120hp Peerless Z3 pulling 20 bottom plow

[mythril4]

Not a vehicle for wearing long sleeves around, looks like many moving parts just waiting to chew and arm off..hehe.

[upski]

I have read that the 120 Peerless and the 110 Case steam tractors produced more forward pull that ANY tractor ever made since then. Tractive effort is simply a matter of weight and nothing ever built since even approaches the weight of these monsters.

[dkrenshaw]

@upski That's not entirely accurate, but there haven't been many tractors made in the same quantities as those large steam engines. The Z3 Peerless and 110 Case didn't weigh much more than 25 tons at the most.  Some of the larger articulating tractors weigh more than 25 tons even without ballast in the tires. "Big Bud" for example, built in the '70s weighed 90,000 lbs, though I don't know if that included hang on weights or not. More recently, a New Holland 9060 pulled 65 plows in Manitoba.

[TheRebelman95]

Good god! That thing looks absolutely evil!

[BlowoutBob2]

This tractor came from my hometown of Waynesboro PA....The Agricultural hub of the United States at the time....Case tried to buy geiser out

[auredemption]

steam powered hotrod ?

[MOnkeypants78]

What year is that?

[vijayjalli]

Looks Like a Steam Tractor..Massive One.. I enjoyed see this



[theMISTER507]

tractor from helll!!

[tdog158]

I'll give you my...everything for it. I will live in it, I will maintain it, and when I get hungry...I'll have to eat it.

[MrThebull09]

you dont see 120 hp on tractors today without a massive diesel on it. We need more steam less gas, power the future

[graidstin]

@MrThebull09 Well acctually a tractor that size, with a diesel engine, would probably produce at least 2 times the power. I'm afraid that internal combustion engines are better: they're more compat, more efficent, create less pollutants, require less user work,and less mantinence. There is a reason that we don't use steam engines anymore.

[Crazybernard2k11]

@MrThebull09 that thing does not have 120hp no chance

[SMGJohn]

@Crazybernard2k11 Back in WWI they made an experimental steam powered tanks in America that was similar to the British female tank, and the steam tanks had 1000 horse power steam engine. It was smaller then this tractor

[hiyadroogs]

@Crazybernard2k11 I don't know anything about this particular engine, but if the manufacturer claims 120 bhp, they would have to verify it by dynomometer or calculation, or risk being sued by the purchaser. If word got around that the makers engines were weak & were not capable of the makers claims for the BHP rating, they would quickly go bust!

[thegreenerthemeaner]

@0812201 You are right. But most people don't have access to steam power. I was thinking practicality but you sir are absoulutley correct, steam has the most torque. Hard to beat thermal expansion.

[Torvollonis]

for those who think those guys on there with the hats are amish your somewhat right but thier known as Menonites (might have spelled that wrong if so sorry) they are still amish but still live the life as farmers and care takers of the lands but they use what we use Technology I have worked with em before on this kind of Job and it was fun for me because I would make between $1500 to $2000 a week.

[tannalv]

Looks like overly much work compared to just horses...

[BlowoutBob2]

Great Job in keeping history running....peerless was made here in my home town of waynesboro along with frick eclipse too....this is the first peerless i ever saw that was that big....i cant beleive they were made here...thanks again for showing

[mrfarmerjimbob]

Soil compaction should not be a great problem. Those wheels are about 48" wide--think of the surface area. If they were 12" the thing would have 4 times greater pounds per sq. in., which would not only cause greater soil compaction but also much less traction.

[Potatonaught]

not really a tractor, more like a land train

[minorot]

That thing is a real torque monster, but also beautiful in its own way. Thanks for restoring and preserving it. A tractor and plow like that make me admire the grit of old-time farmers: they were working with machines that would kill you if given half a chance.

[woodscritter]

@minorot How's the danger greater then than nowadays?

Farming is still by far the most dangerous line of work. (No, I'm not a farmer.)

"Standard" means of blowing up steam boiler = low water.

[4freespeech]

Think you might get a little SOIL COMPACTION with that rig?

