Podium Newsletter April 2010 Welcome to the Podium Club! As a member of the Podium Club, you have made a very smart decision to access extremely exclusive information related to Antique Tractor Pulling. The information found at antiquetractorpullguide.com is like no other information out there. The tips, tricks and secrets of successful tractor pulling are designed to improve your performance at the next tractor pull, while having more fun at the same time. What s the difference between rated rpm and no load rpm? And why is this important to tractor pulling? When the original tractor manufacturers rated ground speeds for their machines, they listed all speeds at rated rpm. Rated rpm is also known as governed rpm, meaning the engine s governor works to keep the rpm of the engine at a constant rate of speed under a specific load. There is also no load rpm, referring to the engine s highest allowed rpm without a load applied. This is also known as high idle rpm and is usually about 10% higher than rated rpm. So what does this have to do with tractor pulling? Rules usually dictate what rpm is allowed for a given model. Some rules state allowed rpm as a percentage over stock rated rpm. For instance, if a tractor is rated at 1500rpm from the factory and the rules allow 10% over factory rpm, then 1650rpm is allowed for that model. Other rules may state rpm as a percentage of no load rpm. For example, if the no load rpm is 1650rpm for a given model, then 1815rpm is allowed. Finally, some clubs like USAP or NATPA have formulated their own rpm charts for allowed engine rpm. The Division I rpm numbers are loosely based on no load rpm. Divisions, II, III, IV, and V are rpm numbers based on percentages of the set Division I numbers. The nice thing about having an allowed rpm chart is that all of the numbers for most makes and models are defined in one place. The one difficulty with rpm rules is in enforcing them. It is very tough to check rated (governed) rpm since when a tractor isn t moving, there is no load being applied. This is why rpm checks are done at no load rpm, with the tractor at rest and the throttle in the full open position. This is also why 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 1
What s the difference between rated rpm and no load rpm? And why is this important to tractor pulling? (cont) lots of clubs have rpm rules requiring a no load rpm, so that they can be checked. There is a lot of controversy about checking rpm at tractor pulls, usually surrounding the checking method, the time it takes to perform, in addition to who performs the checking. Rpm can be found by a magnetic pickup device on a spark plug wire or injector line, or by reflective tape on a rotating part and a hand-held pick up device. The accuracy of the equipment used to check rpm is often questioned as well. For these reasons, many clubs choose to use the honor system, allowing each competitor to be responsible for his or her own rpm. Massey Harris 444 Introduction and Hitch Design 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 2
Massey Harris 444 Introduction and Hitch Design What is a Massey Harris 444? This is a question often asked as it is a lesser known Massey Harris model. The 444, or Triple Four was built from 1956-1958 and was a replacement model to the 44 Special; a successor to the original model 44. The triple series of Massey Harris tractors were the last to carry the Massey Harris name. There were around 7400 Massey Harris 444 tractors built. All Massey Harris 44, 44 Special and 444 tractors used a 4 cylinder, overhead valve Continental engine. Here is a quick guide to the mechanical differences of MH 44 and legacy based models: MH 44 MH44 Special MH 444 Prod. Yrs. 1946-1953 1953-1955 1956-1958 Engine H260 H277 H277 B & S 3.875 x 5.5 4 x 5.5 4 x 5.5 Displ. 260 CID 277 CID 277 CID Gears 5 5 5 x 2 = 10 Hi low range selection lever 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 3
Massey Harris 444 Introduction and Hitch design (cont) The biggest difference between a 444 and a 44 Special was the transmission. The 444 featured a similar 5-speed transmission, but with a high and low range selection lever. This gave 10 possible forward speeds. The 5-speed transmission between the 44 Special and 444 has the same ratio. The reason for the different overall ratios is the range selection set of gears in the 444. In high range, the input set of gears increase the overall gear reduction about 9% in all gears. So why are the high range ground speeds faster on the 444? The rated engine rpm of the 444 was 1500rpm vs. the 1350rpm of the 44 and 44 Special. Also, the 444 featured 14.9-38 tires as standard equipment vs. the 13.6-38s found on the 44 and 44 Special. Building a hitch for the 444 The hitch design for the 444 will be very similar to that of the MM ZA. It will consist of two main angle iron beams (4 x3 x3/8 ) bolted to the holes for the original drawbar mount. Most antique tractors have good, strong bolt holes in the rear casting. A cross piece will be fabricated out of 3 wide heavy channel iron welded to two pieces of 3 wide flat stock that are 3/8. The channel iron will have two holes in it to receive the D-ring plate, which will be 4 wide by ½ thick flat stock with the D-ring welded to it. See pictures below. MH 444 rear end, 3pt, drawbar and drawbar frame removed. 5/8-13 threaded mounting holes for original drawbar support frame. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 4
