MAX PULL FOR AN HG

[jkoperwas]

What is the max pull of one of these HG units in lbs ?

[Frank Dodson]

The HG was tested twice at Nebraska  once as the Cletrac HG in 1939 and ten years later as the Oliver HG. The max. pull for the first pull was 2800 lbs.  In 1949 the engine size was increased to 19 hp and I think the max. pull was 3200 lbs. This is draw bar pull in 1st gear going 1.8 mph.

[thecatskinner]

It is kind of interesting to note that Oliver in their own literature only claimed 3060# for low gear.  
That still made it more than the tractor weight:D:D

[ggibby]

I pulled the same with mine (3200#) but it would not pull 3600# more than a foot and a half.
This was on grass with a more or less gravel base.
I still have the original hitch and it was at max extention.
The HG has 12 inch wide pads and the grousers are about one inch high.
Once the boat is over the tractor max the front just comes up and the rear just digs in.
I figure once the weight is off the track brackets the weight is no longer working to the favor the pull.
What can be done to improve my tractor for pulling without making major or ireversible modifcations?
I was thinking of making some brackets to allow me to Chain down the springs to limit suspension travel.
Should the hitch be raised or lowered to get a better weight transfer to the track?
What other things can be done?
Looking forward to your suggestions.
Regards,
George Gibby

[thecatskinner]

Dropping the hook point down would help the problem with the front coming up.

The thing you don't want to do is get the hook point on the tractor lower than the sled.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Just an FYI... the very first tractor to ever (and maybe the only one ever) pull its own weight in drawbar horsepower was the Oliver OC-15 with my grandfather Howard van Driest operating at the Nebraska Tests in 195?.