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Low RPM tractors

K

kmvictor

New User
Hello.
My first posting here, so please forgive any errors of etiquette as none such are intended.
I am looking for information about old (1940's - mid 60's ) tractors in the 50-65 hp. range that ran their pto(s) 540 or 1000 rpm at 750-900 engine rpm. My grandfather had one running lp. Sadly being a 'kid' one never paid any attention as whose mfg. or model .... as it was just 'gramp's tractor!
I want to find one for pto generator duty.
Thank you.
 
Just about all of the JD 2 cylinder tractors (no, not the H, B and derivatives) had rated engine speeds of less than 1,000 RPM.

Dean
 
What colors was the tractor? Most brands had a distinct trademarked paint scheme: green with yellow wheels; red with silver rims, orange with silver rims; green with red wheels; yellow with red wheels; red with yellow wheels; etc. LP was most common on Minneapolis-Moline tractors.
 

I remember it being red-orange frame yellow wheels.
But.....
Also, I need to edit my original posting as it should have been in the 60-75 hp range (approx. 35kw @ 2hp per kw pto input to generator-alternator).
Wow you folk ar2 Quick to help!! thank you!!
 
A Farmall H or Super H or M or Super M could have a transmission modification that caused the PTO to turn faster than designed.
The modifications were called 9 speeds, as they caused the tractor to have 4 additional gear ratios between 4th gear, and direct
drive 5th. When in these gears, the PTO operated at 540 with the engine turning much slower (less than 1000). THe real issue here
is that those gear ratios are between 7 and 14 mph, which makes PTO work irrelevant. Jim
 
Any of the old fords with the transmission pto, and the Sherman overdrive option would do that. That would be from about 39 to '64 models.
 

The JD A,C,D,G, 60 and 70 spark ignition operate at too slow of crankshaft Rpm's and have problematic vibrations with some PTO driven equipment .
 
Back in those days, tractor PTO speeds weren't standardized at 540 and 1000 like they are now. Not even the PTO shafts themselves were standardized for size like they are now. There was quite a bit of variation in both, sometimes within the same brand. John Deere did that in the lettered series.

For example, our old Minneapolis Moline's PTO ran at 630 RPM at 1500 RPM crankshaft speed. To use it at 540 meant slowing the engine down to about 1300. Our old MM U operated at 1200 RPM with a similarly fast PTO speed, so slowing it down to 540 meant slowing the engine to 1000 RPM or less.

Other manufacturers had their own schemes. Some even ran 720 RPM PTO speeds. Tractor manufacturers built implements to match their tractors.

As time went on, it made sense for everybody to standardize PTO speeds and shaft sizes so that any make of tractor could run any make of equipment.

As a side note, you can accomplish what you want with any tractor that has a 1000 RPM PTO (if it is powerful enough). My neighbor has been mowing hay for years with a White 105, running the 540 RPM disc mower on his 1000 PTO and throttling back.
 
Red frame and yellow wheels could have been a Massey-Harris, I think they merged into Massey-Ferguson in the late 1950's. The only M-H tractors I can think of that would be close to 60 HP would be the 55 and 555. If you use an older tractor a lot on a generator, it could be worth inspecting and maybe rebuilding the governor for more even speed control. Diesel engines tend to have less RPM variation than gasoline or LPG engines.
 
John Deere 2010 has a dual speed PTO, about that HP range, and right years, came in LP fuel if needed but of course - would have been green with yellow wheel and seat and trim.
 
Red orange frame and yellow wheels would be a Massey Harris to me, I think the last year was 1955.
 
(quoted from post at 00:29:57 08/09/17) Don't attempt to run a generator with a 2 banger jd. The uneven pto speed burns them out.
Click to expand...
We ran ours for years with a 720 and never had a problem.
 
(quoted from post at 17:10:05 08/08/17) Red frame and yellow wheels could have been a Massey-Harris, I think they merged into Massey-Ferguson in the late 1950's. The only M-H tractors I can think of that would be close to 60 HP would be the 55 and 555. If you use an older tractor a lot on a generator, it could be worth inspecting and maybe rebuilding the governor for more even speed control. Diesel engines tend to have less RPM variation than gasoline or LPG engines.
Click to expand...

Now that you mention Massey Harris and I saw a picture of a 555 my guess is that is it. My uncle told me grandfather did also have Minneapolis-Moline.
How difficult are LP MH 555's to find intact (I do not at all mind rebuild it myself but want it all there to begin with)? Also I need to run the low crankshaft rpm types for my generator project as sadly we are not entirely without suburban neighbours anymore! Dang encroachment anyway!!!
 
I would post your questions on the "Massey-Harris & Massey-Ferguson" board on this website (scroll down under "Discussion Forums" in the left hand column).

Check the "Nebraska Tractor Tests" http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/ for some good info and specifications on any particular tractor.
Test #452 Massey-Harris 55 Diesel
Test #455 Massey-Harris 55 Gasoline
I don't know the test numbers for the M-H 555 or the LPG versions, but you should be able to find them.

Don't always trust the info on Tractor Warehouse, they have a lot of errors.
 
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