Question which is best to try to pull with

try109 · #1 07-16-2009, 03:30 PM

I'm really new to this. Is a tractor with hydrostatic drive not as good to try to pull with than a gear transmission? It seams like you would probally lose some power with the hydrol.

ACecil · #2 07-16-2009, 04:56 PM

A gear drive is better to use for pulling, rather than a hydro.

Jim H. · #3 07-16-2009, 05:05 PM

I have an unmentionable brand tractor about the size of a super GT that IH has.
18 Hp briggs. V twin , Hydrostatic, heavy enough to do all the normal and not so normal things I do with it. I have pushed full blades of brush wider and higer than the hood, the length of my yard, Last summer I pushed 40 ton of limestone in 2 and a half hours great powerful machine.

I have pulled a weight transfer sled, the track was a short one 40 ' the sled could stop the big boys.

I did fairly well on that track , but when it came to pulling the Big Boys sled I looked like a fool. after the first 30 ft, the hydro fluid would be so hot it foamed and I lost all power to the ground. I would let off and hit er again only to bury the tractor in place. {Big Boys tried to tell me that}. After about four tries and $20.00 hookup fees, plus the gas involved in going to where they were having their event, I realized I wasn't going to make any money with this set up.

So I'd Say you better go with a gear drive.
Of course you will have to make some minor modifications to have a good running stock er. Like a heavier clutch spring. Figure the weight positioning needed to make best traction. tire inflation is important too.

One word of warning The last sled I pulled , These guys have it down to a science. I even saw, after tractor /driver weigh in. the drivers would go to the concession stand and pig out just to add more weight. Took the fun side out for me, some said they didn't eat for three days prior to weigh in time.

try109 · #4 07-17-2009, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the info. I don't think that I will get all that competetive. I just want to have some fun.

Cubmonkey · #5 07-23-2009, 09:41 PM

Gear drives are better for pulling. i have a 1200 that i pull. Ive seen some hydros outpull the gear drives in the lawn stock class. So if your just ut to have fun i think you will be safe running a hydro.

truckntran · #6 09-27-2009, 02:59 PM

Well, as a 1250 and 1450 hydro owner I can tell ya my experience from all two pulls i have gone to.. The first was a stoneboat pull.. I got third out of about 8 tractors, and did so by slowly advancing the hydro lever at full throttle until the sled moved, then just motoring down the track. Of course I was running at about 1600 lbs with every weight I could find strapped to the poor beast. Stock Turf tires, not ag tires... it was a very loose track but I was beat only by 16 HP Gravelys with as much weight as they could carry too.

Second pull, transfer sled at a JD dealership.. Lots of expensive toys there, mostly gear drive Cubs and belt Drive WHeel Horse and Sears trctors. Weight was limited to 1300 Lbs, and I was in the same class as 20 HP tractors. Had I known beforehand I would have stuck to the 1250 instead of trying to get the 1450 setup to pull.

End result.....transfer sled was winner hands down... I got 54 feet, next worse pull was 70 feet.. and the hot rods were doing full pulls at 100 feet with 12 alleged HP in a 122. I found it very difficult to keep the hydro lever where it was using the power band without slowing down the speed down the track to where intertia was not on my side. I was amazed to actually pull a small wheelie, didn't think the turfs had enough traction but the hard track hooked up well.

This was a 14 HP in a 1450, totally stock with a very recent replacement new engine.

Long story short, don't bother with hydros....they are great tractors but just not competitive in pulling. (Unless you spend stupid money on your engine..)