WMSTR Rollag 2021 Large Early Gas Tractors. Prairie Busters

[@Tealmoney8571]

I remember as kid back in the 90s my dad would take me to a show in NC that had old steam tractors like these. I loved it! So cool to be up close to those behemoths! Those hit and miss engines are something else too!

[@majorlan5656]

It blew me away ! These machines inspire respect...How wonderful is this Pioneer !

[@tomthumb5445]

Equally amazing is the number of companies that thought they had a better idea and went ahead and built it. That is the true pioneer way.

[@crazydave4455]

Was quite the competition then and less lawyers….

[@michaelguerin56]

I gather that Popular Mechanics magazine articles had a great deal to do with the rapid proliferation of internal combustion technology and self propelled vehicles in the U.S.A.

[@crazydave4455]

@@michaelguerin56 maybe…

[@mrobsoletesvintagehomestea9156]

Before attending Rolog, I had never seen many of the giant prairie tractors, and am still amazed that so many have been preserved. The curator spent some time with us and told us a story about the Pioneer tractor. Years back when they were trying to expand the grounds, they used the Pioneer as collateral for the loans on three different occasions, as it was the most valuable piece of equipment there.

[@crazydave4455]

I have saw some rebuilt from nothing but a frame. I’m glad they take on the project and cost. (Of course a finished prairie is very valuable) The next show I’m going has a Pioneer 30-60 as well, wearing black paint!

[@hovanti]

Thanks for the great video, and it was especially neat to see the cab view in the Pioneer. I'm a member of an organization here in PA that features machines just like these; it is always good to see the past preserved in the form of these tractors.

[@crazydave4455]

They are so unique and fantastic engineering marvels.

[@jo10016]

These are beautiful to see, I love seeing them not restored. Here in the UK we visit steam rallies and rarely do you see old steam engines which not been restored. These were amazing to watch.

[@crazydave4455]

It’s one of the best shows around here!

[@oldguyzcustomsmetalshop7991]

You can see these are the link between the steam tractors and the modern design/shape. Fascinating!

[@crazydave4455]

Very cool to see all the different ideas, engine designs, cooling systems. They were making it up as they went!

[@malcolmmarzo2461]

Thanks for providing a little narration and close up details - something sorely lacking in most videos on historical equipment.

[@AdamAdamHDL]

Great stuff.... Really great. These shows, and steam shows is one of the reasons i would travel to America some day.. just so cool this stuff.

[@crazydave4455]

This is one of the best shows in our area. (MN)

[@jeffstrom164]

Love that most of these don't have engine bays, just roofs over the whole tractor. I dont think a lot of people understand how big of an investment these early tractors were. The equivalent today would be something like buying Porsche or a Benz to plow fields with. They either didn't have a family vehicle or it was bottom end, but the tractor, that was worth money. On our farm we had three tractors that all ran perfectly and had tons of fabricated aftermarket parts ranging from installed and upgraded PTOS to hydraulics for front loaders and plows. The family car on the other hand, well, it ran good enough and the gages all worked. Didn't have electric windows or seats. The radio had giant silver knobs and buttons but no tapedeck. It was bottom of the line. And I'm not old, this was back in the 70s and 80s.

[@jpsholland]

In the Netherlands, those days of the tractors on the video, it was very common that a group of farmers bought one tractor.

[@MrMarinus18]

They also had most of their parts exposed to make them easy to repair. But while they did break down a lot they were very repairable and many pretty much lasted forever.

[@paulhoffpauir1748]

I like watching old machineries I enjoy that

[@Truck-Train-Ship-Car-Bikelover]

Great video, perfect montage, and a i love the starts up's from this old engine tractors, you see that pioneer 102 years old...in 2021 ..it is now 104 years old on 20-02-23.

[@Landtechnikoldies_Flo]

Great Video 📸 nice tractors 👍🏼

Great veterans 👏👏👏👏 I love these old marvels!

[@crazydave4455]

Me too!

[@vernonspady555]

Such a great video! Excellent job. Just love that old machinery!

[@pinesedgefarm1155]

Those prairie busters are some cool contraptions. Pretty amazing how much power they had. That little Devil catches my eye.

[@crazydave4455]

Each brand was so different in their engine designs and cooling systems. One of my favorite things at the shows.

