Was that tractor running the same setup that it normally runs in Europe? Is it 505ci, oem head? If it is the 680ci could take a lesson from that 505. This is a perfect example that you do not need 680ci. Rule should be 540ci limit.
from what I've heard, it has the big motor, 10.2 liter , when it is going te be shipped to Europe, it will be
equiped with a, 8,3 liter engine (as max allowed overhere , and max weight 3500 kilogram)
Puhh.. I would not say we think it is "better".
The reason for the 510 cui / 7700 lbs rule being placed is more influenced by the "different reality" here.
When we got Pro Stocks as an official class about a decade ago, we had following scenario:
The first Alky Burners started to show up and it was crystal clear, the diesels would not stand a chance against them for very much longer. But since there was no where enough tractors in the class to split it (especially not on the national levels), something had to be done, because a lot of the teams (and the related sponsor money) were about to pull out of the sport completely.
So one part of the story was to create a DIESEL class, that you could enter with your existing Diesel Super Stock tractor, by more or less just changing the turbo kit to a single charger.
Most Diesel SS were in the 400 to 500 cui range back then.
The other part is easy to explain if you look into the lots of the tractor dealers here and check what kind of used tractors are avaliable, that could be turned into a Pro Stock (back then you didn't think about building a tractor from parts).
What was (and still is) in the lots?
Plenty of 46 and 55 IHs (Neuss built, german diesel, 358 and 402 cui)
German made John Deeres and a few US build ones with the 466 engine
New Hollands / Fords
Perkins powered MFs
Fendt
06 and DX Deutz
Valtra
Volvo
6030 John Deere, MF V8, Minni Mo, ... were never sold in Europe
So anything much higher then 510 cui (for most "pride of the farm" tractors that is a an unreachable cui limit already) didn't make any sense.
Neither did a weight over 8000 lbs. Since we are metric, "three and a half" sounds a lot more logical than 3636 kg (which would be 8000 lbs. Lbs is something the normal guy outside of the USA has no clue about).
Then "OEM" heads had to be used, which also makes sense, because we wanted a category that is related to the farm tractor.
What we got in the years after the introduction of the class in the higher level events like the Euro Cup and the European Championships, has to be described as an, still ongoing, explosion.
I remember Valtra moving it's heavily factory supported team from SS to PS (and also heavily supporting the European Puling Circuit back then)
John Deere supported Wim Jansen running the Mannheim Magic tractor (he moved to Canda a while back though)
By now we have an "official Massey Ferguson Pulling Team" in the Netherlands, heavy support for an Italian team running a Landini, Fendt Dealers of north west germany gave away a complete used tractor to a team to be converted into a (pretty hopeless) Pro Stock project,... and a bunch of guys spending money like there is no tomorrow.
Changes that were made to the class lately:
At 440 cui you may use an OEM four valve head
It is now allowed to build a component tractor, which on paper allows for more European brand tractors to be turned into Pro Stocks, especially as several are now sold with 4 valve heads (Mannheim built JDs and Fendts) on engines, that can probably be bored out and stroked to those 440 cui, but usually come with them big Vario transmissions.
After all:
What we wanted was a "cheap" class with tractors you could buy here.
What we got, was not cheap but plenty colorful with probably the best factory support of any class in the Pulling Sport until today.
Oh - and they put on a hell of a show!
Thanks for your response. I think here in USA we have a nice class of prostocks more color would be great but doubt that it will ever happen. Are the euro-prostocks having durability issues with their connecting rods ? I would think high rpm in a diesel turbo charged inline 6 clyinder engine would be pretty destructive !
I remember fully well, there was an issue with Clevilite / Mexico / John Deere bearings ... could have been the same issue.
I am a bit out of touch with the diesel stuff over here, since I set out because of work for almost a complete season and all I have been in touch with lately is methanol, electronic injections, allison main bearings and pro chargers....
Floating Finish - the German Tractor Pulling Web Show and EU Live Streams: [www.youtube.com]
well, as a red blooded American, I'd say here we have a red and green PS show, with only 3 other PS tractors that are actually competitive (Domanns, Cope, and Karl Kaun); there are a few non JD/IH tractors such as Aces and 8s, or Fools Gold, but I've not seem them actually run within a few feet of the top ones, at least not at Bowling Green.
In Europe, not only do you have JD and IH, you have Valtra, probably New Holland/Ford, maybe some Agco family (Deutz etc), and perhaps even other brands. Lots more color.
The motor is Brian S. They have been running it in that tractor. It will come out before it goes over the pond
The thing that ticked me off was a couple of years a go, David Yarick did the same thing on the pipe. Went back to fix it and when it blew off, he was DQ'ed. The turn me loose tractor was not.
If Turn Me Loose was DQ in the pulloff he would have gotten second. Guess what, he got second.
If Turn Me Loose had beaten El Nino then I think the committee would have given him a DQ, but he got second no matter what so there's no point in complaining about it. It put on a good show and gave a little drama to the finish, lets just leave it at that, it didn’t affect the results at all.
Jake Morgan
Owner, PULLOFF.COM
Independent Pulling News
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