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Originally Posted by N80
You know, its amazing that those old tractors could do that and I don't doubt it for a second. Lots of people have done it.
But just playing around I've noticed that my tractor, a light 45 hp 4wd, has an extremely hard time pulling a 2-14 in 2wd. And the plow, although not a good one, is set up properly. In 4wd is just goes right along rolling over a nice furrow in really had clay. In 2wd its a struggle, often requiring dropping down into first and standing on the throttle and the tires (loaded) would still spin. Same thing with a 7' 20" disk. It almost stopped me cold when I started off with the disk in some deep clay I'd plowed a few weeks before. I'd been mowing and left it in 2wd. What a shock. Put it in 4wd and its off to the races.
So my hats off to those small tractors and experienced plowmen (and probably better designed plows).
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Has more to do with the weight distribution/balance of todays tractors. Older tractors tended to have the engine more "centered" in the chassis, where most "modern" compacts have the engine sitting almost directly over the front axle. The weight bias front to rear is different. Todays tractors are designed with the idea of MFWD, and adaquate weight bias to take advantage of a drive axle on the front. Older tractors were longer over-all with more static weight on the rear end. They took advantage of weight transfer to the rear axle and hitch design for their pulling power. New school of thought is to keep the weight on the front end and employ more complicated drive systems. Both have their merits, both have their day and time.
Plow "technology" more or less died in the late 1950's/early 1960's. There are a few high tech plow brands out there now (mostly European brands) but for the most part, any US marketed plows sold beyond the 1960's were mild updates to old school technology.