Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Roll-a-matics

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
rustyfarmall

09-21-2004 08:17:10




Report to Moderator

I just noticed in the photo ads someone has several rollamatic fronts for the John Deeres, and I got to wondering if anyone has ever tried fitting one of these to a non JD tractor? I do know that the people who developed this concept originally tried to sell it to International Harvester, and somewhere I saw a picture of one fitted to either a Farmall B or C, can't remember which it was. Any comments?

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Randy Varilek

09-24-2004 21:20:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 08:17:10  
My dad listed corn for years and I remember running that 3010 diesel with the roll a matic. The funny part about it was when you used it on listed ridges, John Deere offered a roll a matic lock device that locked the wheels together so you could keep it on the ridges.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
fixerupper

09-22-2004 07:00:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 08:17:10  
None of us has a right to brag about our tractor until we build it ourself. Where's the glory in buying a tractor designed and built by someone else, and then bragging about it!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Leroy

09-22-2004 03:16:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 08:17:10  
There was an aftermarket company started making one for IHC and I think might have been for others also but with John deere's patent they had to quit. And for you guys that are color blind to one or the other, quit it and start thinking what works and what doesent and not who made it. Had both IHC and JD (only 2 cylinders, lost me for a customer when they quit them, went to Fords). You try to plow a furrow with a Farmal H and get the front wheels stuck and can't get them out as they just want to keep sliding down the furrow and then you do the same with a JD B with the rolamatic and it will walk right out of that furrow or you try to work fist time over that rough ground with or without the rolamatic you will see its value

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

09-21-2004 10:55:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 08:17:10  
Now Rusty,

We've been thru this a dozen times and you know perfectly well that no self-respecting IH guy is ever gonna have one of those wimpy tricycles on any of his tractors!!

Whoopps!!! There goes my smart-a$$ mouth again. :>) LOL!

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall

09-21-2004 11:55:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Allan in NE, 09-21-2004 10:55:15  
Allen, my thoughts exactly, and I don't mean to argue with Indydirtfarmer, but what was the point of the rollamatic? I sorta grew up on those 3020s, 4010s, 4020s, and some of those tractors had the rollamatic, and some didn't. Niether me, or my dad, or anyone else who ever drove those tractors could tell any difference between which tractor had it and which one didn't. I think IH made a wise choice to not go with it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
G-MAN

09-23-2004 16:31:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 11:55:42  
Because you couldn't tell the difference IH didn't need it? There were and are advantages to the Roll-O-Matic. First, with the two spindles geared to each other, one is able to travel down while the other travels up. While traveling over a six-inch-high obstacle, the front of the tractor only raises three inches, because the height is divided between the two. Steering was also greatly improved, particularly on manual steering tractors. The JD two-banger power-steering system was good enough that you probably wouldn't notice any difference between a standard tricycle and a Roll-O-Matic on a power-steering tractor, but you sure would on a manual one. The Roll-O-Matic also provided a little "suspension" to the front end, and smoothed out the bumps some. Plus the aforementioned advantages in plowing. The Roll-O-Matic was good enough and liked enough to stay in production into the late 70s. Unlike IH, Deere only kept stuff around that was wanted and proven, not what they thought they could continue to foist off on customers when the others were already ahead. Ever seen a full- powershift IH???? No Binder Boys, hydros don't count. There, that ought to get some b.s. rolling, lol.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

09-21-2004 13:17:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 11:55:42  
Rusty,

The green tractors you mention all have power steering. When used on the older models without PS, the effect of the unit IS noticeable at the steering wheel.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mitchissippi

09-21-2004 12:44:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 11:55:42  
If you couldn't tell the difference, you didn't need the Roll-a-Matic. They would step over the clods without snatching the wheel out of you hands for one thing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Farmered

09-21-2004 22:30:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Mitchissippi, 09-21-2004 12:44:48  
Massey Harris castored their front ends to make steering easier on rough ground. A good idea that didn't cost so much. Ed



