Need advice-Too much HP?

[chim]

If it were me, I'd use the bigger tractor and be cautious. There are two ways that something bad could happen. First is if he ran into something (tree, utility pole, etc.) but the damage might not be a lot different with a larger tractor. The other would be overloading the mower's drivetrain by clogging it up or scalping a ridge. The shear pins or slip clutch should prevent that.

Years ago when the Ford 1210 was my only tractor, it was in the shop when we got a fairly substantial snow. I borrowed a Case 5140 from my FIL. It had almost 100 HP more than my Ford. The only rear blade that was available was the 5-footer that I had for the Ford. After cobbling / adapting the Cat I blade to the Case, I went a-plowing. I knew if I hooked anything solid it'd wrap that blade like tin foil. I was careful. It was awkward to have a tractor that was wider than the blade.

 

[WinterDeere]

lol... you know you're riding something big, when it has "100 hp more than" your other tractor.

 

[chim]

lol... you know you're riding something big, when it has "100 hp more than" your other tractor.

That's not a tractor. THIS is a tractor. Pic from my FIL's farm auction. This thing was pretty amazing. Pop had a chicken farm and one Winter they had chickens delivered during a snow storm. They needed an extra hand so I volunteered to help move the trucks through the snow. The layout was such that the trucks could pull along the side of the chicken house to unload. The drivers couldn't back out, so the exit was a big loop through an adjacent field. Imagine the feeling of being able to drag a tractor trailer where YOU wanted it to go

 

[chim]

Here's the lineup at the auction in '02. The Case mentioned earlier is the second in line. Seeing the 4840 next to it little brother (MF275) gives you an idea of the size.

 

[LouNY]

Here's the lineup at the auction in '02. The case mentioned earlier is the second in line. Seeing the 4840 next to it little brother (MF275) gives you an idea of the size.

View attachment 4384096

That 7120 first in the lineup is a nice tractor.

 

[CliffordK]

Imagine the feeling of being able to drag a tractor trailer where YOU wanted it to go

Hopefully you had a good method to hook up the tow chain or cable.

I've heard that in the past there were problems with Semis that got stuck in the mud. If you tie onto the front axle, you can literally pull the axle out from underneath the truck. Perhaps your snow was different.

 

[Farmer495]

I'd run it. If you are only going the same speed as the smaller tractor can there should be little issue if you are careful.

I've been running a little 5 foot bush hog on a 64 PTO HP tractor, I found out the slip clutch was too "loose" for the added power. I had to tighten it down. The smaller 41 PTO HP tractor I was using would lug down in heavy grass where the 64 PTO HP would just keep spinning the PTO when the blades stopped.

 

[chim]

Hopefully you had a good method to hook up the tow chain or cable......................

IIRC, the trucks were equipped with big hooks / loops in the front. They had a huge chain (this was way before Yankum)

 

[Hay Dude]

That 7120 first in the lineup is a nice tractor.

You gotta love a boxcar magnum.
8.3L Cummins.
I had an MX-270, it’s replacement.
Loved that thing. Shoulda kept it.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hopefully you had a good method to hook up the tow chain or cable.

I've heard that in the past there were problems with Semis that got stuck in the mud. If you tie onto the front axle, you can literally pull the axle out from underneath the truck. Perhaps your snow was different.

Ooofff.