Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

transporting tractor?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Bob

06-12-2004 01:46:04




Report to Moderator

When transporting a tractor, should it be in gear or in neutral? I was told by a person who hauls construction equipment to have it in reverse when transporting. Another guy said it it hard on the transmission and it should be in neutral. So, which is correct?




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Levi

06-12-2004 20:39:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
well most of these guys are giving you the details about hauling a tractor, i'm just gonna give you a strait up answer, put it in a low gear so that the motor doesnt turn over if it rolls



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jerryl/az

06-12-2004 19:36:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
I was taught to chain front to center, rear to center, and left to right, right to left. front and rear to center serves to allow no forward or rear movement also pulls load down on the center of gravity. the chains left ot right and right to left keep the load centerd on the trailer I always bind on drivers side and wire binders this way I can see my binders the binders will swing or bounce if they come loose if the load is chained tight and right it will not move in any direction Jer

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Larry

06-12-2004 19:31:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
Better check the laws, Isn't the only binder to use, the rachet type, for load securing?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Davis In SC

06-12-2004 20:30:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Larry, 06-12-2004 19:31:47  
Larry, after buying my ratchet binders, I never used the lever type again. With the lever type, it was always too tight or too loose..... The ratchet ones are nice.... after you drive a mile or so, you can snug them up a little, rather than having to move to another link. I am a believer in keeping chains taut, but not stretched to the limit. I fully agree with the post about there being no reserve for an impact, if chains are already stressed to the max. Also,it seems to me that very tight chains must put a terrible strain on bearings, axles, castings, etc... Regards, Davis

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
wdtom

06-12-2004 18:47:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
If you "pre load" the chains with a cheater on the binder aren't you taking away from the reserve of strength left to hold the tractor if you should stop quickly or hit something? If you have a chain rated for 5400 lbs say and you pre load it to 4000 lbs you have only 1400 lbs of strength left before it is at max. If you pre load to only 1000 lbs now you have 4000 lbs left before you get to max, to take any load you may impose through braking, or hitting something, or being hit. Now let me say I know that a 5400 lbs chain is rated for a lot more before brakeing, and I know nobody plans on putting a serious overload on a chain from being hit or hitting something, but it could and does happen from time to time. And I am not saying to run chais loose either, just good and snug, but not tight like a solid bar.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john in la

06-12-2004 17:54:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  

Well let me put my 2 ¢ in here.
I can not ever remember hauling a gas machine but if I had I would probably treat it the way I do a diesel.
I have hauled my share of machines in my time. Pulled a 42' 18" drop for 4 years. I have never and would NEVER haul a diesel machine in gear.
Have you ever seen a diesel start from machine being bumped while in gear? I have!!!!! Enough said!!!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don-Wi

06-13-2004 07:32:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to john in la, 06-12-2004 17:54:15  
I haven't, so may I ask what happens? J/C
Donovan from Wisconsin



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john in la

06-13-2004 09:49:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Don-Wi, 06-13-2004 07:32:34  
Every diesel has the possability of starting if the machine is rolled or bumped while in gear. While it is true that newer equiptment has less of a chance than older stuff it can still happen.

Take my tractor. A Ford 861D. It is shut down by turning off fuel at pump through throttle lever. Now I load it on a trailer and leave it in reverse. (Lets assume) My tractor starts easy with just a little cranking but the throttle linkage is a little loose. From going down the road and hitting bumps my throttle moves from closed position to idle position. Now I hit a few more bumps which cause tractor to roll a little. Remember this is a diesel. All I need is fuel and crank rotation to start. No spark needed. So what happens..... It starts in reverse and if I am lucky the chain catches it and the tires just spin. If I am unlucky it gets traction and breaks chain and backs off trailer while I am in truck going 70 MPH down the road right in front of your car.
While the new reneration may tell you it is OK; ask any one over 40 and they will tell you. If your a$$ is not in the seat it should not be in gear.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don-WI

06-14-2004 20:54:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to john in la, 06-13-2004 09:49:20  
Sounds like a hair-raising experience. I always take my tractors out of gear when I shut them down. never had a truck or tariler big enough to haul anything, but some might try with the F150 I drive.
Donovan from Wisconsin



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RJ-Az

06-12-2004 14:52:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
I hauled tractors for a JD dealership in Az many years ago, mainly 20, 30 and 40 series machines and the boss told me just put it in the park position and duct tape the stack. Four chains crossed and cheater on the chain binder. I would cheat on local hauls and only use one chain and binder front and rear. But sometimes we hauled swathers, balers, combines, planters, discs and cotton pickers so you had to know your stuff.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Shane

06-12-2004 13:38:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
When transporting a tractor or anything it is best to leave it in neutral and don't apply the brake. You can't get them tight enough to keep them from moving just a bit. Now you may haul 1000 tractors and not hurt one but think what you will save if you have a tractor bust off a tooth and you have to split it to fix it. Not too bad or expensive on a Farmall H or something but what about a new CaseIH? We are talking $10,000 plus for that job. Also, if it is turbo charged make sure the exhaust is covered so the turbo doesn't windmill and eat out the bearing.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

06-12-2004 08:11:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
Hey Guys,

Get your fingers at the ready and be prepared to do some typing ‘cause I'm gonna give you a reason to cuss & flame me big time.