[@pinesedgefarm1155]

@@crazydave4455 very interesting how they were built.

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

So many awesome old tractors!! It is amazing how different so many of them are.. then look at today's.. just different color paint and plastic. Thanks for the video Dave!!!

[@crazydave4455]

Those early gas fascinate me. Can you imagine running the hills by you with those monsters 100 years ago? Scary…

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

@@crazydave4455 probably why they ran the hills with horses, mules, then cats...

[@crazydave4455]

@@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin probably a better plan 😁 you know there was probably that one guy that tried and rolled it over, or ran it into a creek 😂

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

@@crazydave4455 lol.. could be...

[@daleolson3506]

And mostly made in China India Japan Korea. None in USA. Maybe some John Deere assembled here with parts sourced from China.

[@semiretiredtrucker3712]

Imagine running one of these all day, every day. But, those guys did!

[@michaelguerin56]

Great video. Good to see so many early tractors in one video and at one location. Thank you.

[@crazydave4455]

Thanks

[@ronphillips1437]

Great video love the old tractors

[@petergardner2334]

SUCH A INTERESTING VIDEO WATCHING FROM ENGLAND

[@crazydave4455]

👍

[@rcnelson]

Love the Steamers, but these early IC tractors have a charm and fascination of their own.

[@Rainhill1829]

Hey there, im currently heading up a project to restore a derelict Pioneer 30. Thanks for the vid its great to see a running one after spending so many hours on a non running machine working tirelessly.

[@crazydave4455]

Awesome. Is the one you’re working on club/museum owned? One of the 12 known? We have at least 2 of them here in MN. WMSTR owns one (this video) and John Peternell has one that is at the Albany show. I’ll look for it on your channel, good luck ! I’m currently working on a Heider D and know the challenges of working on the rare ones.

[@rustygoldfanatic8830]

Excellent video,thanks for posting a vid you can hear each tractor individually not 200 engines and tractors in the background, I miss going to the shows.

[@crazydave4455]

Thanks rustygold.

[@stephenfonder7409]

Thanks for filming these monsters. I've read about most of them in magazines and books but never heard them run.

[@crazydave4455]

They are my favorites. Best part in my opinion, is when they are getting woke up. So many different designs, so innovative given the time. Most shows have some Rumleys around, but Rollag has so many rare tractors. Thanks Stephen.

[@philhand5830]

I got to drive a Minneapolis Moline (Minnie Mo) tractor on a farm in Southern Colorado (in the San Luis valley) about 55 years ago!!! A real treat!!! (Triple L youth ranch it was....)

[@750VFR]

Fantastic machines, we have traction engines, these are something quite different.🇬🇧😎

[@tyrssen1]

Wonderful stuff! Hey, a "magic spell for good measure" couldn't hurt, when getting one of these babies lit! A buddy and I once conspired to build a flywheel engine powered dragster (as something of a joke, of course) but never did.

[@Dextamartijn]

This is actually really cool . The old steam engines Are actually quite impressive we have a few at the westlock vintage tractor machinery museum. And we have a few club members that still operate them

[@crazydave4455]

This is one of the largest steam shows in North America, lots of stationary steam and traction engines. Even locomotives!

[@louiszierlein5814]

I love this. I have spent weeks and months coaxing ancient engiens back to life.

[@crazydave4455]

I have as well.

[@bluebeagle2641]

I've never heard of these tractors this is amazing

[@crazydave4455]

Most didn’t survive the scrap drives.

[@Butleger880]

Как приятно звучат эти двигатели просто техномузыка 👍

[@neildelaney5199]

Great film,, we don't have such huge tractors over here in England, just huge Steam Traction Engines,, I really must come to America, to one of your antique tractor shows (threshers reunion?) ,,many thanks

[@crazydave4455]

These competed with the big steamers in the later time frame of their run. We have some really great shows, this being one of them. Huge stationary steam engines etc. days of stuff to see. Another giant show (maybe be the largest in the country) is the half century of progress show in Rantoul Illinois. They host it every other year. They have a bunch of early gas stuff as well! Thanks for the comment Neil.

[@user-tx9mv2cg7e]

My great grandfather owned that pioneer tractor, broke many acres of prairie in northwest North Dakota

[@rafalemarine5063]

Magnifique !!

