01:13:30pm, Friday, May 15, 2026
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Traction Control
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George
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Would like to know how you can detect it ? |
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Re: Traction Control
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Wouldn't we all
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Wouldn't we all. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Carlsson
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Why you wanna hide it? |
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Re: Traction Control
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day later
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Best traction control ever is built into throttle hand/clutchfoot! |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
I've written before that traction control should be allowed. My guess is that there is already vehicles in several classes. To me it's leveling the playing field, I believe that anything that gives the fan's a better and more consistent pull needs to be at least looked at. I know that this will not be a very popular opinion, but let's be real, it's here and has been for a long time. And with the TC issue is it's close to impassable to find out who's running and who isn't. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Traction Control
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But why
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I don’t understand this… part of tractor pulling has always been reading the track placing weight accordingly and getting your machine to hook I don’t understand why anyone would want to take that element away. I don’t think anyone has traction control the suspect few just know how to read the track and operate there equipment. It doesn’t matter if you have bill gates money and have the best tractor ever if you can’t hit the set up and drive you won’t win. Traction control is just more bs to spend money on… in my opinion. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
I'm pretty sure that anyone is going to come on here " I use TC and love it " however the dark truth is it's already being used. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Traction Control
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But why
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And you think EFI and traction control will solve the issue of them making it down the track? You have that in every single Motorsport. There are always people trying to figure things out and learn as you go. Been there… that’s part of it. If a fan does not understand that’s part of the game then are they really a fan? I’ve gone to drag races and watched drivers smoke the tires in 10 ft… it happens not a big deal. More computerized equipment is not always the answer. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 04/03/2016 Posts: 840 |
Pretty good post right there. |
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Re: Traction Control
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I'm sure this post will be removed!! Really you celebrate a guy that's just there along for the ride because it's a better show over a guy that has that old school seat of the pants driving ability I guess some people enjoy what little roots there are left in this sport |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
Josh, why do you think that your post will be removed? Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Traction Control
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It's completely against the narrative in this day of age everyone want the easy way |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
Fans want to vehicles go down the track, not cough, gag and go 120'. It's about the FANS, the people that pay money to see a competitive show. Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Traction Control
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If that's the way you see it that's fine it's all about the fans that spend 20 dollars on a ticket to watch it's not about all the behind the scenes all nighters spending tens of thousands of dollars to put the show or the years and years of driving experience |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
Of course the pullers are a huge part of equation, and I8 do appreciate the time and money they put in to build and pull their vehicles. However the fans are why the sponsors support the sport, not because they love pulling, its to sell their product to the people that buy tickets and sit in the stands. No fans, no promoters. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 04/03/2016 Posts: 840 |
Dick as I asked in the thread below about EFI, would traction control bring new people into the sport which is a concern of mine. Or is it just another way for current competitors to spend more money? That in turn may make some give it up and who would replace them? Not trying to start an argument or anything like that. Just trying to look at the whole picture. |
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Re: Traction Control
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You should go to more county fairs start at the bottom and work your way up maybe then you could appreciate the little things that get pushed to the side at the bigger grand national pulls I'll pick the good ole driver any day over the latest And greatest technolog. We live in a country that gives us both our opinions so weather we agree or not it's still for the love of the sport |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 03/27/2008 Posts: 1,268 |
After now 14 years working with EFI system in Pulling, seriously can somebody please explain what good traction control would do in Pulling?
We move forward by throwing dirt with spinning tires. You can be too fast - but how fast that is, really depends on the track condition, your tire cut, chassis,.... So one would have to program according to condition right before the hook and better be right. I can see it working in TWD and maybe UNL - otherwise, I don't think it makes much sense. Floating Finish - the German Tractor Pulling Web Show and EU Live Streams: [www.youtube.com] Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2025 07:52PM by Sascha. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Moderator Registered: 03/25/2008 Posts: 1,949 |
Interesting topic, and I will ask this " how do you tech to find out who is running it" ? Dick Morgan www.PULLOFF.com Independent Pulling News |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 04/03/2016 Posts: 840 |
Couldn't the same thing be said with EFI also? Just asking. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 03/27/2008 Posts: 1,268 |
EFI is not magic, and it’s not traction control and it doesn't help you to improve your performance down the track, if you made the wrong decisions BEFORE the run. It might save you a piston though.
With EFI you program two tables: • Fuel = how much fuel at a given rpm & boost + inlet temperature compensation • Timing = when the spark fires at a given rpm & boost That’s all. The computer doesn’t “decide” anything during the run, it just follows the numbers you put in "before" the run. What you can do is: "if cylinders get too hot - add fuel" or "if oil pressure get's low, shut it off" Nothing different in principle from pills and timing lights on a mag – only more precise and the possibility of "engine saving safety features". The elephant in the room with EFI is: Roots blowers don’t benefit much, because they move nearly the same air per rev and MFI matches that fine. But turbos and Pro Chargers do not move air linearly with rpm. A mechanical pump only adds fuel in a straight line with rpm, which means, no matter how many valves and check valves you use (inlet temperature is one huge factor here, that you don't get into MFI) you’re rich most of the time and only right in a narrow window. EFI lets you match the real air curve and different inlet temperaturs resulting from boost "curves" which you don't have in a blower → better spool, more torque at the hit, and more power at the finish. That’s why turbos and Pro Chargers look weak (are not existent) in US Modifieds – not because they make less power, but because without EFI they can’t be tuned properly. Bottom line: EFI just meters fuel and spark more accurately. Traction control cuts power during the run. Two totally different things. Floating Finish - the German Tractor Pulling Web Show and EU Live Streams: [www.youtube.com] Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2025 08:12PM by Sascha. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Rumors
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I think this question should be asked to the 4x4 NTPA GN competition. As a non 4x4 competitor watching someone pull their first truck and hook a laptop up to the second truck makes it questionable. Rumors have been said that racepak has internal programming. But seeing someone drop 6 in napoleon because they were changing a gear and had a laptop hooked up should not be a reason to drop.
