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In most contest situations, Fords and Fergusons are a little underpowered for their weight and don't offer much room for significant improvement (room for bigger bores and longer strokes). [The later Ford 900 series is an exception.] Most (more or less) stock classes allow pulling with speed limits typically 2.5 to 3.5 MPH. The fergie is geared for the speed (in 1st), but you will run out of power. As a minimum, you need your HP=MPH*weight/300 ("The Jim Rule").... and more is better. However, if you have a reduction transmission (like a Sherman or a Hupp, and the rules allow it to pull), you still can pull a slower gear(<2 MPH) and make up for the lesser power, but still won't have the inertia at the end of the pull for that extra foot or two that the faster more powerful tractor will have. Other problems have to do with the rules that don't favor Fords and Fergusons (or other short tractors). Short tractors are typically light in the front during a pull so adding weight out front is a must but many "stock-like" classes only allow weight on the front wheels or sometimes 2 feet in front of the tractor. This is usually not far enough. It cannot be "balanced" very well in the lighter classes (less than 3000lbs where it has the horsepower) without hanging weight far out front. In the heavier classes (>3500), it can be balanced, but runs out of power (remember "The Jim rule", HP>MPH*WT/300). Another issue is the hitch. The only Ferguson "stock" hitch was about two feet long. That is much too long to effectively transfer sled load to the tractor without lifting the front (and therefore lowering the hitch-bad!) so an after-market hitch or a custom hitch is required. This typically moves you up a class or two where you again find that don't have the power (and speed) to compete. And there are other issues.... like strength of castings, gears, axels, etc. that are marginal for this extreme sport. Fords and Fergusons (with the Sherman or Hupp), where you can pull with a fixed short (18") hitch and allow you to stick the weight out front far enough to "balance", can be fun and can pull just as "hard" but not as fast as the competition. But, remember that to be competitive, you really should pull as fast as the rules allow. Anything slower and you might be giving up an extra foot or two. Anyway, this is my conclusion as I continue to prepare my TO-30 for some Div I/II/III pulling in the future in and around OH and IN.. See you there... Jim
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