f-20 with truck axle for road gear

Jim Slate · Nov 15, 2011

does anyone have any eperience with running a truck axle behind the tractor with the pto to speed up a tractor .
I've heard of old timers doing it when their farms were long distances apart.I want to speed up aF20 for tractor drives with buying a overdrive

DeltaRed · Nov 15, 2011

I used to have an F-20 with overdrive and 13x36" rears.It would easily run(fly) 20 mph.I've heard of the truck axle thing.You would back your tractor(back axle,front onthe ground for steering) onto the"trailer",chain it on,trans inneutral,pto in gear and GO.Sounds pretty unsafe to me!

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 16, 2011

You would have to add some gearing as the drive shaft on a road vehicle runs the same speed as the engine in high gear (direct) and PTO is only 540. You would also have to swap the ring gear side to side as the PTO turns backwards. Then if you just built a cart you'd have to add some weight so the tires didn't spin out or else build it like Delta suggested and load the back wheels of the tractor on it.

mkirsch · Nov 16, 2011

No need to swap the ring gear. Just flip the axle over so it's upside-down. Lots less complicated that way.

IMHO, if you're only going to run on the road, and not pull anything, the weight isn't a big issue. You'll need some but not a lot, maybe a couple of good-size concrete blocks.

I'd rigid-mount it to the drawbar like a tag axle. A pinned trailer wouldn't be very stable.

A truck in direct gear at idle is 500-700 RPM, and it should be able to do at least 10MPH. You don't want to go much more than 15MPH. You can adjust speed with different size tires.

sws55 · Nov 16, 2011

Could they use the truck axel's brakes too, or did they go down the road without any brakes?

RODGEinIL · Nov 16, 2011

Find a Heisler overdrive unit I think they might have come in different ratios. I have a '36 F20 with 13-36's like Delta says simply hauls in 4th OD, almost too fast for a narrow front with some slop in the steering!

Old-F20 · Nov 16, 2011

(quoted from post at 18:35:46 11/16/11) Find a Heisler overdrive unit I think they might have come in different ratios. I have a '36 F20 with 13-36's like Delta says simply hauls in 4th OD, almost too fast for a narrow front with some slop in the steering!

put a heisler on a FAST 4th F-20 and it will easily do around 23-24 with big rubber. white knuckle ride baby!!

Tom Fleming · Nov 16, 2011

for all the crap you will go through to get a few more MPH, why not just buy an overdrive unit for it.........seriously. By the time you are done mickey-mousing it together, you will probably have more time and money into it than just buying the overdrive unit.

IMHO.

PS. I just checked. There is one for sale on the photo classifieds on this site. $300. Do you realy think you can do this truck axle mod for that much?

36F30 · Nov 16, 2011

Not sure how it works where you plan on going on tractor drives but For the one I organize you have to follow certain rules. Our club buys an insurance policy for the rides they put on all year long, my ride is one of them. Your modifications would disqualify your tractor. Its kinda like a antique tractor pull, the tractor must appear stock. For example you could modify the original engine in your 20 to have 80 hp and it would still qualify, but if you replace it with a V-8 your out. A homemade drive system like you are talking about would be considered modified and not be allowed on the ride.

Get the overdrive and some 36"s and your good to go.

Jim Slate · Nov 16, 2011

Thanks for the replys.I was thinking of the trail
behind so you would still have brakes.Parts would
come from inventory (junkpile).Time could be a
problem,but it would start conversations at
tractor drives if legal.

charles todd · Nov 16, 2011

Interesting concept. Crazy, little bit. Do I like, yes. Legit for tractor rides, maybe not. Still interesting concept!

CT

SadFarmall · Nov 17, 2011

Wow! Could be an adrenalin rush, but might also lead to a Darwin award. Drive a tractor at high speed on a road round here and the local police don't see the funny side of it for about ten years. I have a Farmall M and there is no way I'm brave enough to wind it out to maximum road gear speed. Getting less brave as I get older.
SadFarmall

f-20 with truck axle for road gear

Jim Slate

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DeltaRed

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Nebraska Cowman

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mkirsch

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sws55

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RODGEinIL

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Old-F20

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Tom Fleming

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36F30

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Jim Slate

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charles todd

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SadFarmall

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