Massey Harris 444 Introduction and Hitch design (cont) There are many ways to build a hitch for tractor pulling. This design above all is very light and very strong. It also is very clean looking, and never questioned by officials. Here are detailed pictures of the ZA s hitch: ZA hitch Detail of side angle iron beam Detail of center hanging channel section. Note height adjustment shim under D-ring plate. Detail of D-ring plate. This ring happens to be a bit bigger than a D shape, but works well. See the May issue of the Podium Newsletter for the complete 444 hitch build. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 5
Massey Harris 444 Introduction and Hitch design (cont) Here is what the hitch for the 444 looks like: 4 x 3 x 3/8 Angle Iron 4 x 1/2 Bar Stock with 3 ID x 3/4 thk D-ring welded to it Holes for 5/8-13 mounting bolts 3 x 3/8 Bar Stock 3 x 3/8 Channel Iron, welded to 3 bar stock 5/8-13 threaded mounting holes for original drawbar support frame. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 6
Putting a tractor on a diet: How to cut weight, Part I Weight is taken off pulling tractors for two reasons better weight balance and better power to weight ratio. The general rule is to always have a few hundred pounds to balance with in a desired weight class. Also, the rule of thumb in lightening a tractor for pulling is to get rid of anything and everything you don t need on the track. What are good ways to remove weight? Wheels: A good place to start is with the wheels. Often times fluid called Calcium Chloride (NaCL 2 ) a salt added to plain water, was pumped into the tire tubes to add weight for field work. For tractor pulling, this type of added weight is referred to as non-moveable weight and thus is never recommended. Tires loaded with Calcium Chloride should be drained, and usually new tubes must be installed to ensure all of the fluid is removed. Also, Calcium Chloride is extremely corrosive and may damage steel rims or the valve stems. Wheel Rims/Centers: The next elements of the wheels are the rims and/or centers. Cast iron wheel centers that bolt into a steel rim are the heaviest. Usually, cast centers may be replaced by a pressed steel type center, or one piece rim that can save hundreds of pounds. A more extreme way to remove weight is to use aluminum rims. Wheel Weights: Remove all added wheel weights. Weight can be added later where it is needed. 3pt hitches: Most rules will state a hitch must be rigid and unless the tractor is also used for actual 3pt work when not at the track, the 3pt should be removed to lower weight. Hydraulics: Removing hydraulic pumps, reservoirs, lines, rock shafts, control valves and cylinders is a great way to drop lots of weight. Belt Pulley: If you re not doing any belt work, why carry the weight? PTO: The Power Take Off may be needed for engine tuning on the dyno. If possible, it s good to keep in the tractor, but might interfere with the hitch and will add weight. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 7
Putting a tractor on a diet: How to cut weight, Part I (cont) Fenders: If fenders aren t required by the rules for safety, they can shed some significant pounds depending on size. Here are some visual examples of how to cut weight: MH 444 Rear Cast wheel centers MH 444 Removing cast centers ~400lbs/pc Light pressed steel centers off a MM 4 Star ~50lbs/pc (this is where pays to do a little research) MH 444 With light rim centers, ~700lbs of weight removed. The cast wheel centers were swapped to keep the original look of the MH 444. More weight could be removed if a one piece pressed steel rim were used. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 8
Putting a tractor on a diet: How to cut weight, Part I (cont) More visual examples of how to cut weight: MH 444 3pt hitch, drawbar and support MH 444 3pt parts removed, ~300lbs All parts removed are saved, for proper restoration in the future. MM ZA PTO used for dyno tuning MM ZA PTO removed for pulling. (Factory blank cover installed) 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 9
Putting a tractor on a diet: How to cut weight, Part I (cont) More visual examples of how to cut weight: MM ZA No hydraulic pump/lines (factory blank cover) MM ZA No belt pulley (factory blank cover) MM ZA No hydraulic reservoir (factory fuel tank support) MM ZA No fenders Stay tuned for How to cut weight, Part II: When weight loss gets desperate in the May edition of the Podium Newsletter 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 10
