Not so much fun anymore..

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

You fellas had really taken the "fun" out of this page..!
There is NO chat at all any more about "Engine Building", etc..maybe because of how many have ridden other people down, here..???
While I retain the "Engine Building" interest..I am to the point I can either take it or leave it and I bet that goes for many others..
That could equal fewer attending pulls that are not good entertainment anymore..
Seems there is more interest in how much "Aluminum replacement parts" that can be installed ($$$) and who can pour 30,000 Bucks into an engine to compete against some farm boy straight from his parent's farm...
Strictly STOCK ( Farm Ready) is still a REAL SHOW to those with any Farming background..
There is room for everyone and the Big Boys have their fun..but, if I go to Plain City on Saturday...will the track be worked and ready for pulling...NOPE..
Give those guys a chance to pull on a track that is at least worked through some...
I wonder how many WD Allis's would show it for a really STOCK pull with 38" rear tires/wheels...probably several...!
Show some interest in the Spectators.. THEY are part of what keeps this whole thing going...
 
I agree this was my favorite site for years and would really like to see it take off again. You come here and find about anything you wanted Pulls cancel pull ask for advice any thing you might want to know about Antique pulling. Really miss it lets get it going again.
 
Antique tractor pulling is on its way out. Young people aren't interested in it and the farmers that used these tractors back in their day are gone. The only following we have at pulls are family and friends of the pullers. I pull a WD45 and rules only let me use 28" wheels. The guys that pull antique tractors do it for love of the sport. A lot of guys got out because of the costs and no return.
 
That probably varies by region. In my area I see a lot of young people getting into it. Some pulls I go to, its 90% people under the age of 30.
But one this is for sure, its not cheap. Just the trailer to haul around 1-2 tractors, a 24' gooseneck 12,000gvw was $5500 and that's an Appalachian trailer, on the lower end of things.
Then considering only my 53 Super M I've got over $3500 into that thing counting the tractor itself and the parts I needed, plus the tires and rims it needed. And that's all "stock" pulling.
Then my wife's C. I've got around $2000 tied up in that tractor.
I don't know about everyone else around here, but to me that's a lot of money.
Even getting a Farmall C into light weight pulls, 3500 and below, would probably cost upwards of $3000 by the time your done and that's "stock" pulling.
We have our low geared H that we pull with as well.
 
Wow. There's a lot that I could say here but I can keep it to a few bullet points:

-Pulling has a 2 big problems: time and labor. $$ run a close third. Fixing those two problems would fix a lot of the issues we have in pulling right now, and I don't care what kind of pulling it is.



-I'd love to hear some ideas to make antique pulling better. For my part I just bought a MM UB to redo ground-up for The HOOK to make it into a 2t/topcut tractor---it needs everything. 100% chance someone will say "I wouldn't do it that way!" but it will be safe, reliable, and as inexpensive as possible. Part of the mystery for those on the outside looking in is the question "can I really do that?" The answer is that yes, if Bryan Lively can do it (with some help of course), anyone can do it.
-I want to see new blood in the sport and on the track and I'm seeing some clubs welcoming barnyard tractors in-we all gotta start somewhere.

-One idea that's been floating around in my circle of friends is building up the 2500-3000# stuff. Get kids involved with a tractor that size, plus they're half-ton truck and car-trailer (7000#) friendly. Catch the kids young and young-at-heart from that direction. What say anyone else?

-Last point: this is a family sport. I was at a crossroads as a kid where I could've dove into drag racing as a hobby and fan but didn't, because I saw the friendship and fellowship going on that I didn't see in drag racing. I support all forms and types of pulling when and where I can, I enjoy it all. It's 95% about the people you meet and friends you make and 5% about the competition to me. I will do my very best to spread that passion to others, and I hope that everyone else will do the same. We can't sit on the sidelines about an issue without trying to find a solution!
The HOOK Magazine
 
Our club tries to accommodate a variety of pullers.
We have "A" class for bone stock (Drawbar and everything) tractors. Easy enough to bring a farm tractor to the pull with little money in it.

"B" class is for the slightly tweaked tractors (Drawbar mods, suitcase weights) that lets a puller go to the next level with some cash put into the tractor.