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Indydirtfarmer

09-21-2004 12:34:53




Report to Moderator
 NOW I AM MAD! in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 11:55:42  
Naw, not really. The Roll-O-Matic is one of those "I got it and you don't" sort of things. The advantage was so minimal, it wasn't even noticable. It was just one more "feature" on a line of tractors that was famous for other things, like the powershift tranny, The first GOOD R.O.P.S. system, and a host of things that in their total, made a great tractor. If the 4020 wouldn't have been built, some of Deere's greatest accomplishments would have fell through the cracks. It's not a coincidence that Deere took over market share in Ag equipment the very same year the 4010 was introduced. The 4020 took the 4010's design to a higher level. The two of them made Deere what it is today....John

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
New-Gen

09-22-2004 07:02:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-21-2004 12:34:53  
Funny you should mention the GOOD ROPS. I always found it ironic that during the time JD was promoting the ROPS, IH boasted the feature of having a lever on the back of the tractor so the operator could stand next to the pto shaft and engage it. Don"t get me started on the 4010"s and 4020"s. It took IH, AC, and everybody else at least a decade to catch up to those old workhorses, and apparently it was too little too late, since they all either merged or totally disapered from the scene.
John Deere is still John Deere, and for good reason.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

09-21-2004 13:21:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-21-2004 12:34:53  
Actually I think that they over took the market for the first time with the 30 series 2 cyl's. I think one of those magazines had in an artical.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
G-MAN

09-23-2004 16:26:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to Mike M, 09-21-2004 13:21:35  
You're correct. JD took over the overall sales lead in 1958, two years prior to the intro of the New Gens and also prior to the 560 debacle. IH fans would have you believe that it was the 560 mess alone that tanked IH, but in fact they were already losing to Deere. Their rush to introduce a faulty tractor simply threw gas on the fire.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
nwb

09-21-2004 16:33:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to Mike M, 09-21-2004 13:21:35  
I Thought the Farmal 560 made John Deere #1?!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

09-21-2004 16:37:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to nwb, 09-21-2004 16:33:08  
NWB,

LOL! Pretty darned close. We had one of those old gals and couldn't keep a head on it for love nor money.

Had to go the JD route for a number of years on that one, just as you say.

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

09-21-2004 12:53:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: NOW I AM MAD! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-21-2004 12:34:53  
Yes this is true.

JD took those stolen IH ideas and really make 'em pay, didn't they? 'Specially when they finally decided to come in out of the rain and add a few cylinders, years and years after IH.

I always wondered why they didn't steal the color schemes too. Deadhead engineers probably didn't think of it. It took the “bright” case idiots to figure that one out.

Yep, ya just got to hand it to JD; took all those ideas and got people to buy into their 'original forward thinking' strategy. :>)

What? You say I know not of what I speak? Shucks!

Oh, that’s right…they did take that clankin’, noisy old hydraulic pump and hang it out front just as Ford was doing. :>)

LOL!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

09-21-2004 12:00:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 11:55:42  
Naw,

We all know that we 'taint argueing; we're just a visitin'.

Kinda nice to lean over the fence and talk back and forth like this....no matter the color, no matter the make.

Heck, I like 'em all! :>)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall

09-21-2004 12:11:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Allan in NE, 09-21-2004 12:00:36  
I agree, I guess what started this whole thing was the fact I was thinking(strange territory) that it would be quite a conversation piece if I was to rig one somehow onto say a Farmall M, and try to pass it off as an experimental thing, kinda like painting an M white and trying to pass it off as a demonstrator.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Indydirtfarmer

09-21-2004 11:05:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Allan in NE, 09-21-2004 10:55:15  
Just one more of those THOUSANDS of great ideas that lead John Deere to the mountaintop! John



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

09-21-2004 11:10:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-21-2004 11:05:07  
Boy John!

You're on a roll this morning!

Watch that blood pressure now; I needs ya around. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Indydirtfarmer

09-21-2004 11:14:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to Allan in NE, 09-21-2004 11:10:03  
Calm and cool! I can pull someones chain all day if they keep dangling that chain! John



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Val

09-21-2004 10:37:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Roll-a-matics in reply to rustyfarmall, 09-21-2004 08:17:10  
I put one on a 450 Farmall and used it for putting up hay for about 5 years. I had to make a 1" thick adaptor plate since the bolt patterns were not the same. Worked great although it raised the front of the tractor a bit. I have since put a wide front on the tractor when I added a loader to it. Still have the roll-a-matic and the adaptor if I or someone else needs it.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy