Young guy here wanting to get into Tractor Pulling

Hello all,

   I've always been into vintage tractors, but never had one and never had much exposure to them. Growing up in the late 80's and 90's in the woods of Alabama, no one in my family farmed, and my Daddy's tractors were just 70's models of whatever was cheap and ran decent.
   We recently moved to a small mountain town in Colorado and we have some land and my kids are getting into showing rabbits, and goats pretty soon. So I was thinking the vintage tractor thing was something I could get into since they have vintage tractor pulls and shows and stuff at the same places they would be showing rabbits or whatever. (and it is just a good excuse to go to fairs and ride rides and eat funnel cakes and other junk foods)

     I've always been a gear head, into muscle cars and motorcycles (Guzzis). I'm still into bikes but with 3 small kids it's not something we can all enjoy safely as a family just yet.
    I was poking around online the last couple weeks (I'm on a ship off Africa at the moment with a lot of free time) and noticed there are a couple vintage tractor pulling clubs near here.
    I was shocked at how reasonable restored vintage tractors are after being conditioned to the crazy high muscle car and vintage bike prices, so I can actually afford to get a decent old tractor and go to one of these events.

   Long story short, if going by the results on the local clubs websites is any indication, it looks like everyone here is pulling old Deeres, Oliver 77s, and Cockshutts, with a couple Farmalls and Masseys thrown in. 
I always like to be a little different so Allis Chalmers hit me as a great option and I always liked them anyway.

The local club states the tractors have to be 1959 or newer, with most of them pulling in the 1939-1952 class.

     After some research it looks like I need/want a WD, or WD45.  I don't mind one that needs a little cosmetic work but want something running well as I am just not that mechanically familiar with them yet.

     Anything else a young guy needs to be aware of with these, or where to look for more information other than the forums here?  I understand hot-rodding anything isn't cheap so will be staying stock/near stock and I think local club rules require that anyway.
    Do ya'll know of anyone with a good squared away tractor for sale near central Colorado? Everything I find is 1,000 miles away or more it seems.

Thanks!
Adam Walton

Look thru the guys on here and you will find several who live in Co who might be able to help you.

I resemble that remark Lou!

I work on an offshore drilling rig, I doubt there is anything posted here that would offend me!

Be carefull. I drag raced for 15 years and also had a Harley then I bought my first tractor. It was an Allis B. The Harley's gone and the race car is for sale. Tractors are dirt cheap compared to cars. They are easy to work on and I can paint well enough for a tractor paint job as all mine are working tractors. There is awesome help here to get you through any problems you encounter. I am sorta glad we don't have any tractor pulling near me as I am pretty sure I would be neck deep into it if there was.

Lol. Thanks for the responses guys.
Ain't that always how it goes?

Sounds like me when I buy an old bike, I tell myself "it's only a 200cc, just gonna enjoy it like it is." Then three months later I'm looking at jetting it and big bore kits.

I have a cousin in the Pueblo aria that plays with old tractors, If you are close to there and want contact information send me a PM.

I am definitely staying stock/near stock. It seems that is what everyone has here, most all prior to 1952 in the 3500-4500 weight class. That is why I was leaning to a WD.

I just hope its fun and everyone isn't a bunch of old fuddy duddys, and hopefully not boring. lol

Although the idea of basically a turbo'd diesel otherwise stock WD45 is very compelling and interesting to me, I don't know what I would do with it. From what I can tell everyone is either stock (appearing) or big money 1,000hp tractors. There doesn't look like much in between. 

Whatever I get is just for fun, not for farm work. I live at 9,200ft and there is no row-cropping or bush hogging needed here. 

Oh, and I only want a G model for fun around the farm and tinkering and pulling the kids with, not to pull sleds with. 

I don't have any idea what to look for other than the obvious when I go look at a tractor.

Reading your posts, I would personally look for an early WD (52 or earlier to get in your local 39-52 class). Look for an inexpensive tractor that you plan to rebuild the engine.

After you get the engine, look for a WD-45, 4.5" stroke crankshaft (a D-17, 170 or 175 crank will need a different gear for the oil pump). If you are lucky enough to find a set of 8.25/1 compression pistons from a 175, buy them ($$$). If not, get a set of 4.125 (bore) 7.25 pistons and a governor spring from a D-17. Have a cam ground as close to 175 specs as possible. If your very handy, a little head porting and carb work and you have an engine that will run all day on pump gas and will be very competitive in the "stock" class.

On the tractor, drop the hydraulic cylinders, rock shaft and rear platform. It will give you a great place for weight racks. Remove the belt pulley and replace it with a plug If you are planning to try to get into the 3500 lb. class, a narrow front end from a WC is a little lighter than the WD front end.

Good luck!!! (... and it isn't as inexpensive as you might think!!!)

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm learning alot. Oh, I'm on a drill ship.

There is a nice 1939 B model close by, but it looked so tiny I didn't really consider it.
I'll do some research on it and the WC,and WD.
I guess I will drop the WD45 as everyone pulling is mainly running prior to 1952 stuff, and percentage pulls so I guess the small tractors won't be at such a disadvantage.


Edited by Bama67 - 16 Apr 2017 at 8:14am