[dkrenshaw]

@4freespeech The drive wheels are around 4ft wide each, and about 6ft diameter. I would guess the weight is well distibuted over that surface area. I don't know about soil compaction, but it sure will smooth out the bumps!

[triedcobra]

@dkrenshaw i would like to see gps tracker try to steer that monster

[sstroh08]

@4freespeech lol i cant find the wheel slip monitor

[ak7wyf]

@4freespeech there would be more with narrow tires. less surface area. this rig is heavy i'm sure they had that in mind.

[freeman8128]

@4freespeech No, the weight is well spread.

[77farmboy]

@ 549bm, and dwiggs77, you are both idiots! The peerless engine was built by the geiser mfg company! You are both right congrats! Next time do a little research before you post!

[Paiste402]

man it looks like the Apocalypse 

[SuperNikkkes]

geile Bereifung, was mann mit hochdruck alles schaffen kann, fantastisch ^^

[Patrickneuster]

geil

[1DanielChristensen]

Wikipedia mentions but says not the model of a Case steam engine with 150 hp that could pull a 30 bottom plow. Again, 30 tiny bottoms, but still it's cool.

[1DanielChristensen]

20 bottoms? 20 10 inch bottoms maybe.

[dkrenshaw]

@1DanielChristensen I'm not an expert on plows, but I believe 14" was typical for these engines. The gang plows in the video I believe are 14"

[1DanielChristensen]

@dkrenshaw Well 14" is an all right size bottom then. I thought they might be 12's; but the old 14 inch bottoms like this dig relatively much shallower than newer 16 and 18 inch bottoms.

[thegreenerthemeaner]

@1DanielChristensen steam power has a tremendous amount of torque compared to any internal combustion engine.When it comes to powering say a shaft, electric is the strongest, steam, diesel, gasoline, LP, natural gas. All have their strenghts and weaknesses. But then, why else do they generate electricity with steam or falling water?

[1EpicLulz]

They need a bigger tractor

[DonTruman]

Dang. That thing is gnarly! And amazing beast of machinery.

[549bm]

it is a GEISER engine not a peerless

[dkrenshaw]

Thanks for your comment. The manufacturer is Geiser, but the machinery line is "Peerless" and was advertised as such both in their catalogs and in paint on the engines.

[dwiggs77]

@549bm not an expert in this field but it does say peerless right on the side of the red pipe

[dunnodontcare93]

o.O That thing is scary.

[johneastmond]

I wanna see a 120 HP. modern engine come close to that performance!

[19mg94]

a wd45 allis can handle that

[colbycous01]

im not a farmer, but it seems to me that thing would pull just about ANYTHING you could hook up to it. old steam power is just awsome

[Buemmo]

@colbycous01 but the problem is that steam tractors are veeerry heavy

[MyDavid1960]

nice...i rember when i was a kid in england some farmers used steam tractors to run thrashing machenes i was always scard of them....stayd in the barn and shovled sh...t now i love them , nice vidio...

[hvguy]

im loving those drive wheels! my new holland tc85 just sinks when it rains, maybe ill build a set of those as a hub adaptor =)

[lgnkotr]

talk about these things not being very tread light lol some sweet ass wheels on those old tractors thou

[frosty9595]

When operated correctally and maintained right a steam powered tractor has no more risk of exploding then any other tractor. Just think of how many steam powered vehicals there were back in the day and then think of how many you herd of actually blowing up.

[lgnkotr]

thats the thing....when they blew up there was no one left to tell the story. so thats why you never heard of any blowing up :) jkn jkn

[jeffinlaf]

@frosty9595 -Corrosion-.one blew up at our county fair in Medina Oh. and changed the laws state wide. It was a national news story. Only a complete deconstruction/rebuild will reveal all of her secrets after 100 years.

[4freespeech]

@frosty9595 There actually were quite a few boiler explosions

back in the day when people worked 18 hour shifts and the

machinery was run full bore constantly. Steam locomotives

require a lot more maintenance than diesel and are more

complicated to operate. As for tractors it would depend upon

how much steam psi you were running. Of course now the

old engines are only used for demonstrations. People forget

how hard life was 100+ years ago, and how dangerous.

