Back when tractor pulling was tractor pulling

No helmets, fire suits or roll bars.  Yikes!

I've gone thru the years watching the old way gradually change.  But last Friday night I saw a pull where restraints, cages and helmets proved their purpose....Dale

What the heck is that thing? Has early bar grill of 190, has series III fenders, No holes in the hood for intake or exhaust, Exhuast is on the outside like a 160 the axel looks like theres a drop box to the wheels-(might be picture illusion), 4 bolts and nuts sticking out of hood under the Allis-Chalmers decal, and some little round A-C badge on grill screen. And a host of other things that don't look factory.

Over on E-BAY there is a  Magazine for sale called  Shop Magazine ,This picture is on the listing.They show in side pictures  and a write up on this tractor!

The good old days! I've have done stuff like that. ) Could you imagine setting in seat of today's tractors without all the safety gear! I'm sure glade for all the safety gear,roll cages and stuff they require today! And its amazing no one has been killed or seriously hurt yet with some of these motors coming apart! I keep dreaming of having a D-21 puller someday ))) Have to settle for a mini one ! 

The Tractor was a "Modified 180".  I believe this is a friend of mine.  Now lives in Countryside IL.  Was a Engine turbo engineer for AC at Harvey.  Later worked for IH and retired about two years ago.  Has many patents for turbos.  Would rather not give name. - AL

Edited by ALinIL - 30 Jul 2010 at 2:32pm

It is a 190 or 190XT (look at the brake arms) .. twin turbos with the big turbo just ahead of the dashboard sideways....I know who it is but just can't remember his name.

looks like a drop axle to me, 180-185.

Edited by JoeO(CMO) - 31 Jul 2010 at 4:46pm

Claus wrote: ...looks like he is sitting higher in the saddle than a 180.

Methinks that might be 'pucker factor' altering the seating position.

I remember going to small-town tractor pulls, and seein' super-stockers show up lookin' like that...  none'a this six-engine arena-stuff... most were straight from the field, and then a few that were headin' straight to the track.

I'm with Bob.  I went to a pull one time and unloaded a day early (it was also a show). I looked  up the hill, and wondered what was going on so I took the C up and it was an impromptu old fashioned pull.  Big chain and 2 tractors.

You can clearly see the left brake housing and the lever with the adjusting bolt and even to the left of that the long PTO engagement lever under the platform....it IS a 190 or XT driveline. That tractor always ran very well whenever I saw it.....just can't remember the guys name.

I like the fact that it appears to have a Budweiser sticker on the engine shield!!!

After finally figuring out what I was looking at, I can now see that it is the brake housing I was looking at and not the axel. The axel is back in the shadows. Not use to seeing brake housings hanging out in the open like these are.

  OK so my vision is not good,so wheres the fuel tank and the battery box and the rest of the platform thats been narrowed up?

The left fender looks like a "Z" bend as they are alot smaller radius than any fenders coming out of AC plant and with old "U" steel fence posts or seed corn sign posts welded on for stiffners. Just a thought. 

Edited by JoeO(CMO) - 31 Jul 2010 at 4:57pm

Your right DR. Terry Wood, I have the -TRACTOR SHOP -magizine right in front of me, its the FALL 2008 issue; Larry Swenson has a write up about tractor pulling and theyre are great photos of AC pullers , Duane Cates in 1980 with a 3 turboed D21, MARK Gettinger with his 21,  SUPER ALLIS  a black D21 is in there ,Terry Wood on a 190 + also a great looking modified  nf D19, he has a BIG grin on the 19 just not so much dirt + dust flyin  ; I put a 2 turbo setup on a 180, need more gears as 8th  aint fast  enough  but man the motor gets warm !!!