[@crazydave4455]

They sure are!

[@wildman510]

That one mogul is pretty interesting, I didn't know they used pony motors like that that far back!

[@crazydave4455]

Pretty cool to see all the different approaches that took. Love those early prairie busters!

[@germanmg42]

Well they sure as hell don't use them today lol

[@rickscott1162]

Is this Heaven? Must be for ancient tractors!

[@crazydave4455]

Yes!

[@brycefugate4416]

Love the old iron.

[@shaneholst6940]

That was cool Dave ! Thanks for sharing!!👍🍻

[@crazydave4455]

Thanks Shane. I love those old monsters!

[@shaneholst6940]

@@crazydave4455 they are really something!!

[@cambodiakubotatractor]

Wow... many awesome old tractors old driver ...has...ha..

[@dizzydigger7083]

These are some sweet tractors!

[@crazydave4455]

I think so 😁

[@keithrobinson1331]

Great pc of history Dave that was amazing 🤩 🤣👏👏👏👏

[@IndelibleHD]

Incredible machines.

[@joobn8r]

Lots of really big people need really big tractors

[@burlingtoniowarailfanhomeo8368]

We need more of these engines here in Iowa

[@jiggyquinn5635]

Very cool, thank you.

[@kevinhoffman8214]

just amazing

[@mwburfeind]

I grew up near Winona MN and for one summer some 40 years ago worked across the street from the building that was formerly the production facility for Pioneer Tractor unfortunately all gone now

[@crazydave4455]

It’s an interesting history that isn’t well documented. From what I’ve read there isn’t much information about the company or how it disappeared.

[@dness3673]

There is a running one in Makoti, North Dakota. Annual threshing show there. July 8-10 of this year.

[@gglen2141]

All kinds of ways to lose limbs playing around with those machines. I've always found it interesting how those big accessory belts manage to not fly off, they don't seem to have any edge channel to keep the belt inline.

[@crazydave4455]

You have to get the angles just right for the flat belts to stay on, I’ve watched some guys struggle. The old pros make it look easy.

[@arvbergstedt3303]

The pulleys are high in the middle. Middle diameter is larger than side diameters which makes the belt climb toward the center.

[@arvbergstedt3303]

Probably should say circumference

[@bryanh1944FBH]

At 0:34, I was worried the moon was going to come out. ha ha

[@crazydave4455]

Those suspenders hung in there!

[@samkleinbaum8406]

@@crazydave4455 speaking as the guy that was starting it there I wear a under shirt, suspenders and a belt. I try really hard not to subject people to that sight.

[@beefyiceman94]

That "7mph" looked like 100!

[@victoryfirst2878]

I can tell you that this is on my bucket list for sure. Look forward to see this iron in the flesh. Peace VF

[@crazydave4455]

It’s a great show, worth it. 👍

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@crazydave4455 When is the show for 2022 Sir ?? Thanks

[@crazydave4455]

@@victoryfirst2878 always through Labor Day weekend rollag.com/

[@WootTootZoot]

Ummmm...Bro, you wore a 32 inch waist jeans in High School, 200 pounds later, you do not still wear a 32 inch waist.

[@julesmarwell8023]

wow what a SYMPHONY>

[@mattblack6414]

It maybe just be a myth, but I've read that back in the day some farmers would leave the engine running overnight rather than go through the ritual of starting it again the next morning.

[@crazydave4455]

Never know, these old dogs use a lot of fuel so it won’t be economical. But if in good working condition they start pretty well.

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

11:11 imagine that on paved roads. Looks rough on soft roads!

[@fixitmann6685]

Except, of course, there WERE no paved roads. And most of these were used on a farm for things like plowing, etc.

[@apatchofheavenfarm2814]

Maybe someday I'll get asked to take a ride along

[@crazydave4455]

Just takes talking to the right person at the right time. Of course it helped that his wife was off doing something else at the time 😂 (she normally is in there) Next video I got another ride along in a rare machine!! Awesome folks at these shows.

[@samkleinbaum8406]

I am one of the operators of the giant red tractor in this video and know a bunch of the operators of them in this video. You won't get asked to ride along but if you ask us odds are we will let you.

[@allanegleston4931]

thanks for sharing.