Then "C" class for those that want to go fast and build up a tractor. Lots of money!

"B" is our most popular class, with 4500 to 6500 lbs having the most tractors.

But I agree numbers are down at most pulls. Everyone I talk with say back in the 90's and early 2000's there were loads of tractors pulling. So what has changed?
I think most of it is the Generation passing on.

Some places it's the rules. Like no TA because if JD didn't have it then you can't use it. Uh, that is why brands are different. So I only have 4 speeds on my WD so your 6 speed JD can't compete type of reverse thinking. You can't make it fair for every brand, unless you force everyone to use the same tractors....
 
I think you hit it on the head that the generation that farmed and worked on these antique tractors are gone. Our club has about 4 guys under 25 years old and the rest of club is mid 50s to mid 80s.
 
When gas and fuel went way high a few years ago a lot of pullers quit and just haven't gotten back into it.Its still a good sport and doesn't cost a lot to be competitive.
 
I am glad to see all the discussion on this. Bryan hit the head on the nail. It is the friends and people you meet along the way. You have to go to have fun because it is a hobby. I like to go fast but it took 10 years to get there. I started with a H INT that I gave 3500 for and had a lot of fun with it. It will always be the cheaper tractors that make a pull a success that is where the numbers are. I have a 41 M INT for sale now that I will sell for 6500 and all you have to do is get on it and go pulling. It is very good tractor in 3& 4 mile per hour top cut class. If you go camping golfing fishing any other hobby it will cost at least this much or more. You don't have to spend a ton of money to go enjoy the sport. I would not take any thing for the friends that I have made along the way and fun that I have had. Glad to see the discussion on this site. Lets do more of it.
 
Well for the last 3 years the track at plain city has been worked and ready to pull unless youre talking about the fun pull. That is a different story itd be nice if you knew your facts before bashing anyone.
 
One thing ive noticed is no teching, nobody wants to be the bad guy. That frustrates some legal pullers and they quit when they loose every pull by 25'. Another thing is the anouncer. some are very good and keep everybody entertained some are not so good and the croud and potential pullers get bored they leave and dont come back.
 
Thats why speed limits are good as a tractor can have too much power for a 3 1/2 MPH pull because they'll break traction easier.If you have 30 HP or 300 HP if the limit is 3 1/2 MPH and you can do it with the 30 HP tractor then you can be just as competitive as anyone else.Lots of times people that loose blame everything for coming in 10th place but the fact they don't know how to set up their tractor to pull in the first place.
 
My $0.02 worth : pulling (as with any hobby ) requires time and money. I really don't think the economy is as robust as some would like us to believe. I know I have had to cut back on my travel. From late April thru mid October, there is a pull within 150 miles of me near every weekend. Just can't afford it. NEXT : many organizations and promoters run people off. From rules or regulations that make it near impossible for any "non -local" tractor to be legal: to pulls that are so poorly run and disorganized no-one wants to deal with them: to classes that leave a lot of people out: I blame the promoters and organizations for a lot of the lack of interest. Getting ABSURD with "tech inspections ": lax enforcement of rules to overboard enforcement on non local tractors: all plays a part in disinterest. I have gone to pulls so poorly run that after 5-6 hours I loaded up and came home without ever hooking to the sled. Fair, well run pulls that offer a variety of classes for "mild to wild " and not expecting near stock units to pull against the big horse units still generally will have a good turnout.
 
I am still having Fun. But now that I am older and have so much time. I don't have enough time to do anything! It has taken me all week to put new rod bearings in. Laying on your back wrenching is just like putting up drywall on the ceiling. I have tried to answer questions in a cordial manner. As to what has worked for me, or my friends. Some don't believe they have to get that extreme to win. Yes they will every once in a while. My son would like to pull but jobs and family keeps him home. But it didn't me. I pulled a U Moline with a 423 motor it was awsum for its time. 100 in tractor 500 engine and worked out the wide wheels and tires. We can pull up to 71 in Southern Illinois. I think this will help. Rambling VicS
 
well said i pulled for a lot of years with a Massey 44 special that was 100% pure stock and just got sick of going out and being out pulled by 100 hp tractors. but when i would win or place i was a cheater. all this for a 15.00 plastic trophy no way no more
 