Scream and yell at me all ya want if it makes you feel better, but just stop and think about what you are doing.

A number of years ago, out in the middle of nowhere here in western Nebraska, I topped a hill and happened upon a tractor/trailer that had been transporting a heavy load of 14x7" cinder blocks.

For whatever reason, the rig had drifted across the roadway to the left, came down off the asphalt and had plowed into a dirt embankment.

That load of blocks had came right thru the headache rack, thru the cab and ended up stacked like a concrete hay stack upon that driver.

If the poor devil wasn't dead when that tractor hit the dirt, he sure was immediately thereafter.

Now for the controversial part:

I think you fellas are doing nothing less than spinning the cylinder on the proverbial Russian roulette revolver by loading these heavy tractors on your toy trailers hooked to your toy pickups and dragging them all over the country for nothing other than your “sport”.

Tractors were just not meant to be transported all over hill and dale. Especially, when you are towing to an absolutely non-essential doing such as a county fair, a parade, a tractor show, or least we forget, one of those silly tractor pulls.

I think that this lunacy is surpassed only by those idiots who jump out of a perfectly good airplane doing their ‘sky diving’ thing.

Sure, sometimes the darned things “have” to be hauled, but I would not even consider towing one just the short distance into town for repairs.

I would either load the thing on a real truck or more than likely; I would have the implement company come pick and it up. These things are heavy and they can be dangerous!

So, bottom line, I guess I’d drop the goofy thing into gear.

This is just my view, and is stated as such. Let the flaming begin, but please be careful with your towing.

Allan

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
DH in Carolina

06-12-2004 15:10:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Allan in NE, 06-12-2004 08:11:19  
I never heard of a 14 X 7 inch cinder block.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JD dozer mike

06-12-2004 12:26:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Allan in NE, 06-12-2004 08:11:19  
Hey ,,You better not use your tractor. You may fall off and get run over. hehehe.;



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Paul Janke

06-12-2004 11:21:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Allan in NE, 06-12-2004 08:11:19  
Reading between the lines, I think you are saying we should DRIVE the tractors wherever we take them so we can spend more time enjoying them. Good idea!!.....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dirthog

06-12-2004 10:59:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Allan in NE, 06-12-2004 08:11:19  
Allan,
you must be one terribly boring person. I guess if you fell head first into your toilet, that could be dangerous also.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

06-12-2004 11:01:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to dirthog, 06-12-2004 10:59:17  
Hi Dirthog,

Naw, it really wasn't all that bad. LOL!

Later,

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don Wadge

06-12-2004 06:40:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
I used to haul them in gear many years ago until I reasond what is really happening. I've hauled a lot of tractors. Probably 2 - 300 or more. One haul many years ago I hauled home a JD AR which was stuck enough it wouldn't come loose by towing it, so we loaded it. I hauled it in gear and when I unloaded it at home I was using the clutch for a brake and the engine turned. I guess the constant movement back and forth on the trailer against the gears jarred it loose. I still hauled in gear for a while after that but then I got thinking that really the chains have to hold the tractor in position so whats the advantage to having the tractor in gear. I'll allow that if a chain came loose being in gear could be some advantage but if you're making stops like you think the tractor is chained down, it's going to roll anyway. On the topic of towing and chains, I always use one chain only in front of the tractor and one at the rear. I drop the hook through the pocket on the trailer and bring it back up and slide the hook down over the pocket from the top, then I put the load binder in the clear link section of the chain. If anything ever happened to the load binder the tractor could roll 2 or 3 feet but that's as far as its going. While I'm on it, I always put the load binders on the drivers side of the trailer as I can usually get a glimpse of them in my rear view mirror; and I always figure if the police are looking at your load as they go by they're less likely to bother you if they see a good properly attached and wired load binder.

On hauling tractors in gear. After that experience with the AR. If a tractor is stuck and I don't think that it has sat for a long time with an open exhaust I now put some WD40 in the cylinders and haul it in gear with the chains just a bit on the slack side so that the tractor can "jiggle" back and forth. I've had a few come unstuck on the way home.