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

just awesome! good thing no one ever got hurt starting a tractor by hand..... that pioneer looked slick, 1000 cubic inches for 30 hp and 23k lbs. thats crazy. engine sounds like a horse gallop at idle. at 18:56 is the fan not working or is a camera thing?

[@crazydave4455]

These things are awesome! The ingenuity in that timeframe. For the fan I think it’s a camera frame rate thing, at 18:37 (same tractor) the fan shaft is spinning. Thanks Jon!

[@reddirtfarm7704]

The guy starting that case with black magic... definitely reminds me of of my self!!!🤣

[@crazydave4455]

It worked!

[@reddirtfarm7704]

@@crazydave4455 i believe it. I do the same stuff with my one titan...

[@udflyer98]

It's only weird if it doesn't work.

[@ArmpitStudios]

Great stuff! So much wild innovation in those early days.

[@crazydave4455]

Amazing considering the time period. Thinking outside the box! Safety was an after thought….

[@victoryfirst2878]

Hello Sir, you said there is twelve know to exist. Why are their so few that do exist ??? SInce they were so popular everywhere you would think there would be many more around. Thanks

[@crazydave4455]

Probably the WW2 scrap drives was a big reason a lot of these disappeared. That and they became obsolete and wore out.

[@victoryfirst2878]

@@crazydave4455 Just never thought of the obvious. Thanks Dave.

[@andrewward1887]

Where I live in PA there is a guy with a huge collection of these tractors, one of them has 10' or 12' wheels if your standing on the back of it, you can not see in front of you I don't know how you would drive it the tractor is that massive it's from around 1910.

[@crazydave4455]

Good to hear there are more out there. They are worth big $$$

[@andrewward1887]

@@crazydave4455 yeah I would say he has about 50 of these rare tractors, I don't know where your located but if you ever come to PA we have working museum called, Rough and Tumble Engineers museum we have a big summer show in August ck is out on the web.

[@crazydave4455]

@@andrewward1887 I’m in central MN, I’ve never been to PA, maybe someday. Lucky enough to have some really good shows out here and once I while I’ll run down to Mecum to see some rare ones!

[@laserbeam002]

Just wondering....How much would the Pioneer have cost new when it was produced??? Loved the post. Thank you.

[@crazydave4455]

According to gas engine magazine “the Pioneer Tractor Mfg. Co. was saddled with a couple of drawbacks: First, the size of their large tractors, and second, the prices of their machines. The 30-60, for example, sold for $2,700 in 1911, and five years later almost double, at $4,500. “

[@laserbeam002]

@@crazydave4455 That would have been a lot for the average farmer. I'm thinking only the most successful farmers, and others, could afford them.

[@crazydave4455]

@@laserbeam002 Sometimes a community or family purchase. And then they would share and do custom work. Our families first tractor was a homemade made out of a dodge brothers car. (Doodle bug) after that it was an unstyled JD A bought around 1940

[@terranova486]

Which the fuel in this machines ? Totally incredible...incredible American people

[@crazydave4455]

Most where designed to run gasoline and kerosene. Start them on gas and once warm, they could burn kerosene or distillate.

[@EinsamerWanderer]

Wooooooooow, 😍😍😍😍😍.

[@randalldunkley1042]

Nothing says progress like American capitalism. If there is one thing that epitomizes the American dream it is the image of a lit light bulb.

[@davidhansen4471]

wonderfull nuf said

[@ShamanKish]

Made for speed! 🤠

[@fredflintstoner596]

DAM THESE NEW FANGLED MACHINES ! WHATS WRONG WITH STEAM POWER ?

[@Biboran.]

Is there a review of the NAMI-012 car somewhere ?

[@crazydave4455]

Would have to search. I didn’t know what it was, but looked it up. Russian Steam military truck from the 40s pretty cool!

[@dcisfun]

I am pretty sure parts never wear out either.

[@crazydave4455]

Those bull gears take a beating, but they planned ahead fairly well. I’m currently in an engine built in 1917 and the rods still are full of shims packs!

[@brustar5152]

Where would you have found a 300lb guy to heave on that starting bar in the early 1900's?