There are several good points here. It is far too sad that "Farm Stock" has turned into overly stripped down high powered tractors. I understand that the speed limit was thought to be a good idea because people were putting faster non-stock gears in their tractors and thus having a huge competitive advantage. The speed limit versus 1st gear pulling in Farm Stock only helps people with a lot of power. If you don't believe me think about a WC Allis that with 13.6 x 38 tires goes about 4 mph at high idle under no load. Tractors with as much power with the same tire but only go 3 mph at high idle on most tracks can't beat them. In the Dairyland Antique Pullers There is a Schmidt that pulls an 88 Oliver and an 880 Oliver. They both go significantly faster in first gear than they should and have lot of power. I have a 44 Massey with 4.062 M&W pistons that has stock everything except a reground cam that has plenty of power for pulling in first gear. I can only beat him on a really good track where tire, weight setup, and decent driving are more important than speed. Another example is Community Antique Pullers in Southern Wisconsin. They are a good group of guys. Some of the nicest you will meet. A few years ago they went to a speed limit versus first gear in their farm stock classes for the reason I stated above. The reality is now there are far less actual stock tractors don't come to their pulls. I also have a rusty old Farmall M that I built from parts of tractors I parted out. The only money I have in it is the opportunity cost of what the parts would be worth. It amazes me how many people at pulls in the last few years have walked up to me when I am on or around the rusty M and talk about how they used to pull but they got tired of trying to compete with the high powered guys. I also agree with the guy who said that no one wants to a dick and protest the some of these people who are not following the rules. In south western WI antique tractor pulling seems to be dying off. I believe the only thing that will get it going again is Farm Stock rules that favor the stock tractor and club leaders with the balls to enforce them.
 
Can't understand why folks think speed limits favor big horse tractors. (Unless they are pulling a stock tractor in a high speed class) when all tractors run the same speed, weight, drawbar height and tire size: how does that not level the playing field.
 
(quoted from post at 12:39:27 07/08/16) Can't understand why folks think speed limits favor big horse tractors. (Unless they are pulling a stock tractor in a high speed class) when all tractors run the same speed, weight, drawbar height and tire size: how does that not level the playing field.

I thought for years that speed limits would level the field. Now that we have them, you can watch the stock tractor get to where the load comes on, try to add a little throttle to keep speed up, and die. The powerful tractor gets there, opens the throttle a little and keeps on pulling. Time and time again, unless the track is soft, which is the real equalizer.
 
I have noticed the stands thinning out too , kids today have a far different set of values than we did in the 70s . hi performance engines and too dammuch noise, did not make me a diehard fan,, these modifications prompted regulations that leveled the field , I never was a fan of pulling tractors that could not go back out and hook up to a disc or a roundbaler, and be working in the field in 10 minutes without major modifications .. don't know about everyone else , but super stocks ruined the sport for me ,. I have pulled stock 4020 deere , and a DC Case, and to me there just aint nuthin better than a stock pull .
 
Any tractor that powers out WITH speed
limits will also power out without
them. Can't blame speed limits for
that.
 
(quoted from post at 20:14:45 07/08/16) Any tractor that powers out WITH speed
limits will also power out without
them. Can't blame speed limits for
that.

Yes, but it is all about WHERE on the track with respect to the others in the class.
 
You have it it exactly. Speed limits make very little difference. I have spent enough time running the sled to get to see how tractors that run in two different speed classes do. Usually there is less than 2 feet
difference between 5 mph and open speed. And open is not always the longer pull. A soft "poor" track is the one that sorts out the good pullers. We have a mix of hard power tracks and elevator driveways. Its
anybody's pull on gravel. Traction wins. But, talk to 10 pullers, and 9.5 of them will prefer a power track, even though they do not have the tractor to stand a chance.
 
(quoted from post at 07:05:57 07/09/16) You have it it exactly. Speed limits make very little difference. I have spent enough time running the sled to get to see how tractors that run in two different speed classes do. Usually there is less than 2 feet
difference between 5 mph and open speed. And open is not always the longer pull. A soft "poor" track is the one that sorts out the good pullers. We have a mix of hard power tracks and elevator driveways. Its
anybody's pull on gravel. Traction wins. But, talk to 10 pullers, and 9.5 of them will prefer a power track, even though they do not have the tractor to stand a chance.

