Tractor sets a speed record

I think some of you might be up to the challenge.

Interesting anyway.

Larry
Fastest Tractor

Oh don't get started on this one , My Accountant wanted to do this years back as he said i had the knowledge of how to get the job done due to the fact that at one time we had and Oliver 88 with a 390 Ford in it that lets just say one state cop and i had a lengthy talk along side a state highway about the allowable SPEED for a SMV placarded vehicle and something about NOT letting to smart arresd kids in a VW that gave me the #1 finger pass while pulling two gravity boxed of ear corn or the 460 Farmall gasser that i had rigged to over ride the gov. and it would run 65 with out even breaking sweat .

thanks for sharing

My 8N won't do that. Dang!

By the way, go to the comments at the very bottom of the linked article and find the link for the Minnie Mo Deluxe auto/tractor. Very cool.

Maybe some of the European readers can give some info on their farm tractors that are used on the roads there, are geared for 35-50 mph/80kph top speed. Ferguson or MF(?) with a model A Ford type front end with a transverse leaf spring, shocks, front brakes, radius arms. Old Hanomog(sic?) model had a leaf spring front also. Bernhardt(?) in Netherlands(?) used to post about some of the European tractors and the taxes, size of road, size of field situations that had led to the odd to us features- including the use of a 'Farm' tractor on the side road and some main highways. Friday and Loves made in Michigan in late 19030s and post WW2 into the early 1960s(?) had high road speeds also- a main use was hauling fruit from orchards to moderate distant for trucks canneries- but the trucks wouldn't be able to get into orchards, the transfer of fruit from wagon to truck would take more time, license plates, tax's on trucks, whatever made the 45mph farm tractor made from dodge car and truck drive trains practical, economical. Craftsman, Cub Cadet and maybe one other lawn tractor have been setting some speed records, cross country records- maybe 80 mph now with the biggest Kohler engine, Kohler is a co-sponsor? RN

Very cool machine.
The part I dont understand is why is he being so secret about the build?
Its not a "stock" 8n. Its modified. One you do that, to me all rules are off.
There are guys that can get 300hp out of flatties. The rest is gearing.
Imagine there are one or two other smart guys out there that could calculate the gearing from tire size and engine rpm.

Nonetheless, I think it is pretty darn cool, and hope it can run it even faster.

Rick

I started to read the article, how in the heck was he driving a Massey-FERGUSON in 1930 something? I smell another journalism major taught not to let a good story get messed up by the truth or facts.

One of the neighbors has an 8n and I think it is time to go steal it and drag it into my secret work shop.

I don't have my Silver King Model 41 back together yet, I got it back last year as a basket case. It was sold out of the family farm in the mid or early 1950's, well before my time. Dad was about 6 when it was sold, and he said he could remember passing cars on the paved road by the farm. He said he thought it would go about 40-45 MPH. I asked some die hard Silver King guys that have the same set as I do, and they said that they will run 40-45 no problem. The early Model 41's had 24" tires, then they went to 28" tires, and mine has the tallest option rear tire, the 36" rear tires, and the 5 tooth pinion, the fastest available. There was also a 6 and 7 tooth pinion. I can't recall how many teeth the ring gear has on it though. Dad and the old neighbor want to drive it once again when I get it back together, they both say it will fly

Ross

I have heard many years back that Firestone had Barney Oldfield run a (race?) tractor around a race track at much higher than farmer speeds to highlight the ag tires coming out in 1935.
Grand father found he could go one gear faster when he converted his JD General Purpose to rubber.
Leo

Okay this is OT a little but not really. I'm calling you out Vet on the 460 making 65 mph "without breaking a sweat". I realize that a larger rear tire size could change the equation slightly. In 5th gear at the rated engine rpm of 1800 the speed of a 460 is shown a 16.6 mph. Four times that is 66.5 (near 65 mph) That means to get to that speed you would need to over rev the engine 4 times over the stock 1800 rpm. Okay ready for it? The engine would be running at 7200 rpm!!! I think the sweating would be taking place during the part you left out about combing the ditch for pieces of engine block and connecting rods. Lol!

I thought the same thing. Coupled with those old bias ply tractor tires spinning along at 65 MPH and the normal loose tractor steering (even when new) had me wondering too. God help you if you touch the brakes at that speed.