Fastest Old Tractor to use on the road?

[AUSSIE small farmer]

G'day Just looking for opinions on the fastest older tractors for going long distance on big open road plains outback. Apparently Fordson dextas and chamberlains are the fastest but looking at others aswell (will be towing a 6x4 box trailer)
cheers

 

[LouNY]

Many of the real old Sears and Wards tractors were extremely fast for there day and even today.

 

[Big Barn]

G'day Just looking for opinions on the fastest older tractors for going long distance on big open road plains outback. Apparently Fordson dextas and chamberlains are the fastest but looking at others aswell (will be towing a 6x4 box trailer)
cheers

We bought a Fordson Dexta new in 1960. If anything it was a little slower on the road to comparable sized gas engine Fords of the era. The fastest older tractor I’ve “roaded” would be a gas MF 35 with Multi Power.

 

[CalG]

My Fordson E27n with the Hi-gear transmission really gets with the program on the road.

Might call it "scary fast" . Way too fast to pull a 4X trailer.

I would bet the Dex fitted with the hi-gear (road speed) transmission would be similar.

 

[airbiscuit]

These are a work of art!

UDLX Comfortractor

Minneapolis-Moline pioneered the concept of the closed-cab farm tractor in 1938 by developing the UDLX Comfortractor (also known as the Model U Deluxe).[3] The UDLX had flowing enclosing bodywork and a well appointed all-weather cabin, which contained a passenger seat, the idea being that the farmer and his wife would ride in comfort.[4] Entry to the cabin was by a large rear door. The bodywork was painted in as the bright "Prairie-Gold" colour while the bumper and hubcabs were chromed.[4] It was equipped with automotive features such as safety glass windscreen, windshield wipers, an electric starter and a dashboard with a speedometer, clock, sun visor, rear view mirror, plus several firsts in a tractor, including a heater, a cigarette lighter, ashtray, and a radio.[3]
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX tractor side view

The 2.9 ton tractor was powered by a high compression Minneapolis-Moline four-cylinder 283 cu.in (4,637 cc) KED petrol engine which produced 46hp and drove a gearbox with five forward and one reverse gears which gave it a top speed of 40 mph

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[stuckmotor]

How fast do you want to go? I think my MF 261 tops out at 18 mph and with the loader and long forks on front it gets scary sometimes.

 

[ArtMech]

How fast do you want to go? I think my MF 261 tops out at 18 mph and with the loader and long forks on front it gets scary sometimes.

It's true. To drive tractor fast is dangerous, 'cause it isn't equipped with the suspension. Except, maybe, modern ones, which are equipped with it. Slight unevenness on the road surface can affect rollover if you are at max speed of a tractor. I have experienced a number of cases where the attempt to skip the cars overtaking my tractor just could end badly. I'm driving long distance once a year, about 60 km.

 

[jcummins]

Tractor with a volvo turbocharged motor! - YouTube

 

[BrokenTrack]

I would think the old Linn Tractor's were the fastest, as they were a truck-tractor sort of combination. They used them as woods locomotives for a reason, and I would think speed would be one reason.

Our old Ford 900 would go pretty fast, the speedometer said 24 mph and it sure felt as if you could do it. They were not much of a tractor, but with only four gears, the engineers that built them got each gear right.

But speed is not always the fastest way to get to a spot. Really consistency is. I mow the roads on the side of the road so I drive tractors at high speed for long distances on the roadways. It is more of a matter of just plodding along, and the mileage clicks by.

 

[ArtMech]

Tractor with a volvo turbocharged motor! - YouTube

Seen those vids of this tractor. I'd like to see how it behaves with the left wheels on asphalt and right wheels on the grass of the roadside at max speed. Driving for fun or video is not the same like at work.

 

[5030]

IH Western models (diesel) will top out over 30 mph, my buddy has one. Both my Kubota M series will top out at 22.5 at rated RPM.

If you have the bucks, look around for a used JCB Fastrak. They will run around 45 mph, have front and rear suspension and Cat 2-3 lifts, front and rear with 540-1000 pto's on the back and front. Not cheap but then good stuff isn't.

 

[5030]

I would think the old Linn Tractor's were the fastest, as they were a truck-tractor sort of combination. They used them as woods locomotives for a reason, and I would think speed would be one reason.

Our old Ford 900 would go pretty fast, the speedometer said 24 mph and it sure felt as if you could do it. They were not much of a tractor, but with only four gears, the engineers that built them got each gear right.

But speed is not always the fastest way to get to a spot. Really consistency is. I mow the roads on the side of the road so I drive tractors at high speed for long distances on the roadways. It is more of a matter of just plodding along, and the mileage clicks by.

My 22.5 is plenty fast for me. I road from field to field a lot. I usually go much slower though. I like to rubberneck and spy on the neighbors.

 

[Rebeldad1]

G'day Just looking for opinions on the fastest older tractors for going long distance on big open road plains outback. Apparently Fordson dextas and chamberlains are the fastest but looking at others aswell (will be towing a 6x4 box trailer)
cheers

really?
30mph with a loaded trailer would be scary enough but what happens when you have to stop fast?
maybe one side brake works better than the other....

 

[airbiscuit]

Tractor with a volvo turbocharged motor! - YouTube

 

[Industrial Toys]

I remember driving around the gravel roads on our 72, Universal (Fiat) 445 tractor, at age 13 or so. It didn't go fast enough for my liking so I remember breaking the wires on the high speed adjustment bolt and backing it out a few extra turns. I remember once getting stopped by a guy who claimed to be a cop (should have aked for ID) and said that he was going to be on duty in a short while and didn't want to see me out there.



Rep Photo (Ours was waxed and much shinier)

 

[sd455dan]

OLD Rare and Very expensive the Mineapolis Moline UDLX (Comfortractor) In road gear mode about 40 MPH

Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor | The Cadillac Of Tractors - YouTube

 

[5030]

Guy has a death wish.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Probably gets laid a lot though.

 

[strum456]

The older Fords equipped with the Sherman trans. can move out. We have an 841 with a Sherman that is way fast. We also have an 8n with a Sherman. It is fast, but doesn't have the HP to back it up.

Compare these to our 860 Ford: one of the slowest tractors I have seen on the road (a 5 speed model, but otherwise the same as the 841).