With a soft track any body can drive down the road to the fair, have a hook and a good time without looking like an idiot. It takes a hard track to enable the guys with more power to "get it to the ground" and those guys are always pushing for a hard track. Keeping some soft tracks out there would insure the survival of our sport.
 
One thing I don't really care for is when you get to a pull that has five or six divisions. Barn yard, uncut, topcut, cut, 6mph, 8mph and open. There's no need for that just like the weird weight classes #3750 #3800 #4250 and so on. Clubs do this to make members happy and that's fine but you end up with two or three tractors in a class and unnecessary confusion for beginners so that's no fun. I'm sure I'll catch greef over this but if it were me there would be uncut 15.5, cut 16.9 and open 18.4. 4mph on uncut and cut and no speed limit in open. Now ive only been around this for five years but I'v never seen a tractor that wouldn't fit in those three divisions. Less paper work, less time adjusting the sled just easier on every body. Just my 2 cent take it how you want.
 
(quoted from post at 08:45:37 07/10/16) One thing I don't really care for is when you get to a pull that has five or six divisions.

I tend to agree. We don't have those odd weight classes.

Our club only has stock and enhanced. I think there should be much more clarification as to what is considered stock. However, its a lot easier to understand that some club rules I read out there.
 
Very few stock tractors unless they are pulling in a very light class can maintain 5 MPH thru their pull.Pullers that try to pull in the 7000 lb class at 5 MPH with a stock M Farmall are kidding themselves.Ain't gonna happen. Instead of finding every excuse in the book for getting beat pullers need to realistically access their tractor,hitch etc to be able to do better.
Also there are just some classes that certain Models of tractors just 'fit' in better than others.Life ain't "fair" all the time and neither is tractor pulling the challenge and the fun is to overcome those challenges.
 
As witnessed by many of the replies in this thread one of the reasons pulling isn't as much fun as it used to be is the addition of a bunch of whiners and cry babies at the pulls.
 
(quoted from post at 12:19:47 07/10/16) As witnessed by many of the replies in this thread one of the reasons pulling isn't as much fun as it used to be is the addition of a bunch of whiners and cry babies at the pulls.
I don't think that has changed over the years. Always have had them
 
Barn yard pulls are getting popular here in north central Ill. The ones with the tractors that are not stock have to pull exhibition. You can pull but it doesn't count. A friend of mine said a good rule is "If you can't plow with it you can't pull it".I have to agree with him. Last week my stock Oliver 1650 got beat by a John Deere G running between 800 and 1000 cubes on a custom built block. No one in the 7500 class has a snow ball chance in hell of beating him.
 
yea larry you talk about that g. He blew everybody out of the water last sunday at perry farm. But what happened to him on monday at bonfield. he could barley get the thing down the track. And what about the M that weighted up to 9000 and was still competive. At least Art leaveled the playing field today at LeRable, and for the rest of the year. And you say barnyard pulls are becoming popular here. There is a whole circut of stock pulls. Im not taking the tractors off the trailer all summer now. its almost every weekend till the end of summer. and thats only driving a max of 30 miles from the house.
 
I believe the G was in the wrong gear at Bonfield. I think that tractor only has 2 forward gears left in it. I think they made the M with the weights hanging all over it pull exhibition today. Thought it was a good pull today and I agree with Art 100%. The only point I was trying to make is when these non stock tractors run right they will usually always win.
 
Watching a pull full of stock tractors (especially creeper gear jd's) is about exciting as watching moss grow. I'm glad there are tractors that pick up the pace a little. Campers, Harley's ,boats ect. all cost money. Pick your own poison. I choose to spend my recreation money on pulling tractors.
 
I respectively disagree with the statements above about speed limits. It does level the playing field. But it doesn't level the people. Last saturday at Tilden there was a wet spot about 3/4 down track. The way to get thru was to just stay steady till almost thru then back off a little. Then you could hammer it and go 50 more ft. Lcb saw this immediately and made it thru. So did most of the old timers. But not all. So you need to pay attention to little things and have. good equipment .
 