[dkrenshaw]

@4freespeech As frosty9595 said, most of the explosions were accidents, and like most accidents these days they were due to operator error or poor maintenance practices. The manufacturers that designed and built these tractors in any significant quantity were well established and had good proven designs. But any fool can cause an accident no matter what type of machine he's running. The engineers that understood and respected the power of these engines are the ones who's machines survive today.

[donc81]

@frosty9595 There actually have been instances where these tractors have exploded. Boiler inspections are critical along with proper maintenance. The volume of those boilers is massive.

[gmellis]

@frosty9595 In 1856 John Ramsbottom invented a tamper-proof spring safety valve which virtually eliminated explosions.

[SheaClayFarms1]

More balls than the biggest tractor today

[6806goats1]

Now that is AWESOME!!! I miss seeing these old machines working. I'm stoked about getting Dad's 47 John Deere model A. Not the same as this beast but still cool in my book. Just wish he was still around to help me play.

[4freespeech]

Seems like soil compaction would

definitely be an issue with those.

[megatwingo]

What a monster! 5*****

[jordanm6]

Those old thrasher shows are pretty cool.

[heatherrose2006]

The spinning ball weight governor on the top was cool to see.

that's where the term "balls to the wall" came from.

[waylifetruth]

Wow I didn't know that! So what is that governor regulating?

[heatherrose2006]

If you are not being sarcastic, it is regulating

the steam pressure into the piston cylinder.

If you are being sarcastic, I couldn't care less.

[waylifetruth]

Not sarcastic at all, Thanks for the reply! I've been saying balls to the wall forever and never knew it originated from the ball governor.

[heatherrose2006]

The term originated on naval ships.

In the midst of battle the governor could

be tweeked allowing a little more speed.

Tweeked, the balls would rap against

the interior walls of the governor housing.

[Res0lut1on]

That's actually pretty interesting. Thanks for explaining!

[Manorfarmdenton]

@heatherrose2006 Excellent! Thanks for that!

[arlichar11]

wow....thanks 4 post...

[BlakeMason2]

Cool. Do you know how long it can run (in this case ploughing) until you have to add water?

[dkrenshaw]

A friend of mine did plowing demonstrations with this engine when it was in Montana, and he said this: "Pulling the 20 bottom plow at Belgrade with the 40hp Peerless, we'd run a 1" injector most of a approximate half mile round. It would take anywhere from 300-400 gallons for that half hour of fun. The tanks were 540 gallons as I remember and sometimes would require much of that water, if you figure in the cool down at the end, after unhooking and parking at the woodpile."

[BlakeMason2]

Thanks for the info--that is a LOT of water! It is no wonder people got away from steam.

[runiemage99]

Water gauges maybe??

[asskahn]

I think the blower is also used when passing under something like a tunnel or bridge, right? It makes it so the crew doesn't get burned. Correct me if wrong, as I know on steam locomotives this is the case.

[dkrenshaw]

I've never heard of that before, and I'm not sure what the purpose would be, but I don't know much about locomotive procedure. I don't think it would be applicable to steam tractors though.

[BlowoutBob]

Do you mean that that traction engine doesn't use the exhaust steam to create a draft when working? What do they do with the exhaust steam from the cylinders?

[dkrenshaw]

The engine's exhaust does go up the stack and it does create a draft when the engine is running. The blower is typically only used to raise the steam pressure when the engine is not running. In some cases, the blower may be needed even though the engine is running, but not pulling hard enough to maintain pressure. This may happen when burning poor fuel, like wet slab wood in the sawmill where the load between cuts allows the fire to die down.

[67tr876]

was that a blower i saw on top ?

[dkrenshaw]

I'm not sure what you are referring to. If you're asking about the thing spinning around in the air, it is a "flyball governor" and it regulates the speed of the engine. Kinda like cruise control for a tractor.

[67tr876]

well if you look at 0:21 the thing that to me looks likea roots blower to give the engine more air.

