractors can pull so much compared to much bigger horsepower models.

The big difference is the speed at which the load can be pulled. Drawbar power is the pulling force times the speed and power is what gets work done. Those big old tractors could pull a lot but it was at a snail's pace so the actual amount of work done per hour was relatively low.

 

[Texgasser1]

The big difference is the speed at which the load can be pulled. Drawbar power is the pulling force times the speed and power is what gets work done. Those big old tractors could pull a lot but it was at a snail's pace so the actual amount of work done per hour was relatively low.

Makes sense.

 

[Texgasser1]

Just for fun.

Yeah I have seen that one before. Love seeing it again.

 

[[email protected]]

The big difference is the speed at which the load can be pulled. Drawbar power is the pulling force times the speed and power is what gets work done. Those big old tractors could pull a lot but it was at a snail's pace so the actual amount of work done per hour was relatively low.

I paid 5k for this oldie. I did put an engine in it which was another 5k. I can pull anything that a CaseIh 450 will pull. It's a 1980 model. It's simple for me to do my own repairs and maintenance. And it's paid for!! I'm not paying what dealers want for higher horsepower tractors.

 

[Texgasser1]

I paid 5k for this oldie. I did put an engine in it which was another 5k. I can pull anything that a CaseIh 450 will pull. It's a 1980 model. It's simple for me to do my own repairs and maintenance. And it's paid for!! I'm not paying what dealers want for higher horsepower tractors.

That's a real beauty of a puller.

 

[RJKeith]

What is weird to me is how so many of those early tractors can pull so much compared to much bigger horsepower models.

I was at Field Days of the Past just outside Richmond Va several years ago and was looking at a brand new John Deere 35 HP tractor. I asked the sales rep if it would pull a square hay baler. He said oh no, that tractor is much too small for that work. I said I had a 30 HP tractor that would pull a square baler just fine and showed him a picture of my Case 300 round nose pulling a square baler. He said that was cheating!

 

[Tx Jim]

Just for "fun" many yrs ago I operated a small sq JD pto baler with my JD BO which has 14 HP & has only transmission driven pto

 

[hoosier.hz]

The latest issue of Ageless Iron mentioned the latest John Deere Tractor has 850 horsepower and then mentioned the first Waterloo Boy tractors JD made were 25 horsepower. Tractors have sure come a long way since the 1920's. I'm sure every other manufacturer has a similar story. I've read stories where early 25- 30 horse tractors didn't sell well for a few years because they were considered too big. Now it doesn't seem like they can make them big enough. I'd love to drive one of the big ones but I sure don't want to pay for one of the big ones. I guess I will have to keep my Farmall M a few more years. LOL

I just got my issue of that haha, although I believe it was 830 hp, either way, yes, you are right!

 

[caterpillar guy]

Biggest reason we have those old Stiegers fairly simple to work on and lots of parts available for them.

 

[trackrat]

we want to do every thing fast now the biggest tractor we had when i was growing up was an 1850 oliver a little less than 100 hp except for my souped up tractor about 150 hp but it was turned down in the field, before the water ran me out [they built lake joe pool] i bought a 7040 ac with all the comforts of home HAHA used it two years it was a nice machine

 

[MARK ROBKE]

The latest issue of Ageless Iron mentioned the latest John Deere Tractor has 850 horsepower and then mentioned the first Waterloo Boy tractors JD made were 25 horsepower. Tractors have sure come a long way since the 1920's. I'm sure every other manufacturer has a similar story. I've read stories where early 25- 30 horse tractors didn't sell well for a few years because they were considered too big. Now it doesn't seem like they can make them big enough. I'd love to drive one of the big ones but I sure don't want to pay for one of the big ones. I guess I will have to keep my Farmall M a few more years. LOL

My Dad and Uncle started with one '48 8n Ford, then traded it for a 1950 8n, added a '52 8n, then traded the '50 for '53 Jubilee. In '56 they traded the Jubilee for a '55 IH 300u. Dad said sitting on it, they at first thought the 300u was too big, but soon decided it was not! Mark.

 

[NY 986]

I took an ag engineering course while a student at Cornell. One theme that was repeatedly spoken was that farm equipment engineers were limited by the money that a farmer would typically spend on a piece of equipment. The instructor said that it was very possible to build a tractor with multiple speeds (versus 2 or 3), live PTO, and overhead valve engines during the 1920's but would so add to the purchase price that the demand would be very minimal. The mantra was do not get too far ahead of the industry as there will be no customer base for a product well above the average price. One reason that nearly all US manufacturers built essentially the same tractor over and over again with minimal change from 1940 to 1960.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

We baled hay with a Case 200 baler for years pulling and powering it with a Farmall Super C and a Farmal Super A. Only drawback was no live power take off.

 

[jwal10]

What is weird to me is how so many of those early tractors can pull so much compared to much bigger horsepower models.

Speed takes power....James

 

[jwal10]

Dad said the biggest advancement in a newer model was the F-12 Farmall to Farmall H. Finger tip controls, sitting position, lights and hyd's....James