I wouldn't criticize anyone for hauling a good tractor in gear. I just figure why do it unless there is a reason to. I would think it isn't an issue with the older tractors but you might want to think about it on a newer more delicately (shall we say) built tractor. Tractors are built for a steady pull. Just my thoughts.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JMS/MN

06-12-2004 09:45:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Don Wadge, 06-12-2004 06:40:31  
Don't know about your state, but a new law in Mn requires loads to be chained to the four corners with four chains. Can't run one chain from corner to corner through one clevis.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
McBurr

06-12-2004 10:43:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to JMS/MN, 06-12-2004 09:45:09  
that's a Fed law JMS



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john in la

06-12-2004 17:41:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to McBurr, 06-12-2004 10:43:44  
Better read the book again. A wheeled vehicle over 10,000 lbs must be chained at 4 corners. This DOES NOT APPLY to things under 10,000 lbs. If you would like I can quote chapter and verse so you can decide for your self.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Shane

06-12-2004 17:53:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to john in la, 06-12-2004 17:41:10  
Do the chains have to cross? Just for my own info. Thanks



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john in la

06-12-2004 18:08:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Shane, 06-12-2004 17:53:40  
NO.
I tell you what. Here is a link and you read it and decide for your self. Rule 393.130 is for equipment tie down but only controls 10,000 lbs and over. It says if it is less than 10,000 lbs you can use rule 393.128 which is for cars and trucks.
DOT Rule 393.130
DOT Rule 393.128

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Shane

06-13-2004 09:14:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to john in la, 06-12-2004 18:08:53  
Hummmm! Must just be those cranky Michigan DOT then cause several buddies of mine work for an excavation company and got pulled over several times because they didn't have thier chains crossed.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
john in la

06-13-2004 09:32:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tract in reply to Shane, 06-13-2004 09:14:00  
Could very well be. Every state has the right to make stricter rules if they would like to. The laws I showed you are federal.

Case in point... 3" straps are good every where except CA. you know they got to be differant. Got to be 4" there.

New rule says you must have one strap/chain every 10' on such things as lumber. Been that way for as long as I can remember in IND.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JMS/MN

06-12-2004 15:14:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to McBurr, 06-12-2004 10:43:44  
That very well may be- learned it at a work seminar a few months ago from a MnDOT 'babe'. She was not too kindly towards farmers either- thought they are always trying to get away with something when hauling stuff.....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Shane

06-12-2004 13:29:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to McBurr, 06-12-2004 10:43:44  
I beleive you have to cross those chains too, not just LF corner to LF corner but LF corner of tractor to RF corner of trailer and so on.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Doug in IL.

06-12-2004 04:25:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
I have hauled them in neutral for the last 30 years. I will lock the brakes if possible. I did have a friend tell me that he broke a gear tooth on a very old JD B hauling it in gear. Of course, it may have been cracked and ready to break anyway. But, since he told me that, I have always just left them out of gear. I have never had a problem hauling them in neutral. The chains are to keep them on the trailer. I really don't know if there is a correct answer either.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Cosmo

06-12-2004 03:20:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Bob, 06-12-2004 01:46:04  
I don't know which is "correct" but I put mine in the lowest gear and lock the brakes. I can't see how transporting in gear puts any more strain on gears than every day use. I stand ready to be enlightened cause I certainly don't know it all.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Van in AR

06-12-2004 05:35:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Cosmo, 06-12-2004 03:20:23  
In gear is supposed to be bad in that if the tractor rocks a little in the chains the gears will work back and forth and wear each other. I dont think it would wear enough to matter for the life of the machine. I don't put my work tractor in gear now, but it has a front loader on it with down pressure and I set it down before booming it down.
Van



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Cosmo

06-12-2004 06:00:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Van in AR, 06-12-2004 05:35:53  
Thanks Van, I angle my chains at about 45 degrees fore and aft and use a cheater bar on the binders and squish the tires. I know people say not to use cheaters on binders, but what-the-hey?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Van in AR

06-12-2004 09:04:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Cosmo, 06-12-2004 06:00:00  
I also use a cheater and put a little squish on the tires, havent had one come loose yet. Put my binders on the drivers side so they are easy to watch in the mirror, at night oncoming traffic will light them up so you can see they are tight.
Van



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Loren-MN

06-12-2004 07:46:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Cosmo, 06-12-2004 06:00:00  
I do the same. Cheater on the binder and squish the tires a bit.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
New-Gen

06-12-2004 10:52:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: transporting tractor? in reply to Loren-MN, 06-12-2004 07:46:43  
I think the only ones telling you not to use a cheater are the people who manufature binders, covering their own a$$ if the handle should happen to break. {I've had that happen, but I'm still a firm believer in cheater bars}



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
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. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy