Tractor Pulls

[showcrop]

I used to go to a lot of pulls, starting around 1990. At one pull it was understood that a local dairy farmer's straight out of the field local 4440 would win the two heaviest classes. He told me that it was because he knew how to place his weights. I knew the local Deere dealer. We were talking one time when I mentioned the "stock" 4440. He laughed and told me that when the farmer first bought it out of the midwest, that he brought it there to get it checked out. One part of the check was putting it on their dyno. The dealer told me that their dyno would not go over 250 HP so they couldn't measure it. One midwest farmer who used to be on here a lot posted once how they would go to the local pulls, but they prepped their out of the field stock tractors first with larger pumps and turbos.

 

[Ozlander]

A couple years ago I took my patchwork 1650 Oliver to a small local tractor pull and got a first. I hope to get my wife turned on to pulling, that would help with the financing! LOL we are already in disagreement on what color to paint it. Greg

Let her pick the colors, then it will be her tractor and that will help the money problem.

 

[Loosehandle]

I gave up on tractor pulls when anything 1960 or newer was allowed or pullers were permitted to make any modification beyond what a farmer might do to keep a tractor in the field (such as a replacement mag when the original was no longer repairable).

Me too, I don't even watch them anymore.

 

[Dieseltech]

An old puller friend of mine told me once there are two kinds of pullers, losers and cheaters! LOL. He told me one time years ago that an antique pull he was at one of the losers was complaining to the officials that He just KNEW the winner of his class had cheated. When asked how he was so sure he replied, I KNOW he cheated, because I cheated and he beat ME!!

 

[showcrop]

An old puller friend of mine told me once there are two kinds of pullers, losers and cheaters! LOL. He told me one time years ago that an antique pull he was at one of the losers was complaining to the officials that He just KNEW the winner of his class had cheated. When asked how he was so sure he replied, I KNOW he cheated, because I cheated and he beat ME!!

Years ago there was a husband wife team. He pulled with a VERY stout JD model R, and she had a very nice B, complete with deer cutouts in the rear centers, and named "Plan B". He owned a good sized excavation business and they obviously had a lot of money in their tractors despite it being just their second season, and being early in that season. The track was SOFT due to a lot of sand being added the year before because of mud. When she hooked she started off at something like two thirds throttle, then opened it up when the load came on. On a soft track you can't do that, and she immediately spun out. I ended up winning the class parly because my Ford 960 didn't have the power to spin out so readily. As I was waiting to weigh out he was suddenly right beside me with steam coming out of his ears telling me that in order to beat his wife's B that my tractor had to be stroked and bored and everything else, and what was I doing entering a stock class..

 

[Welding man]

Years ago there was a husband wife team. He pulled with a VERY stout JD model R, and she had a very nice B, complete with deer cutouts in the rear centers, and named "Plan B". He owned a good sized excavation business and they obviously had a lot of money in their tractors despite it being just their second season, and being early in that season. The track was SOFT due to a lot of sand being added the year before because of mud. When she hooked she started off at something like two thirds throttle, then opened it up when the load came on. On a soft track you can't do that, and she immediately spun out. I ended up winning the class parly because my Ford 960 didn't have the power to spin out so readily. As I was waiting to weigh out he was suddenly right beside me with steam coming out of his ears telling me that in order to beat his wife's B that my tractor had to be stroked and bored and everything else, and what was I doing entering a stock class..

That is where I would have told him to put his money where his mouth was. I've got the tools in the truck, we will tear it down right here and you pay me for my time and the gaskets to put it back together.

 

[cumminstinkerer]

I spent two or three years and president of our antique pulling club in Iowa, there was numerous p#ss#ng contests about illegal engines, illegal tires what not, some were founded some were just guys like showcrop mentioned, we played nice and would resolve the issues, Had to tell a couple guys not to come back until they fixed safety issues, most guys were pretty cool about stuff, I had a couple get pretty grouchy about not being able to run their fancy curved chrome exhaust, but it was a rule, they got their first time as a pass but if you come back you best have the issue resolved! Overall we had a good group of pullers that all worked together and were there to have fun!