Learning the Hard Way A lesson in securing weights The day of a tractor pull is often full of excitement. There is the weigh-in, the driver s meeting, and the anticipation of your turn on the sled. This excitement of actually getting a hook is what caused this lesson, and also cost me a 1 st place trophy. It was the 2009 spring tractor pull at the Benton County Fair in Corvallis, OR. This is an indoor pull and the season opener in the Northwest. After a winter of dreary, rainy weather, everyone is excited to get their first hook of the season. I had brought the Massey Harris Mustang and my Minneapolis Moline ZA. The Mustang was entered in the 3000lb class and the ZA at 4000lb and 5000lb. The indoor track is notoriously soft, a converted horse arena where traction is tough and tractors spin soft holes very quickly. I had weighted the ZA properly for the 4000lb pull, leaving only one 40lb suitcase weight on the front weight bracket. In debating which weight set up to use, I had gone back and forth several times between one and two weights for the front, but ultimately settled on just one. On the ZA s front weight bracket, there is always a bungee cord to secure the weights in case the pull ends in a wheelie and the front end is not brought down gently. As I was caught up in all of the excitement, I inadvertently left the bungee cord on the bracket, not securing the weight. In a normal case, this might have been alright on a soft track, since wheelies are a little more controlled. In the case of the indoor arena, things were different. I was one of the last pullers in the 4000lb class, out of 13 or 14 entries. Since the track was soft I used 2 nd gear. The tractor ran perfectly, easily getting to the area where others had spun out. As my wheels began to spin in the soft dirt, they quickly dug through a top layer and hit hard pan underneath, hooking up instantly. The tractor reared up in a sudden wheelie, so fast that my usual reaction to back off the throttle was overruled by my hand grabbing for the clutch. The front end only climbed about 16 off the ground, but the sudden jolt of the clutch release let it free fall back to the dirt. When the tires hit the ground, the one and only weight on the front bracket took off. It bounced a good foot above the bracket before hitting the ground with a thud. As I stared at it in the dirt, I felt a bit of embarrassment since I knew that my chances at a trophy were gone. Oh and the pull? It was 3ft further than anyone else damn. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 11
Learning the Hard Way A lesson in securing weights (cont) Seasoned pullers make mistakes too! Here are stop motion shots from a video of the pull; the video will be posted at antiquetractorpullguide.com. Cruising on the ZA Hey, this is fun! Front end in the air, quickly Whoa, Nelly! Weight ejection! 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 12
Massey Harris Mustang update Engine Assembly With all of the parts back from the machinist, it was time to assemble the engine. It is almost ready to bolt back into the frame. Engine short block assembly Old piston setting on top of new. New pistons are 0.31 larger. Box of cast iron shavings from machinist, from boring cylinders. 12 lbs worth!!! Oil pan added, basic engine assembly complete. Ready for paint. 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 13
Massey Harris Mustang update Rear Wheels Since the Mustang s 12.4-28 rear tires were mismatched, it was decided to look for another set of tires better suited for pulling. In looking around, we had another tractor, a Minneapolis Moline Jet Star 3 that had matched, road worn 14.9-28s. These tires were loaded with calcium chloride and tough to move since the tractor was parked behind several others in a storage building. After an afternoon of wrestling the wheels, the rims and tires were taken to a local tire shop for new tubes. Since the Jet Star 3 also used 28 six loop rims, the centers could be swapped to make them work with the Mustang. The biggest difference between the Jet Star 3 and Mustang centers were the bolt patterns 8 bolt on the Jet 3 and 6 bolt on the Mustang. Unfortunately one of the centers was welded to the rim on the Jet 3 and had to be replace. The good news is that a 28 rim that is 12 wide is a very common rim and the tire shop even had one in stock. So with a new rim and tubes, the wheels were bolted onto the Mustang and boy does it make it look different! Mustang with 12.4-28s (mismatched) Mustang with matched 14.9-28s from the Jet Star 3. Wow! 14.9-28 tire from Jet 3 (perfectly worn for tractor pulling) 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 14
Podium Newsletter April 2010 Coming next month The Spring Pull Results How to cut weight, Part II, when weight loss gets desperate Massey Harris 444 Hitch fabrication Massey Harris Mustang update And more I want to hear from you! If you have feedback, requests or information you would like featured, please send an email to: zack@antiquetractorpullguide.com. Pullin the Allis Chalmers CA June, 2005 2010 by Zack Peterson and Podium Finish, LLC www.antiquetractorpullguide.com 15