But the rumors are that 4x4 has a few trucks running TC. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 03/27/2008 Posts: 1,268 |
Ok - can see it being a benefit in 4x4 classes. I don't have those in mind, they don't exist in my bubble of pulling. Floating Finish - the German Tractor Pulling Web Show and EU Live Streams: [www.youtube.com] |
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Re: Traction Control
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Rumors
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Not sure what point you’re trying to prove with it pooping and missing. From drag racing when. Traction control is working cars do that to get down a bad surface.
But the more important point that you failed to address why would a laptop need to be connected in the hot pits prior to a run? |
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Re: Traction Control
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Another Rumor
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Rumors, Did you see the pass that truck made in chapel hill it had to have some kind of traction control on it the way it missed and popped and still got up front. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Tech Guy
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In a 4wd class whether it be gas, alcohol, diesel, Naturally aspirated or turbocharged, traction control can play a huge advantage when a track is less than good. And a lot of this can be done with a mechanically injected engine or even carburetor. 10-15 years ago at the brush level it was killing a cylinder to cut down on wheel spin. Now a days with coil on plug ignition, it’s much easier to calculate percentage of slip on the fly through the data logger, or should I say some data loggers and we will use the term data logger very loosely (I’ll get to that in a second). So as your headed down the track, regardless of tune up, if your driveshaft speed sensor is sending its signal, the GPS of the logger is sending its signal, the two are figuring percentage of slip on a math channel (on the fly), you can pull timing on the fly or even cut random cylinders in the firing order (for spark ignition obviously). HOWEVER, the kicker to that is, it takes more than just a data logger, such as a Racepak or RPM, or Corsa system. Guys are using Engine Control Units from companies like Fueltech, Haltech, Motech and others to achieve this on the fly. They are literally expanding the ECU from their EFI program to read and monitor at a deeper level to read, monitor and log their data. We already know of 3.0 diesel trucks out there doing this kind of stuff and are calling it “active engine tuning” instead of “traction control”. Essentially, as the driveshaft speed input is fed to the ECU/ECM/“data logger”, percentage of slip is calculated, engine load is calculated, and timing is taken out on the fly and added back in when engine load increases. Keeping the turbo lit and in its happy spot, engine rpm in its pure happy spot, etc. This is all done at sampling rates of thousands of times per second, and that’s nothing the best of driver can do or attempt
to replicate. Side note, Some of these ECU systems can be upwards of $30k plus depending on how much you want to keep pushing it. Meanwhile an RPM data logger can be had with every sensor under the sun for $6-7k. So is EFI a direct problem, no. Does it open the door for all kinds of problems/cheating, absolutely. And realistically all it’s going to do is cause guys to spend more on what they already have just to “keep up with the jones” so to speak. And then it turns into if your not doing the ECU stuff and active tuning (read as spending the money to have this stuff) it’s opening the gap and in the end hurting the show. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Rumors
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Even with the rpm data loggers they have an ability to do some timing advance. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 03/27/2008 Posts: 1,268 |
Fully agree on that with classes that have not enough tire...
Time for some GPS jammers  Floating Finish - the German Tractor Pulling Web Show and EU Live Streams: [www.youtube.com] |
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Re: Traction Control
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Rumors
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Ok so popping and missing can be shown in drag racing with traction control. Not sure the point being made.
The more important question is in the hot pits why would a laptop need to be hooked up to the truck prior to it making a pass? |
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Re: Traction Control
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Rumorz
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Sure ain't paying off for that Old Dodge truck this year.
Flannerys old truck is on a Run with it on the East Coast. Looks like it backfired on him Saturday night. Track was that bad it didn't know what to do. |
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Re: Traction Control
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This post is for Rumorz, I not sure who you are but if you had a set of balls, put your real name to it so I know who you are, as to having TC, never have,never will, I've been pulling with my truck for many years, I've taught my son and grandson that to be the best at pulling, you have to live and breathe it but also understand how and why things happen and than to correct it the next time, we do have a style of "TC" but it's in the right arm and left leg!!!! |
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Re: Traction Control
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Badgerfan
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How would traction control help in most cases? Wouldn't traction control as Sascha stated slow the tire that is moving faster than the other? How would that work in a sport where our tires are spinning 3 times faster than we are moving give or take. Then add in how we steer down the track or change our line start to finish. We use brakes and slow one tire or the other. Would traction control try to compensate for the brake being pushed or cause that brake to over compensate? How would traction control respond to a brake being pushed when we are trying to cross track? Or when we come off the line riding the clutch for 75 plus feet? Wouldn't it potentially kill momentum slowing one tire over another like tapping a brake going down the track to keep it straight?
I have never messed with EFI or traction control. Just thoughts that come to my mind |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 11/24/2019 Posts: 326 |
It won’t slow 1 tire, it will slow both tires.
Unless you try and run a drive shaft to each tire independently like was tried in a modified back in the day. |
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Re: Traction Control
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Registered: 03/31/2008 Posts: 829 |
Badger fan,
The simple answer to how TC could help is that you figure out how much overspeed you want/need and you program that in. Where it gets complex is figuring out what that number is, especially since it may not be linear. To the original question, if you want to keep TC illegal, you need to figure out a way to find it and make sure it isn’t being used. Otherwise you are punishing those playing by the rules. You also have to define what traction control is. It can range from complex and fully controlling like Tech Guy described down to something very simple and much less effective like a time based timing curve. What about a driver controlled RPM or timing switch? Should that be legal or not? |
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