May 24, 2012

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Heritage Iron

Heritage Iron Magazine was founded in 2008 in order to fill a need for those interested in muscle tractors. Heritage Iron features all brands, all makes, and all models of muscle tractors from the 1960’s to mid 1980’s including the equipment used by the tractors. Each issue highlights a featured tractor and presents a detailed account of the tractor, its attributes, its history, and its owner. Other regular features in the magazine are machinery milestones, letters to the editor, equipment and company history, classified ads, auction results, an editor’s page, farm toys, literature and memorabilia.

The Kinze 5020 Re-Power

Feb 29, 2012

During the 1960’s and 70’s, the race was on for “more power”. Innovative farmers and even some of the barnyard mechanics tinkered with various engines to be retrofitted into farm tractors. Whether it was more power, more efficiency, or just cheaper horsepower, everyone had an idea.

In Ladora, Iowa, a 25-year old innovator by the name of Jon Kinzenbaw had his one ideas to incorporate more power into a model that was lacking. Jon had developed a good reputation for his ability to fix or build anything. He had already built his first unloading auger grain wagon, his first payloader and first high-flotation chemical applicator. His fabrication skills knew no limits and Jon would tackle any project that came through the door.

When Deere finally went from two cylinders to six, they took a giant leap. The 5010 was a monster of a tractor when compared to the rest of the lineup and the horsepower to pull the 12,000 pound hunk of iron proved to be inadequate. For this reason, many of the 5010/5020 models were re-powered and this model is one of the more popular of the Kinze Conversions.

The JD 5010 came out in 1963 and was followed by the 5020 in 1965. The two shared the same basic engine but the 5020 had been cranked up through the pump to give it an additional fifteen horses. Even at 141 PTO horsepower, the 531 CID Deere engine needed more.

For many power hungry farmers, they turned to M&W Gear to add a turbo. However, the 531 engine wasn’t designed to be a turbocharged engine and they didn’t last. The most obvious choice was to re-power it.

In 1969, a farmer from Reinbeck, Iowa by the name of David Bystriki, approached Jon to inquire about re-powering his 5020. Still operating out of his first welding shop, Jon took on the challenge. And so the 5020 Kinze Re-Power was born.

Jon chose the 8V-71 Detroit to be used in his conversions for various reasons. In the 1960’s the 71 series Detroits were very popular and reliable. They were widely used in the trucking industry making them plentiful in large quantities. The exhaust temperature on the 531 was 1200-1300 degrees while the Detroit was less than 700 degrees, which resulted in a greater life expectancy. And probably the most logical reason it was used was because it fit inside the engine cavity of the tractor and overall dimensions after installation were identical to the original engine. It provided compact horsepower with minimal modification.

The stock 5020 was rated at 141 hp. Dynos weren’t readily available at every shop during this time period but Kinze estimates the 8V-71 was probably pushing out 300 PTO horsepower, double that of the stock tractor.

Thanks to a beefy rear end, the back side of the 5010/20 had no problem delivering the power to the ground. A minor modification was done to one snap ring in the transmission but that was all that was needed.

Kinze quit offering the conversions in 1976 because the 6030 had solved most of the problems that occurred with the 5020. Four-wheel drive tractors were coming on the scene by then and the 7520 was satisfying the needs of the big farmers. Plus, by that time, Kinze was focusing on the planter and grain cart business. After Kinze Manufacturing moved to their current location in Williamsburg, they again began re-powering tractors but only 4-wheel drives, such as the 8630s and 8640s.

So how much of a difference did the Kinze conversion make in the field? The stock 5020 pulled a 7-bottom plow in third gear. The re-powered 5020 still pulled a 7-bottom plow, but now you could pull it in fifth gear. Yes, it probably used more fuel but you got a lot more work done in a lot less time and time is money.

Kinze conversions are always a popular attraction at shows and especially going through the field. You don’t even have to look to know what is headed your direction, just get out of the way.

About the Author: Sherry Schaefer is a Greenville, Illinois (Bond County) native who grew up around tractors and farm equipment. Her grandfather, Ervin Schaefer, was an Oliver tractor dealer in both Granite City and Hamel, Illinois from 1936 -1965. Her father, Oliver “Ollie” Schaefer, is a used Oliver tractor and equipment dealer in Greenville, Illinois. The Schaefer family also owned and operated a national tractor pulling sled service for more than twenty-five years beginning in the late 1960s. Schaefer has authored three books, Farm Tractor Collectibles, (MBI Publishing, in 1998), Oliver Tractors, (MBI Publishing, in 2001) and Classic Oliver Tractors: History, Models, Variations & Specifications 1855-1976, (Voyageur Press, 2009).Heritage Iron Magazine was founded in 2008 in order to fill a need for those interested in muscle tractors. Heritage Iron features all brands, all makes, and all models of muscle tractors from the 1960’s to mid 1980’s including the equipment used by the tractors. Learn more at www.HeritageIron.com

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Oliver’s 1950-T

Aug 12, 2011

By Sherry Schaefer, editor Heritage Iron magazine

During the Heritage Iron era, every tractor manufacturer had goals and aspirations of being “the first”. Allis Chalmers has the honor of being the first company to test a turbocharged tractor at Nebraska in 1962. IH introduced their first turbo with the 1206 in 1965. For Oliver, their first turbocharged model would come in 1967 with the 1950-T, which eventually took the place of the GM powered 1950.

