Nebraska Tractor Testing lab
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=134919
Printed Date: 05 Sep 2025 at 4:28am
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Topic: Nebraska Tractor Testing lab
Posted By: psheridan
Subject: Nebraska Tractor Testing lab
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2017 at 5:52pm
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I just took a tour of the Nebraska Tractor Testing Lab on the East Campus in Lincoln this afternoon. Lots of history there, dating way back to the mid 20s Nebraska Passed a law that any tractor sold in the state must be tested due to unfounded claims of manufacturers. most all states decided to take the data found at Nebraska as reliable and only required the Nebraska Data in their state as well. They have the story of Barney Oldfield racing the U allis, against a automobile. My dad , who is 96 actually saw this race in Clay County Nebraska, as a publicity stunt to advertise rubber tires on tractors. all of the records on tractor testing are available for viewing I believe they have many restored tractors there in the Museum A nice unstyled WC and a U displayed with many other tractors that were tested there. the lab still tests most tractors made, pretty impressive facility I would recommend taking a tour for anyone that is in the area. they are open for tours daily and I do think that they have Saturday hours The students there have a restoration club and are active in the running of the museum. GBR Paul
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Replies:
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2017 at 6:04pm
| [TUBE]http://youtu.be/2zKepoDP5dA[/TUBE] |
Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2017 at 7:07pm
| Thanks Dave. That was interesting. |
Posted By: Auntwayne
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2017 at 8:51pm
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Thanks for posting. Does anyone know how the fee or testing is paid for? I am sure that it is not here is $1000 , wink, wink, test our tractor. Or, we tested your tractor, you owe us a $1000 .
------------- Dad always said," If you have one boy, you have a man. If you have two boys, you have two boys". "ALLIS EXPRESS" |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2017 at 9:03pm
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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. |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 2:13am
| some models of AC's were not tested at the NE lab (7000 series) but were still sold in NE. (illegally) |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 6:59am
? You mean, started selling them before they were tested or what? Because there is test data for 7000 series. |
shameless (ne) wrote:Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 8:45am
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Plus one more on doing the tour if you're going to be in Lincoln. I found it very interesting recognizing pictures in the Nebraska Tractor Tests book while standing in the old test building. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: TramwayGuy
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 9:09am
| 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. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 10:06am
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The changes between the JD x20 and x30 were mostly paint and sheet metal. I think they used the same shop manual. Early and late 4020 were so different they don't share any manuals. And both versions were tested in Lincoln. Gerald J. |
Posted By: TimNearFortWorth
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 10:19am
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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. |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 5:35pm
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http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=tractormuseumlit" rel="nofollow - http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=tractormuseumlit is the current version of test 605 and at the top it is labeled 720/730 but in the vintage test data I see no mention of 730. In his book Lester Larson clearly states for several Deere tractors of that era that the 30s where only different in the sheet metal, but performed the same. A couple photos from the book down below. Gerald J.   |
Posted By: Gatz in NE
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 6:21pm
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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" rel="nofollow - 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/" rel="nofollow - http://tractormuseum.unl.edu/ If you've got Google Earth on your computer, check out the coordinates given for an aerial view 40.831969, -96.668722IDK 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 |
Posted By: bigal121892
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2017 at 8:27pm
| I've been to the quilt museum, it is well worth the time. Found it interesting as to who some of the major donors were. |
Posted By: Jordan(OH)
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2017 at 7:54am
Wrong. Yet another stupid post by the board's clown. |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2017 at 8:41pm
| 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! |
Posted By: bigal121892
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2017 at 9:19pm
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Model, Year, Test# 7000, 1975, 1195 7010, 1980, 1345/1346 7020, 1977, 1259/1260 7030, 1973, 1119 7040, 1974/75, 1166/1196 7045, 1979, 1308 7050, 1973, 1120 7060, 1975/76, 1167/1197 7080, 1974, 1168 7580, 1976, 1229 8550, 1977, 1262
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Posted By: Gatz in NE
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2017 at 10:35pm
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Found some pix of the NE Test Lab facility. IIRC, these were taken in 2006 beautiful day.... looking west from near the Larsen Lab  line-up of various makes/years of tractors tested at some past date  and of course, some "other brands" that happen to be in the mix   quite the load....  years ago, they only had a couple of Oliver tractors set up for resistance; tractors now have MUCH more horsepower, so require more resistance. |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2017 at 10:40pm
| 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 |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2017 at 10:41pm
| oh...and they are racing the wrong way on the track! lol |
Posted By: Jordan(OH)
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2017 at 9:13am
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. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2017 at 11:20am
| I had to check if Celina was north of Columbus or not....it is....Is everyone North of Columbus that grumpy? Except Cleveland. Had a lot of fun with people from Cleveland. |
Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2017 at 5:57pm
Uncalled for. take it to the political forum if want to act like this. |
Posted By: Mike Plotner
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2017 at 7:28pm
Celina is over in the northwest part of the state. I work over in that area. I'm north of Columbus and like to think I'm not that grumpy! ------------- 2001 Gleaner R42, 1978 7060, 1977 7000, 1966 190 XT, 1966 D-17 Series IV and 1952 WD and more keep my farm running! |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2017 at 11:30pm
| yes Tbone, they were being sold before they were tested. and thanks to everyone that PM'd me about this Jordon dude! |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 6:31am
You're not. So, duly noted 
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 9:17am
| 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. |
Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 7:44pm
| I dunno Doc...i'll try and gits it |
Posted By: Dennis(IA)
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 8:39pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Gatz in NE
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2017 at 9:22pm
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Dennis, Were those "Tractor Days" held at Mead NE ? I recall going to a few of those as a kid with Dad and Grpa in the early 60's Grpa helped construct some of the large buildings used for munitions manufacturing during WW2 At that time they were showing a few pelletizing machines; not much came of that. They also were demonstrating the new ROPS on a few tractors. |
Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2017 at 9:55am
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzMsNRVZp6Y" rel="nofollow - Univ ofNebraska |
Posted By: Jordan(OH)
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2017 at 10:33am
 
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Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2017 at 2:14am
| I tried to drive back to where the tractor is in my shed, but it's way to wet back there and I don't wanna make ruts in the sod. it'll hafta either freeze or dry up to get back there. yes Jordan, they did eventually test the tractor in question, but when I bought mine, and several others bought them, they had not been tested YET! and per NE state law any tractor not tested at the U.N. can not be sold within the state until they are tested. but they were sold and the dates were left unlisted on the contracts until they were tested to keep the dealers out of hot water! at least my dealer did. any other state of NE laws you want to tell me about? i'm not sorry for all the work you went thru to try and prove me wrong, you prolly needed the exercise anyway! and I really don't have to prove anything to you, cuz I don't care what you think. i'll consider this part of the conversation over! |
Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2017 at 2:49am
| Jordan, it's best to not prod the bear. A lot of us might take it personal. But we'll just call it a momentary slip of the tong....er fingers, and let bygones be bygones. |
Posted By: Jordan(OH)
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2017 at 2:42pm
That's not what you said though. Originally you made it sound like said 7000 series was never tested. |
Posted By: dpower
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2017 at 4:26pm
| Power Director 8000 series were not tested in Nebraska just the power shifts were. Our local dealer had to locate a power director 8050 out of state for a customer and the customer dealt with that out of state dealership on it because the local one could not sell it since it had not been tested in the Nebraska testes. Also I know Shameless personally he will make ya laugh , make ya smile and give ya the shirt off his back if you needed one. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2017 at 7:51am
Congratulations on your might word mincers victory on the internet of 2017! 
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Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2017 at 3:59am
| the serial # on the 7010 is #1720. |