When I started to watch this I wasn't sure who would win. Pretty cool!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4457025380558
Woo-hoo, toot-toot and away we go!
Why didn't the JD unit use his front wheel drive?
Because it was a two wheel drive vs two wheel drive contest. ;<{)=
With that drawbar angle, the John Deere didn't stand a chance, even if it weighed about the same as the steam tractor. Dave
Four wheel drive would make difference to the results!!!
4 wheel drive makes little difference in a tractor pull. As weight lifts the front end and little traction is gained. In truck pulls for example a 2 wheel drive pickup will always out pull 4 wheel drive pickups because the pull weight is always transferred to the rear. On a front wheel assist tractor you would have to add a huge amount of weight to make any difference. The steam engine has all the benefits, weight, maximum torque at any speed. a tractor pull tractor only has power when its RPM is at maximum. The JD had no chance.
4 wheel drive on a tractor is good if you tote weight on a front bucket or forks.There is times without it,I would not budge my tractor with a load.
And to think I didnt really want it when i went looking for tractors.It was just purty much standard on about all compact deisels and now that I have it,you couldnt pry the key out of my hand.
Steel wheels probably dont spin as easy as a rubber tire.They grip or something breaks.
Having owned a Case 65 and done a few sled pulls, I find the results as no surprise. My 65 weighed in at about 12 tons. We always were able to do full pulls. Never found a sled we couldn't beat.
David is right the steamer is getting the drawbar height advantage.I think most tractor pulls drawbar heights are all the same at about 21"?? If you want to see a true test a Weight Transfer machine/sled gives a better picture of ability.When the weight and gearing are set corectly few if any ever get away! I have allways liked the Avery Underslung the best,but there is nothing sadder than a long pull when the boiler won't keep up!! Bud.
I just re-read my post, I meant to write that four wheel drive would make NO difference to the result.
I love that little green plow attachment the steam traction engine has clipped onto the back!
I watched something similar a few years ago at the Kinzer steam show. They were using a 4x4 tractor to pull the the traction engine back with and they couldn't do it. They ended up unhooking and driving the traction engine back. The 4x4 tractor just didn't have the weight to give the tires any bite.