In 1960, Oliver introduced their biggest horse, the 1900. Powered by the mighty 4-53 GM engine and rated at 89 PTO horsepower with 82 on the drawbar, Oliver marketed the 1900 as the “biggest, most modern tractor of its type.” This 8-plow tractor evolved into the 1950 in 1964. Oliver claimed this was the most powerful Row-Crop tractor on the market.

While this was a very successful model, the price put it out of the range of many. Oliver needed to come up with a new, mid-range model without spending a lot of money on redesign.

Oliver’s solution was to create a narrower, powerful tractor that could use the same implements as the 1750 and 1850 but keep up with the 1950. To do this, Oliver used the 310 CID Oliver/Waukesha diesel engine out of the 1750, put a turbo on it and mounted it in a new model which was known as the 1950-T. This engine put out 105 certified horsepower on the PTO just like the GM powered 1950, except base price on this was $9900 vs. $11,000 for the 1950 GM. Now Oliver had a 7-8 plow tractor with big power and a turbo for less money.

The heartbeat of the 1950-T was a proven engine built and designed as a joint venture between Oliver and Waukesha. These two had a good working relationship since the 1930’s and Oliver even owned stock in Waukesha Motors. The 6-cylinder 310 had a 3 7/8” bore and 4 3/8” stroke, which were identical specs to the diesel engine in the 1750. Even though the specs were the same, the engine was modified to handle the extra horsepower and the pressure of the charger.

Oliver incorporated a unique system on their turbocharged engines in order to take full advantage of the engines firing order. This “pulse utilization” system divided the exhaust manifold so that the exhaust gases from the pulses from the cylinders could beat alternately between the front and rear chambers. This gave two paths for the exhaust gases that helped drive the turbine fan and Oliver felt this was advantageous in the form of efficiency under heavy loads.

This tractor was monumental in certain aspects. It was Oliver’s first turbocharged tractor but it was also the first to use Oliver’s Over/Under Hydraul-Shift transmission. This turned the 6-speed transmission into an 18-speed with 6-reverse speeds.

The 1950-T was offered in several configurations. The Row Crop model came with an adjustable front, narrow front or a utility-type, under-mounted front axle. The Wheatland/Ricefield models were equipped with an arched, heavy-duty stationary front axle that oscillated for crossing levees or rough ground. In addition, the operator’s platform was enclosed with splash panels on the front.

The 1950-T four-wheel drive model was also available with mechanical front wheel assist or a Levy hydraulic axle.

The 1950-T was more than just a workhorse. It had all the comforts of a modern tractor. The Tilt-O-Scope power steering allowed tilting of the wheel while sitting in the 4-way adjustable upholstered seat. The steering wheel also had a telescoping option to allow five settings in the height of the steering column for driving while standing. Gauges for oil, water, ammeter, fuel, tac-hourmeter, and speedometer were all within easy viewing and reach.

When Oliver was marketing this tractor, their competitive data listed the following models: AC D21-II, IH 1206, Massey 1130 and Case 1030. Each of these models were muscle tractor in their day and the overlooked 1950-T belongs up on a pedestal like the rest of them as Oliver’s first turbocharged tractor.

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Minneapolis-Moline Aims for 100+ HP

Jun 03, 2011

By Sherry Schaefer, editor Heritage Iron magazine

In the early 1960s, every manufacturer was reaching for the 100 HP mark.
Minneapolis-Moline had the G900 on the drawing board but decided to shoot for an even larger machine. This new model would come closer to a 110 PTO HP and be tagged the G1000.

The marketing department at MM wanted to be able to sell a tractor that would pull and 8-bottom plow. Using the calculation that it took eight horsepower per bottom, it was going to require 104 drawbar HP. The G1000 was just what marketing wanted to keeps sales up with the large acreage farmers.

This new model used the 504 CID engine that had previously been used in the G705. To boost the horsepower, the RPMs were increased to 1800. Other modifications were made to give the engine longevity and better performance.

The G1000, which came out in 1965, was designed to be a row crop tractor.
Therefore, the frame had to remain narrow, which worked well for mounted equipment.

This model was tested at Nebraska with both the LP and diesel engine. A gasoline engine was offered but it never made it to Nebraska.

In 1967, MM brought out their Cadillac version of the G1000 known as the Vista. Several changes were made to offer a better ride and better view.
In Spanish, Vista means ³view². The controls were all grouped together and hydraulic brakes were added. It also had a heavier final drive.