My opinion about speed limits is it does level the field. But where we pull there is nothing measuring it. So people get away with probably 4mph or so. Slow tractors get beat by 30 feet against a Farmall M running 2nd gear.
Even regular geared Farmall H's outpull my low gear H on a transfer sled by at least several feet on average. A regular geared H is about 1mph faster than mine. The only time I think I've beaten a regular H is when they power out in 6500.
Low geared really slow tractors excel in stone boat where speed doesn't mean much.
 
say Brian how come a MM how much power you going to shoot for ? and just curious don't you think a regular u with a lower center of gravity would be a advantage? thanks for all you have done for the sport I love the speed limit classes the only thing I don't like is after market heads and blocks because they are avalible for some and not for others all brands should be on a level playing field. if we are going to have after market heads and blocks they should be in a separate class so its more about skill than money.
 
I hadn't antique pulled in years but I'm having lots of fun this year after getting back in....I don't care if I win or if I come in last.....I just go and give it my best shot..Its fun seeing old friends and making some new ones..
156fuqa.jpg

2qsc40k.jpg

2hf3uv4.jpg

1z6sdiu.jpg
 
My 60 jd was the only tractor the last time I pulled with a 3 pt hitch and I had to run it in the 12,000 lb class. I placed 3rd against 830's and R's. There were no classes for me except that. I weighed 9000. There were 6 in that class
 
(quoted from post at 16:37:18 07/19/16) My 60 jd was the only tractor the last time I pulled with a 3 pt hitch and I had to run it in the 12,000 lb class. I placed 3rd against 830's and R's. There were no classes for me except that. I weighed 9000. There were 6 in that class

Were you put in the 12,000 because of your weight or your hitch or just because you intimidated them?
 
I'll throw in my young guys 2 cents. Finding advertised pulls to go to even to watch is near impossible "here". Watching the same tractor hook in 4 or 5 different weight classes and 2 or 3 different speeds within each weight class makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

That said, I have a 9 year old who wants to build a puller so bad he can taste it. Finding a club to pull with is going to be a real challenge. I don't have the money to throw at a 100 plus mile drive to hook a few times. If we get one built, then I'm sure we will. And I'll be the guy slinging weights so we can hook in 4 or 5 different weight classes in 2 or 3 different speeds. I think antique pulling is more for the puller and the "big boy" pulls are more for the spectators. Might try to get to an antique pull this afternoon to watch and maybe sort out some people to talk to.

The $$$ to get started is crazy as well. Suitcase weights are nearly a buck a pound, a running tractor is gonna take a grand or better and that'd be pure "stock", fabbing the required (which I do understand) safety gear can't be cheap. Spending $500 or better to upgrade to oversized rubber...Boy really want to pull an Allis C. Well, guys all say that a CA would be the better machine in the size range. That is gonna take $1500 or better to buy. May have to do like everyone else and buy a WC. Few hundred to buy and a few hundred more to build up. Figure a good 3 grand just to say you showed up with a tractor that isn't at all competitive. or I put the 3 grand in the bank and buy the kid a nice old truck when he turns 16.
AaronSEIA
 
(quoted from post at 07:02:38 07/12/16) My opinion about speed limits is it does level the field. But where we pull there is nothing measuring it. So people get away with probably 4mph or so. Slow tractors get beat by 30 feet against a Farmall M running 2nd gear.
Even regular geared Farmall H's outpull my low gear H on a transfer sled by at least several feet on average. A regular geared H is about 1mph faster than mine. The only time I think I've beaten a regular H is when they power out in 6500.
Low geared really slow tractors excel in stone boat where speed doesn't mean much.

Lower gears make lower powered tractors competitive on power tracks, speed limit or not. If a track is going to pull a speed limit, they definitely need a way to measure and enforce it, else it is just a smoke screen. An automatic horn on the sled is one of the best ways I've seen, that way everyone knows if you got too fast.
 
(quoted from post at 22:11:47 07/29/16)
Want to sell that H low gearset? I'll trade you a full regular H set for it, or buy it outright.

You'd be much better off finding an H with low gears in it already.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top