Pros and Cons to Antique Tractor Pulling

Newly introduced to the Antique Tractor Pulling sport in our area,I need to know what are some of the main secrets in getting the maximum pulls out of an antique Tractor.
I have a Farmall Super C, but so far I have shown it only and have not pulled it.
I keep being asked to compete,but feel I do not want to bring any needless harm to my tractor which is presently in very nice condition.
Please enlighten me!
Thanks

The pros are that you might win a nice plastic trophy worth about $11.
The cons are that you might blow engines, rear ends, clutches and trannys worth thousands.
Your call...

just pull it!!!! it's 50 years old and has worked all it's life and no farmer ever worried about braking it farming and anyone that will tell you you will brake it knows nothing about STOCK antique tractor pulling. now if you spend 20 grand on a engine to get 300 hp out of a 70 hp engine ya then things will brake. a super C if one good puller just the way it is GO HAVE SOME FUN and let the old girl do what it was made for PULLING

you are more likely to damage things by trying to pull a stump, or your neighbor's car out of a ditch, than you are in a controlled pull.

don't go overboard on rpm's (most of the antique pulls have limits anyway), keep your hitch as high as allowed, use weights prudently, meaning the wheels should be free to spin rather than causing an overturn (wheelie bars are a good idea even if not required). pull to have fun, and if you win something, so much the better.

That Super C has survived for this many years and is currently in the good condition it is simply because it was not abused in its working life. The tractors of that vintage that were forced to deliver every ounce of possible horsepower while working are no longer with us. They were all torched into small pieces and sent to China.

pulling isnt any different than plowing only the field is only 300 feet long and you only need to make one pass i work my tractors harder in the field than i do pulling usually spin out in a pull which is the weekest link in tractor pulling only time i se one break its twice the horse intended and spins the wheel all the way down the track which yes after a while that wheres on parts

If the pull uses a long chain, 4' or more, it won't have a sharp downard angle which pulls down on the back of the tractor loading the rear end and causeing wheelies. The longer chain limits traction so to speak, and limits the load on the tractor. I can't remember any breakdowns from this type of pull in the last 5 or so years I have been doing it.

A super C should be able to make the 3500# class with one set of wheel weights and you on the tractor if I remember right. This isn't overloading it in any way. You may need to have some weight on the front end too. On your last pull you want all the tractor weight balanced on the rear axle with the front wheels just skimming the ground, this gives you maximum traction. With a stock drawbar and a maximum height of 20" (common max. height arund here, RI, CT) you won't be troubled with wheelies if you balance the tractor and are carefull. Be ready for a wheelie though, they happen fast when they happen. Again, the longer chain minimizes wheelies.

A super C is a good puller, they can give my AC WD a good fight, and I have been beaten by them a few times.

Most of the time wide tires are not an advantage, the stock size works best most of the time. And some of us around here think the new 23 degree lug angle doesn't work as well as the old style 45 degree angle.

Have fun!!!!

Just take some time to observe the guys that are pulling to have fun verses the ones that are pulling for grudge and blood. Use your common sense, the ones that are beating their equipment to win are the ones with an expensive week ahead. The ones that are smart will take their toy home and put it safely away for next weekend.
Most people would rather hear about how the pulls went rather than how the field was beat.

Ron, a lot of good points made. I believe that the biggest is that during the tractors working life your C probably had loaded tires and wheel weights in order for it to do what it was bought to do on the farm. If you are going pulling you will probably do best if you enter as light a class as you can get into. So the ability of the tractor to somehow hurt itself is usually limited by traction. Compared to working it is easy duty for your C.

The first three items to obtain are traction, traction and traction.

just dont get too wild and im sure you wont since its just a super c. since its stock i wouldnt worry too much about breaking stuff unless there is something weak on your tractor. i pulled a stock farmall M for 4 years and never broke anything. now i pull a stock JD A. pretty much was pulled outta the weeds. hadnt run for 5 years and i got it running good and pulled it this year and even after sitting that long nothing gave out
M Puller

Ron,
Just my 2 cents worth, but you meet an awfull lot of nice people at "antique" tractor pulls which far away beats having to have the best and/or most expensive tractor! Keep it simple and they usually don't break.

Or you can keep on just showing it and set around in a lawn chair behind it and be bored to death. You can still show it until the pull starts. Tractors that just sit silently and look pretty don't do anything for anybody. Now pulling a show tractor , that will get some attention. Paint can be touched up. Do it.

I pulled my super C this fall, had one set of weights on back and front wheels, weighed 3535# so had to bump up to 4000# class, was probably the lightest one in the class. This was the first time in my life I was in a tractor pull, I was always too shy to be in front of the crowds. I has talked to a friend and he said just try it, you'll get your feet wet and then there's no stopping from there. Guess what, he was right! I wasn't even off the track and found myself planning for next time to reduce the weight at least 35# on either the tractor or my stomach. Have fun.