[@crazydave4455]

Good question, probably have to settle for 2 150#ers

[@samkleinbaum8406]

I'm the 300 lb guy starting the first tractor. The guy that taught me how to do it was about 110 and he could do it. You just had to be smart and not afraid to break yourself.

[@750VFR]

Have watched again in awe and have a second comment. Are these gas(oline) / petrol or kerosene/paraffin engines? 😎🇬🇧

[@crazydave4455]

Most I believe were designed to run on kerosene / distillate. Usually start them on gas until they are warmed up and switch to “tractor fuel”. I have a 1918 Heider. It has 2 tanks and one has 2 compartments. One is gas, one is kerosene and one is water. You start it on Gas, switch to kerosene when warmed up and dial in the water (needle valve on intake) the water keeps it from detonating. Rumleys also inject water with kerosene.

[@750VFR]

Thanks for the information.

[@clarencetrice4442]

alot of early gas tractors I haven't seen at shows around here where IM at U just don't see them 😮😮 OMG 8 12 2O23

[@crazydave4455]

Rollag MN, this show is every Labor Day weekend. 3 weeks to go, you have time to make it!

[@karstent.66]

What sort of fuel need these tractors? They will hardly run on Diesel fuel? And the engines must have lots of torque, otherwise these heavy machines are difficult to move forward.

[@crazydave4455]

I believe most were designed to run on kerosene or distillate (tractor fuel) usually you would start them on gas and once warmed up you could switch them to run on the heavier cheaper fuel. Now days they just run these on gas. Look up “all fuel tractors” for more explanation. And yes, massive bore and strokes running at low RPMs big torque numbers.

[@heronimousbrapson863]

I'm sure Wile E. Coyote ordered at least one of these from Acme....

[@shealdedmon7027]

If someone could tell me how you could see to drive that tractor they start at the 25 second mark of this video I would appreciate it. In the prairie it wouldn't be a problem but getting back in the barn seams like a whole other story.

[@crazydave4455]

Probably with the help of spotter’s? I would guess they were always run with a crew. Even at the shows, there are usually a few folks on the platforms and ground watching.

[@shealdedmon7027]

@@crazydave4455 thanks for the reply. I could watch these old tractors all day.

[@crazydave4455]

@@shealdedmon7027 they are remarkable for the time period. We are lucky enough here in MN to have quite a few at our shows. I have another video featuring some at the Albany show from this fall.

[@shealdedmon7027]

@@crazydave4455 I'll check it out. I'm from Eastern Maine. There aren't any tractors that old around here that I know of. You can find n8 and n9s pretty easy but nothing like those machines in your video. I've got a 1971 Ford 4000. We keep each other busy.

[@SimplyTakuma]

All the tractors are looking like stationary engines, that someone put wheels on it.

[@rtruth8378]

Would be awsome to see them pulling ploughs and putting them though the paces.

[@crazydave4455]

The days I was out there, it was too wet for field demos. If you search half century of progress show (HCOP) there are some videos of these old monsters plowing and pulling 👍

[@nellsonstout7001]

Are you going this year?

[@crazydave4455]

I want to, but a day trip = 7 hours of driving maybe.

[@nellsonstout7001]

@@crazydave4455 I’m from Indiana but I’m meeting up with a buddy from Missouri and we’re going from there

[@crazydave4455]

@@nellsonstout7001 nice! If you’ve never been there, you will be impressed! Hope you have a couple days to take it all in, there is a lot to see.

[@nellsonstout7001]

@@crazydave4455 we do. We planned it out for a pretty awesome side quest too

[@jonathanjuillerat9831]

Where is thia held and when?

[@crazydave4455]

Rollag MN it’s called Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion. It’s held over Labor Day weekend every year. It’s a HUGE show, definitely worth a trip! 👍

[@chrisloder3363]

It took me a sec as a Brit to work out that gas = petroleum not gas gas lol

[@madalheidis]

My singular complaint is that none of these tractors made much reciprocating movement when stationary. But then again, the hopping tractors I'm thinking of wouldn't really be a thing for another few decades.

[@michaelguerin56]

Lane Bulldog?

[@madalheidis]

@@michaelguerin56 Lanz Bulldog.

