An Amish tractor? Say what?

[sixdogs]

It looks to be true. Some bishops in Ohio apparently have let their flock use tractors under certain conditions. The local bishop (think elder) is the head of a local group of Amish followers and his word is law--but for his people only. This is not popular with other Amish and most are not happy about it.

But there are conditions. It's always been that Amish couldn't have tires with air in them, hence so many steel wheels implements, and it looks like that stays the same. Look at the pics I snapped yesterday of a JD tractor driven by an old order Amish man. Look at the tires. No air. They cut the tread off of old farm tires and bolted them to some sort of rubber wheel, maybe off a tracked vehicle, and then bolted the casing to the rubber wheel. Very creative.

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I'm sure the workmanship is excellent but can you imagine the bear of a job to cut that casing? I saw maybe five tractors yesterday and all were pulling a wagon or trailer behind. Maybe they can only use them for going into town for supplies or certain field work? I'm afraid to ask since it's such a hot topic.


It's another matter, but I saw legions of Amish using bicycles yesterday that had electric power assist to them. Maybe this is just for the hill country areas since it's so difficult for horses. In addition , I saw table and floor lamps that used power tool batteries and low voltage bulbs. Another shock.

 

[Trillium Farm]

It looks to be true. Some bishops in Ohio apparently have let their flock use tractors under certain conditions. The local bishop (think elder) is the head of a local group of Amish followers and his word is law--but for his people only. This is not popular with other Amish and most are not happy about it.

But there are conditions. It's always been that Amish couldn't have tires with air in them, hence so many steel wheels implements, and it looks like that stays the same. Look at the pics I snapped yesterday of a JD tractor driven by an old order Amish man. Look at the tires. No air. They cut the tread off of old farm tires and bolted them to some sort of rubber wheel, maybe off a tracked vehicle, and then bolted the casing to the rubber wheel. Very creative.
View attachment 630679 .View attachment 630680
I'm sure the workmanship is excellent but can you imagine the bear of a job to cut that casing? I saw maybe five tractors yesterday and all were pulling a wagon or trailer behind. Maybe they can only use them for going into town for supplies or certain field work? I'm afraid to ask since it's such a hot topic.
It's another matter, but I saw legions of Amish using bicycles yesterday that had electric power assist to them. Maybe this is just for the hill country areas since it's so difficult for horses. In addition , I saw table and floor lamps that used power tool batteries and low voltage bulbs. Another shock.

Well Michelin has had the answer for a few years now with the "Tweel" but it may be too expensive for them perhaps.

 

[Diggin It]

 

[Rich B1]

What part of Ohio?

Locally, theAmish are using tractors and implements with standard tires. Very common sight.

 

[3930dave]

Steel-bolted radials !

Leave it to ingenious hard working folk to take thrown away items (big cable reel ?) and make something unique..... yep, sounds like olde-school farming to me :thumbsup:

There is a point though.......... might be the beginning of the end..... they could be soon worrying about how many Likes they are getting on social media !

Rgds, D.

 

[sixdogs]

What part of Ohio?

Locally, theAmish are using tractors and implements with standard tires. Very common sight.

Charm, Holmes county.

Do you speak of old order Amish or Mennonite using tractors where you are?

 

[sixdogs]

View attachment 630688

Those look like home made rims?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Locally, theAmish are using tractors and implements with standard tires. Very common sight.

Same where I live, ALL the Amish here have tractors on normal rubber.

SR

 

[Diggin It]

Those look like home made rims?

Dunno. My LS Dealer was installing them on that Case. Dunno if they made or bought them, or maybe one of the area craftsman did them. That area is a mix of orders that seem to follow different practices.

 

[metalbender]

Don't have any up here. Just curious, if it's only an air tire issue, could they not use small tracked crawler or skid steer units for heavy farm work?

 

[Big Barn]

I’m always fascinated by Amish workmanship, but fortunately I’ve never experienced anything first hand.

Great thread. Thanks for starting this sixdogs!

 

[Code54]

That is really interesting. We go up Sugar Creek twice a year for the wife to go shopping and I enjoy looking at the Amish craftsmanship and products. I will have to pay more attention to the tractors from now on. On another note - the Chocolate candy place (Coblentz) in Walnut Creek has some of the best chocolate I have ever had!

 

[Industrial Toys]

This was the only Mennonite Tractor I ever saw. I think they got carried away with the wood splitter idea and forgot the engine.

 

[Zebrafive]

It would have been easier to foam fill the tires is no air is allowed.

 

[Rich B1]

I am about 15 miles from Charm. They are a bit more liberal around here. Definitely some pockets of conservative orders as you get into the heart of the Amish community in central/northern Holmes county. IME, Wayne County has the most conservative orders locally.

I have gotten to know several, mostly in the construction trades. Seeing an Amish with a laptop and iPhone doesn稚 surprise me at all anymore.

 

[PA hayseed]

Amish and Mennonite are not the same, neither are the German baptist, however to some they seem the same. There are different "sects" of Amish as well. I have some family members that are Mennonite, they drive cars, drive huge tractors daily on their farms, and my one cousin uses all the modern woodworking equipment for their business. My other cousin and her husband are Mennonite, and all he does is drive tractors for days on end sometimes, big fields, sat nav on the tractor. He liked playing in my little 50hp tractor while they were in visiting. Funny to see him and his kids in the cab all together, but that is how they roll. They don't sit still for long, always doing something. Not saying they are all like that, generalities are problematic.

 

[ovrszd]

The craftsmanship philosophy gets out of hand around here. Some people tout the Amish as great builders. As with any community, there are good and bad. I've saw some very bad.

Friend of mine had them build his pole building shop. They asked him if he had a rechargeable tools? He went and bought several so they could use them to do his build. I asked him if they reduced the charge for his building since he provided tools? He mumbled "probly not" and changed the subject.

I struggle with their beliefs. I guess I need to devote some time to educating myself by visiting with them. For example, it's not proper to own a car, but it's okay to hire one to haul you wherever......

 

[k0ua]

It would have been easier to foam fill the tires is no air is allowed.

Would make a lot more sense.

 

[WM75Guy]

I guess it is a matter of interpretation of doctrine by the elders. Here is a really good video of an Amish farmer using a 6 mule team to pull a cart with an engine powering a round baler. Another is using 4 to load and transport the bales. Great drone footage.

Amazing! Amish mules pull modern baler. Old-fashioned meets modern technology, aerial drone view. - YouTube

 

[lilranch2001]

Or they could use foam filled tires