The G1000 was produced from 1965-1969. The G1000 Vista was built from 1967-1969. This model was replaced by the G1050 but still remains a favorite among the muscle tractor collectors, with the front-wheel assist model being the most highly sought after.

G1000
Tractor owned by Marlin Fowler
Photo by Super T

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John Deere Enters the Muscle Tractor Era

Apr 14, 2011

By Sherry Schaefer, editor Heritage Iron magazine

For loyal Deere users during the mid 1900’s, 2-cylinders were the only way to go. They were simple, had less moving parts and very reliable. But for the rest of the ag market, two cylinder engines had been long gone.

The demand was for more power, to get more work done in less time with less work for the operator. Deere knew that if they were going to keep their customers happy, they were going to have to give them what they wanted and that couldn’t be done with two cylinders.

Work actually begin in 1953 on the development of a series of tractor that would become known as the “New Generation” models. From front to back and top to bottom, this new series was designed with numerous objectives in mind.

This design started out with a focus on the 50-70 horsepower range. This was the size of tractor that was most suitable to nearly every farm and would likely be their best seller. However, the company wanted to offer a tractor in every size imaginable.

Deere wanted to catch the world’s attention when they diverted away from the two-cylinder engine and they did it in a big way. It was a 10-ton way, to be exact. Deere Day was held in Dallas in August of 1960. Into the area of Dallas stadium drove a king-sized 200-horsepower great giant! Dangling from its 3-point was the little 1010, which was the size of a matchbox car compared to the 8010.

Dealers stood in awe of this machine which was the biggest thing they’d ever seen. Deere stated that this four-wheel drive machine could plow 50 acres a day with the giant 8-bottom pick-up plow or disk up to 185 acres a day.

While the 8010 did get a lot of attention, it was a hard sell to farmers. A loaded model had a $33,000 price tag in 1960. Since there weren’t any other tractors this big on the market, there weren’t any tools being built to be used with it other than Deere’s 8-bottom plow.

Plagued with transmission problems, Deere initiated a company recall. Ninety-nine of the 100 tractors built were taken to Moline for upgrades. After several modifications including increased horsepower, all 8010’s (minus 1) were rebadged as 8020s.

For Deere, it was too much too soon. In 1960 the farmer wasn’t ready for a 200+ hp tractor. Today every large-acreage farmer has a 200+ tractor on the farm and for most, that’s not even the biggest horse hiding in the barn.

Today nearly 90% of the 8020s are still in existence and accounted for. Even the illusive single remaining 8010 is hiding out comfortably in a private collection in Wisconsin. Although this model wasn’t the success that Deere hoped for, it proved to be a legend ahead of its time.

John Deere 8020

Owner: Darrel Fischer

Watseka, IL

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Monumental Machines in Agriculture

Mar 21, 2011

By Sherry Schaefer, editor Heritage Iron magazine

The 1960s and 70s represented an exciting era in the world of farm equipment. John Deere had taken a giant step away from their infamous two-cylinder models. Allis Chalmers was starting to turbocharge some of their models. IH was aiming for the 100 hp mark when they designed the 1206. Every manufacturer was on a mission to give the farmer just what they wanted – horsepower, styling, comfort and economy.

Massey Ferguson had their own ideas. Already well-known for the advanced Ferguson System of hydraulics, they turned their attention to other components of the trator. In 1965, Massey introduced their first turbocharged model, the 1130. This tractor used a 354 CID Perkins engine.

In 1969, Massey went a step farther when they introduced the world’s first V-8 powered Row Crop tractor – the 1150. This monumental machine used a Perkins V8.510 which had previously only been used in trucks and buses.

The 1150 holds the prestigious title of “First V-8 Row Crop Tractor.” This sent the other manufacturers scrambling and in the next few years, there were several V8 power ag models introduced. IH took their truck engine and put it in the 1468 followed by the 1568. Oliver joined in by introducing their Cat powered 2255.

While the V8 engine initially appeared to be a good idea, it wasn’t one that last a good length of time. Stroke was limited on a V8 configuration. In the field in varying conditions, tractors required a good deal of torque to maintain RPMs under full load. The in-line 6-cylinder could deliver the power that a V8 couldn’t.

Today the 1150 Massey is a highly sought after tractor. The 11,000-pound machine was in full production from 1970-1972 as a Row Crop or Western Special. Marketed as the Maxi-Massey, this maxi machine is another fine example of the innovations by manufacturers during the muscle tractor era.

Photo by Super T

Tractor owner: Shane Bowman – Albany, Ind.

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The Homepage of Agriculture

Heritage Iron

The Kinze 5020 Re-Power

Oliver’s 1950-T

Minneapolis-Moline Aims for 100+ HP

John Deere Enters the Muscle Tractor Era

Monumental Machines in Agriculture

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