tractor lingo

Is there a section on this forum where I can learn the "lingo" of tractor talk? for example:
1)what is "TA"?
2)How can these items help the farmer:"Category II-3pt. hitch with top link."

kind regards,
Herb

Question:
1)What is the purpose of live hydraulics?
2)Can all tractors be converted to a 3pt.hitch and live hydraulics?

I am planning to purchase a tractor for plowing,tilling,and brush removal.

kind regards,
Herb

It gets even more confusing when people in different parts of the country (or world) call stuff by different names. Take a wagon/trailer/hay rack/flat rack/flat wagon/etc. All the same thing to some people and different things entirely to others. If everybody knew everything wouldn't be much need for a site like this.:-)

David

They are not trailers.... they are wagons (you could ask any farmer in the area and they would say the same thing!). As one of the original posts stated.... what is called one thing in one area of the country... may be called something else in another area!

Chris (south-eastern Illinois)

aka: Chris-se-ILL

Here in southern Ontario Canada they are called "dump Trailers". We have had one for as long as I can remember.

This is a good converation to start, Differences in Lingo. But don't take anything to heart.

Somebody should start that string, if not I will start it later.

I have given a short explanation on the categories of hitches. Hope it helps.

Category 0 Tractors up to 20 hp
Top link pins: 5/8" diameter
Lift arm pins: 5/8" diameter

Category I Tractors from 20-45 hp
Top link pins: 3/4" diameter
Lift arm pins: 7/8" diameter

Category II (2)Tractors from 50-95 hp
Top link pins: 1" diameter
Lift arm pins: 1-1/8" diameter

Category III (3)Tractors from 95-100 hp & up
Top link pins: 1-1/4" diameter
Lift arm pins: 1-7/16" diameter

I would hope everyone would feel free to ask even the most obscure questions. I came to this forum to ask questions about an Oliver tractor (I had never worked on one before), I liked the caliber of people and the depth of knowledge that is available here. I grew up farming and still have to pause to consider some of the terms that are used here. :-)

Another alternative is a google web search for "lingo"

TA stands for torque amplifier. TAs were featured on International tractors.

We ran Minneapolis-Molines, and one of our tractors, a M-5, had an AT. They called theirs an Ampli-torque so as not to infringe upon others.

Basically with the AT you pulled a lever that shifted the tractor down into a slightly lower gear to keep from lugging the engine down through a hard spot. No clutching and manual shifting of the transmission was needed. To gear back up you just pushed the lever forward again.
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Three point hitches are rated in size and lifting power by "category". Category 0 would be lawn tractor sized. Cat I would be utility sized and older tractor sized. Cat II, getting into some fairly heafty lifting power--what you would find on 100 hp tractors, etc. That definition is generalized of course.
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You can use reducers in order to use Cat I equipment on many Cat II tractors. The pin sizes are different that hold the equipement on.

I will handle the TA question.

TA stands for "Torque Amplifier" it is actually an "International Harvester" (IH) term. What it is, is a lever that you could pull to slow down your ground speed without touching the clutch. This would allow a PTO (Power Take Off) driven piece of equipment to remain a the same operating speed but have less feed (via ground speed) applied. It could also be used to give the rear wheels more torque by increasing the gear ratio of the motor to the wheels.

Basically, when the going got tough and the engine started to bog or labour you would grab the TA and slow down the ground speed.

Other manufacturers had similar inventions they just called it something different. Massey Ferguson was Multi Power. John Deere was Over/Under (aka Rabbit/Turtle). Oliver had Hydra Power. So on and so on.

Hope that wasn't to drawn out.