Tractor Sizing TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE (1) CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION

[IndyJay]

Never heard of the "Eagle" hitch nor the "AC "Snap" coupler. If the "biggy" is so great, can I order it on any of the top 12 tractor brands sold today? I knew about three point hitches when I was a kid, long before I even ever sat on a tractor. So I'm still waiting for some examples of tractors I can go out and buy right now that have one of these "superior" hitch systems.

 

[LouNY]

Well then I guess you don't know anything about many of the better products that used to be common and have fallen out of production in this modern age. So you just go on with the 3 point that many people have to have a quick hitch to use and still have issues.

 

[K5lwq]

The IH fast hitch was a very nice system. Here you go.

 

[IndyJay]

"Since 1955"...

Super C was a row crop tractor, not a traditional compact tractor. Traditional compact tractors had 3 pt hitch.

 

[IndyJay]

Well then I guess you don't know anything about many of the better products that used to be common and have fallen out of production in this modern age. So you just go on with the 3 point that many people have to have a quick hitch to use and still have issues.

If they were so much better then why have they fallen out of production?

 

[K5lwq]

Here is the fast hitch used through 1971.

TractorData.com Farmall 856 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[IndyJay]

Here is the fast hitch used through 1971.

TractorData.com Farmall 856 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

I was mistaken, they are still found on modern day tractors.

 

[Egon]

Why not just use rear wheel weights? Takes up less space, has similar down force on the rear tires, and doesn't tend to lighten the front end.

Not near as much down force unless the weights are ridiculously heavy.

 

[jeff9366]

Also added mass lets you maintain momentum easier while pushing or pulling. Adding small amounts of energy to maintain motion, after the static friction has been broken, mass helps conserve the motion.

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When it comes to work and pushing a blade or dragging an implement weight is your friend. Even my dozer with steel tracks will spin out before it loses power when trying to push too hard. My first dozer weighed 20,000 lb and it was about useless for pushing brush. Trees no bigger around than my leg it would struggle with. I would have to dig around them. My new dozer weighs 40,000 lbs and takes these trees out no problem. Yes it has more HP but being able to get that HP to the ground due to weight is the big difference.

 

[jeff9366]

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification.

The compact tractor era functionally began when Henry Ford licensed Harry Ferguson's tractor and Three Point Hitch design in 1939. The tractor industry uniformly adopted the Three Point Hitch after 1955, when Ferguson's patents began to expire and his tractor and Three Point Hitch design were available to industry participants besides Ford open source.

Ford's first Ferguson TPH tractor:

Ford 9N​

1939 - 1942

N Series

Utility tractor

Ford 9N Power
Drawbar (claimed):	12.68 hp 9.5 kW
Belt (claimed):	20.29 hp 15.1 kW
Plows:	2 (14-inch)
Drawbar (tested):	16.31 hp 12.2 kW
Engine (net):	23.56 hp 17.6 kW

Ford 9N Weight
Shipping:	2140 lbs 970 kg
Operating:	2900 lbs 1315 kg
Ballasted:	3375 lbs 1530 kg

Mechanical
Chassis:	2WD
Steering:	manual
Cab:	Open operator station
Transmission:	3-speed

Lots of grain threshers, well pumps and (laundry) washing machines were run off the Ford 9N PTOs. Ford tractors often preceded grid electrical power on the farm by years.

Horses and mules continued to be used regularly on USA farms right through the 1950s.