Nebraska Tractor Test

[73jeep]

With all the growing popularity of CUTs & subCUTs, why don't the folks at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab. start testing tractors with under 40 hp? I have their book that covers from 1920 to 1984, and they used to test all sizes, no matter how small, all the way through 1984.

 

[Opti-Mist]

Economic considerations no doubt. Capacity of facilities, cost of increased capacity, economic value to the industry, etc.

 

[Dargo]

I sort of thought it had to do with the voluntary basis of having tractors tested if they were not going to be sold within the state of Nebraska. Personally, I think it is a great idea and I'm not really sold on any reason given by various manufacturers as to why they do not submit to the tests. As it is well known, dyno results can vary by a fair amount based on the person running the dyno. I have a tendency to think most of the dyno operator bias would be absent in the Nebraska tests.

 

[dgl24087]

The way I understand it, they test only tractors over 40 HP, anything smaller is not considered to be for agricultural use, which is the criteria for the tests. They have tested the NH TC 48 and 55, and comparable models from Deere and others. Here is a link to the web site. Also, only tractors manufactured in the US are tested at the Nebraska Test Lab, other tractors are tested in the country of manufacture and submit their results for publication. NE Tractor Test Laboratory

 

[flusher]

With all the growing popularity of CUTs & subCUTs, why don't the folks at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab. start testing tractors with under 40 hp? I have their book that covers from 1920 to 1984, and they used to test all sizes, no matter how small, all the way through 1984.

When I bought my Kubota B7510HST last year, my dealer said Botas are shipped into the US in crates and assembled by the dealer. I think Mahindra and Jinma are imported the same way.

As mentioned in this thread tractors are tested in country of manufacture per that international agreement.

So the U. of Nebraska only tests domestic tractors now.

I have a 1966 MF 135 and am waiting for a copy of the test report that I ordered last month. That tractor probably was manufactured in Canada. But as you say, prior to 1984 the Nebraska tractor lab tested imports as well as domestic tractors.

 

[roxynoodle]

Since nearly all CUTs and SCUTs are manufactured outside of the USA I wouldn't expect to see them on the Nebraska tests anytime soon.

 

[73jeep]

flusher,
While you are waiting for your report to come in, I have some info. from my book. 1965 MF 135: Diesel
--weighing 3,645 lbs
-- 12 spd trans = speeds from 1.31 to 18.8mph using 14.9 x 24 rear tires
-- pull recorded of 2,437lbs @ 5.09 mph
-- another pull of 1,849 lbs @ 5.32mph
-- 37.82 PTO hp @ 2,000rpm & 33.06 drawbar hp.

1965 MF 135: Gas
--weighing 3,565 lbs
--12 spd = speeds from 1.38 to 19.82 mph using 13.6 x 28 rear tires
--pulled 2,121 lbs. @5.38 mph
--another pull of 1,620 lbs. @5.78 mph
--35.37 PTO hp @ 2,000rpm & 30.45 drawbar hp

 

[N80]

I think the utility, CUT and SCUT market needs a magazine. I think the market would support a dedicated magazine. I'd get it. FRom such a magazine I'd expect objective equipment tests. I suspect that's the only way we'll ever get such data on small tractors.

 

[rback33]

I may be mistaken, but I believe the main reasoning is the wording of the law. The law requires the testing if over 40HP only, so in the eyes of people that have to fund the tests there is no reason to test if not required by law.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

There has been talk for awhile that Nebraska may pull the funding from the testing facility. As a tax payer in that state, I sure as heck would not want to be paying for it.

 

[rback33]

That would certainly be interesting. I wonder what would happen since the state law requires the testing. I am guessing that would hurt the tax-payers and economy worse. If the tractor MFG's have to pay for their own testing, the costs will just be added to the sticker of the tractors. I am guessing that a lot of the smaller companies would opt to not market in Nebraska. Interesting to see what would happen there...

 

[flusher]

flusher,
While you are waiting for your report to come in, I have some info. from my book. 1965 MF 135: Diesel
--weighing 3,645 lbs
-- 12 spd trans = speeds from 1.31 to 18.8mph using 14.9 x 24 rear tires
-- pull recorded of 2,437lbs @ 5.09 mph
-- another pull of 1,849 lbs @ 5.32mph
-- 37.82 PTO hp @ 2,000rpm & 33.06 drawbar hp.

1965 MF 135: Gas
--weighing 3,565 lbs
--12 spd = speeds from 1.38 to 19.82 mph using 13.6 x 28 rear tires
--pulled 2,121 lbs. @5.38 mph
--another pull of 1,620 lbs. @5.78 mph
--35.37 PTO hp @ 2,000rpm & 30.45 drawbar hp

Thanks for the info. The test reports should be coming my way soon.

 

[dgl24087]

From the State Code of Nebraska:

Section 2-2701.21
Tractor shall mean an agricultural tractor of forty or more horsepower which is a traction machine designed and advertised primarily to supply power to agricultural implements and farmstead equipment. An agricultural tractor propels itself and provides a force in the direction of travel to enable attached soil-engaging and other agricultural implements to perform their intended function.

Section 2-2705
Fees collected for the testing of tractors by the Nebraska Tractor Testing Laboratory shall be credited to the University of Nebraska Tractor Test Cash Fund, which fund is hereby created. The fund shall be used by the Nebraska Tractor Testing Laboratory to defray the expenses of testing tractors. Any accrued interest shall also be credited to the fund, except that the cash carryover of such fund from one biennium to the next biennium shall not exceed, by more than fifteen percent, the total cash fund expenditures for the average of the five preceding years. Any amount in excess of such fifteen percent shall be forwarded to the University of Nebraska. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

Section 2-2705.01
There is hereby imposed a fee of fifty dollars for each application for any permit made to the board pursuant to sections 2-2701 to 2-2711. Such fee shall be in addition to the fees provided for in section 2-2705 and shall be paid to the department. All fees collected by the department pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Tractor Permit Cash Fund, which fund is hereby created.