Nebraska Tractor Testing lab

I just took a tour of the Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab on the East Campus in Lincoln this afternoon.

Thanks Dave. That was interesting.

Yes it is a very good place to visit. The new test area is not using that building and track. A handy book about the old test lab with a summary of the more popular tests is "Farm Tractors 1950-1975" by Lester Larson published by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers in 1981. Lester Larson was in charge of the tractor test lab from 1946 until he retired in 1975.

All of their test reports old and new are available on line, but I don't remember the magic address to find them.

The Nebraska test law was inspired by a company in Minnesota that hired a man with last name Ford and called their tractor a Ford before Henry Ford started making tractors. So Henry called his Fordson. The Minnesota company claimed a lot more than the tractor could do and a Nebraska legislator bought one and found it junk and so wrote the law. I'm sure many a tractor submitted for test was peaked at the factory. The tests included drawbar power, PTO power, fuel consumption at various loads and engine oil consumption and the reports mention if any repairs were needed during the tests.

The Fordson was not the first tractor on the market but it was the first affordable tractor and sold like model T cars that were also priced for the consumer market. A few major tractor builders of the time went bust because the Fordson sold so well. Part of its low cost was light weight and it had a tendency to lift the front and roll over on the driver, they called that climbing the ring gear. One aftermarket company sold heavy duty rear fenders to keep it from going all the way upside down. Somebody should have thought front weights.

Gerald J.

shameless (ne) wrote: some models of AC's were not tested at the NE lab (7000 series) but were still sold in NE. (illegally)

?

You mean, started selling them before they were tested or what? Because there is test data for 7000 series.

There are cases of tractors being sold without specifically being tested at Nebraska. The John Deere x30 series, for instance. They claimed the same powertrain as the x20 series and thus relied on the tests for those, with no enhancements to power ratings. So it was possible.

I have read previously that if models were introduced as "updated" but no powertrain/tranny changes, prior model test data was used.
Also read where some manufacturers cried foul on that and disclaimer had to be used for legal reasons.

some of the older tractor test (prior to 1999) are available   (scroll down the page)

http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/nebraskatractortestlabpublications

http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/nebraskatractortestlabpublications

for 1999 and newer,

click on the Test Reports in the red banner on that same page

Larsen Museum hours & location/directions

http://tractormuseum.unl.edu/

http://tractormuseum.unl.edu/

If you've got Google Earth on your computer, check out the coordinates given for an aerial view

40.831969, -96.668722

IDK if they still have an Open House available to the general public but is sure was enjoyable the time I went. 
Thought I had some pix from it, will have to look on older computer.

Just a few blocks away from the Larsen Museum is the

International Quilt Study Center & Museum

...in case you or some family members would like to see quilts and lots of em

 

1523 N 33rd St

Edited by Gatz in NE - 11 Feb 2017 at 6:22pm

shameless (ne) wrote: some models of AC's were not tested at the NE lab (7000 series) but were still sold in NE. (illegally)

Wrong.

Yet another stupid post by the board's clown. 

Model, Year, Test#

I always thought that would be a boring job driving the lead tractor. but you'd get to drive them all! lol that one pic looks like it's pulling the hood down on that Case! lol

shameless (ne) wrote: Jordon....I happen to own one of those tractors, bought new, when I worked for allis chalmers at the time, and I was told at that time to keep my mouth shut because of it! nothing they or anyone can do about it now! and if you don't like my posts....don't read them!

They told you to keep your mouth shut because nothing of any value has ever come out of it.  BigAl posted test results, I'll post pics later.

Jordan(OH) wrote: shameless (ne) wrote: Jordon....I happen to own one of those tractors, bought new, when I worked for allis chalmers at the time, and I was told at that time to keep my mouth shut because of it! nothing they or anyone can do about it now! and if you don't like my posts....don't read them! They told you to keep your mouth shut because nothing of any value has ever come out of it.  BigAl posted test results, I'll post pics later.

Uncalled for. take it to the political forum if want to act like this.

yes Tbone, they were being sold before they were tested. and thanks to everyone that PM'd me about this Jordon dude!

I'll have to look at my Nebraska Test book when I get home. I imagine during the 1970's there might very well have been a long "waiting list" of tractors scheduled to go thru Nebraska's required testing program, which could have delayed some actual testing versus sales being made. Shameless, what is the serial number of your tractor ?? must be pretty low?? they usually start at 1001.

Dad and I went to "tractor day" for many years in the late 50's and early 60's. We saw the Allis Chalmers fuel cell tractor when it was on display. Also been to the museum a few years ago.