Hey Everyone, I need your ideas and thoughts on building a Doodlebug Tractor for Pulling at a local club here in NH.For beginners a breif paraphase of the club rules. Homemade tractor from car or truck components (any combination); no industrial, no greater than one and a half ton axle carrying capacity original, nothing newer than 1942, stock, no weights, no chains.
Center hub to center hub no more than 8 feet.
Fixed draw bar height of 24 inches maximum (pulling clevis will be mounted to this),and attached to main frame. Maximum length from center of axle to hitch point is 4 feet.
No locked rear ends.
Two wheel Drive only.
No manufactured tractor parts.
No Tractor (agricultual or industrial) tires or lug tires.
No rear wheel will be wider than 12 inch tread width measured by ground impression, must be DOT approved.
At least one working brake. I have no real useful knowledge of vehiciles from these earlier years.
Some of the club members are pulling with flat head V8's.
I would like to take full advantage of the rules and pick the better components like axles with tall gears, transmissions, that will hold up to abuse, and a gas or deisel engine that can be fixed if needed. There may even be a super charged 6,8 cylinder deisel or gas engine that would give good power and not break the bank.
What ideas work for best weight distrubution, like setting back the front axle perhaps?
Are there any books available on puller design?
I'm only in the planning stages but need to have a better idea of what to search for.
If you have some doodlebug stories or hints please
add your 2 cents by sharing your stories.
Best Regards,
G.G.
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