[AT] new duties

[John Hall]

Regarding wheelstands, Fordsons were notorious, I think that is because 
they actually pulled the implement, instead of "pushing" as most 
drawbars I have been around are pinned to the tractor in front of the 
rear axle. The Farmalls, Deeres, and Case machines of the 50's, probably 
not so much unless you were pulling a subsoiler or plow. Now if you are 
in an area that doesn't have LARGE rocks or ground that develops "tight 
spots", then it wasn't a problem. I saw dad pull the front end up twice 
while using a single shank tow type subsoiler behind a 4020 Deere--and 
this was in our garden! My experience here is with 3pt equipment, plow, 
subsoilers, chisel plows---all of which will snatch the front end 
skyward before you can snap your fingers. But, this is larger equipment, 
pulled much deeper usually than what would have been typically used 
behind 50's era machines. Let me  put it another way, the muscle era 
tractors around here had quite a few damaged front ends. Dads 4020 is 
tricycle (2wheels) and it has had a couple repairs. The other 4020 was 
wide front and had to have the axle welded. The 4430 snapped a spindle 
off--we pulled that tractor so hard we kept a full rack of weights on 
the front end. Now don't get me wrong, we didn't abuse our stuff, we 
just operated in tough field conditions. To prove my point, when the 
wide front 4020 was sold in 91, it was 22 years old, with around 7,000 
hrs and sold for $500 less than my grandmother paid for it in 69. Worked 
hard yes, well maintained likewise.

John Hall