[@michaelguerin56]

@@madalheidis Spellwrecker did it again 😄

[@crazydave4455]

I think they do ok on the flat belt. That is the higher HP rating of the 2. A lot of shows of them belted to sawmills and threshing machines. Especially the Rumleys

[@deborahchesser7375]

50 hp and 3000 torque

[@crazydave4455]

😁

[@trevortrevortsr2]

Strange - all the people seem really overweight - is it the quantity or type of food ?

[@jasonvandervalk3679]

people today hardly know what a flip phone is! show them this they think these a dinosaurs

[@djcb4190]

Hit-and-miss engines. Steam engines. Piston engines.

[@dankreoger611]

Practicly had to be a mechanical engineer to be a farmer back then

[@crazydave4455]

Definitely needed to understand your machine.

[@fixitmann6685]

My grandfather WAS a mechanical engineer, and he built his OWN tractor. This was in the 1950s after he retired. It took years, but it finally ran. Based it on a Model T Ford, so it wasn't a massive machine.

[@ostlandr]

That's why the Ford 9N (1939) was such a huge advance. It was a tractor a woman or child could start and operate. And it was equipped with the Ferguson patent 3 point hitch, which is the current standard. A lot of those are still working hard on farms today, and parts are still available.

[@TheTreegodfather]

Some day

[@jasonvandervalk3679]

like music

[@briananthony4044]

Why did the US build such big tractors? Have you seen the size of some of the owners? They need every horsepower to lug around their owners, never mind the tools they hook up to them. That last single wheel tractor was unbelievable. What was it's purpose?

[@crazydave4455]

The big ones were to break the Prairie ground. People were still homesteading and tilling ground for the first time. Plowing up years of roots and pulling out tree stumps. The little devil was general purpose as far as I know, but what makes it special is it’s a 2 stroke oil cooled engine that was recalled for safety issues (it would run backwards unexpectedly when lugged down) and that is the only known running example of one.

[@chaseman113]

Sorta thought on this, early gas engines made little power unless they became complicated. Complicated & farming don’t mix. Your only choice was to go massive on your engine and end up with 1000 cu. Opposed 2 cylinder just to make easy going maintainable 30 horsepower. Except now your engine weighs a ton & makes enough torque to move the earth briefly. So you end you up building a big ol tractor to support your massive power train. Sweet vid

[@ArtemAleksashkin]

Интересно как эта громина не проваливается в мягкий грунт на поле

[@donaldmcdonald156]

Exist

[@crazydave4455]

They do

[@こじまみのる]

なんでSLみたいな排気管の配置なんだろう?回転数とか聞くと単機筒みたいだけど?乗用トラクターと言うより重機だよね

[@crazydave4455]

All different cylinder configurations, singles, opposed inline fours and sixes. Some exhaust uses stack effect to pull air across the cooling system. And these where built to break Prairie ground for the first time

[@KaiLiebenau-o9e]

Das klingt wie ein lanz

[@효자손-s5m]

몇년도트랙터인거야 아직 현역이네ㅎ그건그렇고 옛날방앗간이나 저런밸트를걸어서 타작하는데는 왜 큰밸트를 8자로해서 걸어두는건지 많이궁금하네 그냥1자로 안걸고 꼭 꼬아서8짜로 걸어서 사용하던데 희안하네

[@crazydave4455]

I would say most of these were made between 1910-1925. Hard to translate the second question, but if you’re asking about the belt starts. It’s easier than hand starting those big old engines, especially a hard starting one.

[@효자손-s5m]

@@crazydave4455 구글번연기가없었음 답변을 못읽었을겁니다 세상은정말많은발전을했군요 이렇게 영어하나몰라도 이렇게 멀리있는당신의글을 해석하고 읽고있으니말이죠 답변감사합니다 1910년도면 진짜 오래되었고 한국에서는 아직 저런농기계가 없어서 가축들을이용해서 농사를지을때군요 외국이란나라는 정말로 기계문명에서는 선두자가확실합니다

[@crazydave4455]

@@효자손-s5m they were the first gas tractors here in the US. Most farmers could not afford them at the time and continued to use livestock.

[@timwalter9999]

Really makes you wonder how they come up with horsepower ratings like my allis Chalmers b is rated less hp than a lawn mower lol 😂

[@crazydave4455]

Really don’t take into account the massive amount of rotating mass and torque they produce.

[@kusumsahu5533]

Wic...