Questions about UDLX's

gtractorfan · Jan 7, 2017

Anyone know if any were involved in violent traffic crashes? How were the brakes? No rear suspension, a nasty bump in the road at full speed would be an experience. What about gear noise? Early cab tractors could be noisy, for instance I drove a noisy Farmall 806 when it was fairly new. What about the windows, were they made to open?

1206SWMO · Jan 7, 2017

I havent driven a UDLX since 1988...I know that when I got mine in
1983 I put it in the 40 MPH gear once and that was enough..It got
to bouncing at full throttle and I backed out of it..The brakes were adequate
for 15-20 MPH but probably iffy at 40 MPH..I have heard of several UDLX's
being rolled over in the early days....They had 2 shift levers to go straight
thru the tranny for road gear which eliminated some of the gear noise..The
windshield could be opened and they had a fan..It seems like the rear door
glass could be rolled down..I need to dig out my original sales literature..

F-MM · Jan 7, 2017

I often thought the same thing about just plain loosing it. I bought a 41 UTU narrow front with that same high speed gear in it and I headed down the road for a short distance and hadn't reached 1/2 throttle when I chickened out and let up on it. Scary was the word for that. Even at an idle it wanted to go faster than our 50 UTU would go and the governor on that one had been speeded way up, we thought it could fly. I have a 38 UTS SN#300 that is nearing completion and it has that same tranny too, maybe when I get good tires on it I will try opening that one up someday, or maybe let someone younger try it. LOL The neighbor that I bought it from said it couldn't make it up his hill pulling an empty wagon in 5th way back when. Maybe the driver would feel safer in the cab!!

molinegb · Jan 7, 2017

I have studied rear end ratios of the U series. main difference is UDLX has a countershaft that when shifted the main gears are disengaged and with additional countershaft puts U into direct drive. At this same point governor can be thrown wide open achieving the 38 mph. Same basic internal of rearends were used in first generation U which was actually made
previous to UDLX but only in standard version. Spent some time comparing U to UDLX in parts books. There is not that many differences in power train.
At the price UDLX's were in 38 they didn't sell well. Way way ahead of there time!. MM produced rearends and carried on for several years until product was sold. UDLX used huge outboard drum brakes in hubs. Even these parts carried on to the early GTB which was only one to used the leftover brake setup.
I have never driven one but have been couple. Driven several UTS wirh old rearend at 25 mph. Better hang on as the old kingpin steering makes it scary. Can't imagine at 38 mph!

770jdman · Jan 7, 2017

There not the only tractor that would run that fast. We traded in several row crop silver kings. Back in the 90s my dad traded on one. Instead of getting the rollback he just drove it home about 20 miles. It topped out 40mph. The other one we had was around 37. What an experience. One wheel in the front.

Cliff Nelson · Jan 7, 2017

Story from an old MM block man was that for one month the block men had to drive the UDLX to call on their dealers instead of their car. He got his in the winter here in Wisconsin and one snowy day put it wheels up in the ditch. Said the phone call to his superior was 'interesting'.

oleclint · Jan 7, 2017

I will back up Cliffs story about that blockmans story about upsetting a Udlx. I have heard the blockman tell it in person.That was back in the early 1980 s when he was still alive. I think that happened northeast of Madison. Wi.He said the strength of the cab saved his life that day.
In the late 1950 s I owned a 40 UTU that had the old number 13" x 38 ", " full sized" tires, M And W alum. pistons and the gov. screw backed out a bit. We clocked it at 27 MPH several times. Like it was said , it would not pull much. It was fun to drive in town , passing traffic with a tractor. clint

Questions about UDLX's

gtractorfan

Well-known Member

1206SWMO

Well-known Member

F-MM

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molinegb

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770jdman

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Cliff Nelson

Well-known Member

oleclint

Well-known Member

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