[dkrenshaw]

I think what you're looking at, the big red block with the long red tubes coming out the bottom, is the engine's cylinders. This is a steam engine so there's no roots blower because the combustion takes place inside the boiler where the water is heated and steam created. The boiler does actually have a "blower," but it is a nozzle in the smokestack that uses a jet of steam to create a draft that pulls air through the fire in the boiler.

[67tr876]

o ok thank's am not that good with steam engines but with gas and diesel ya am good

[microblah]

i've been wondering (this is probably a stupid question) but how exactly does a steam blower work? I couldn't find out on the net

[dkrenshaw]

The steam boiler's blower is just a nozzle that shoots a jet of steam up the smokestack. The jet of steam expands rapidly in the smokestack while quickly rising, and this creates a vacuum that pulls air through the boiler tubes and from below the fire. The fresh flow of air through the fire makes it rage and creates intense heat to boil the water faster. The steam engine's exhaust is also expelled up the smokestack so each puff pulls a slug of fresh air through the fire.

[xxxavier63]

awesome!!!

[dmith7777]

that's baddd asssss !!!!!!

[OverlordJake]

cool

[zookie400]

THIS IS AWESOME! i would love to get a collection of steam tractors before i kick the bucket. awesome vid!

[bugsier5]

wonder what this machine does in a modern tractor pull competition! (LOL) winning probably!(LOL)

[dkrenshaw]

I don't think they build tractor pull sleds big enouugh to stop this one!! ;-)

[bugsier5]

traction above friction pulling!

[oldSawyer]

They're good at dragging big cattapillar's backwards too with the tracks spinning.

[immigranter]

how many pistons does it have, 2 or 3?

[dkrenshaw]

It is a 2 cylinder, but like most all steam engines the piston is double acting, steam pushes on both sides, so there are 4 power strokes per revolution.

[immigranter]

I knew it was steam powered, but thanks, I might do this machine as a technical drawing for one of my projects at my university, so that's why asked. The crankshaft arms are set in 90 degrees to each other right? so it doesn't have a dead point like petrol engines would of that time

[cumminsturbofan101]

jeez if they only built tractors today as well as they did then just look at the quality of it and with proper maintenance obviously look how long it's lasted

[pokeyronster]

If anyone is watching this before Labor Day weekend and you want to see lots of old tractors and a handful like this one and you are near South Carolina: Go to Dacusville Farm Days just a few miles north of Greenville, SC. Great show every year on Labor Day weekend. Directions: follow hwy. 276 northwest out of Greenville, look for signs at hwy. 186 to your left in Marietta, then follow 186 for about 3 miles and turn right onto Pace Bridge Rd., show is on left.

[kcholt11]

AMAZING!!!!

[joejedlicka]

Just imagine the soil compaction. :) I bet corn roots love going through the hardpan left by the machine. Awesome steam engine, though!

[oldSawyer]

just a quick comment on joejedlicks'a post about soil compaction..... WHAT ???? The Plow is turning the soil AFTER the steam engine has gone over it. The engine isn't packing it down after it's been plowed !

[joejedlicka]

There is a thing called hardpan. It forms just below the level of tillage. Think about it. Tons and tons of pressure pressurize the ground maybe 17" down, yet a plow only tills up 6-8". There would still be alot of packed ground, actually made worse by the implement going directly over what it doesn't till, pressurizing it more. Do that for 50 years, then run a subsoiler over it, that is what goes down 15-17" and breaks the hardpan. 150hp for 5 shanks still puts a strain on the tractor. :)

[oldSawyer]

I guess I stand at least partially corrected by someone with more of an actual farming background than I personally have. At the same time though, considering the weight being spread out as much as it is with those extension rims, I would find it hard to believe that it would compact the soil to that depth unless you're driving it through mud.

Until they started running duals and floatation tires, the average modern tractor probably exerted as much weight per square inch as this does.

[joejedlicka]

I would go along with the weight per square inch being about the same when they ran singles, but it is still in a smaller area. Of course the really big tractors of today (like a 9200 or maybe even an 8230) might weigh as much as one of those old girls, so the compaction might be the same, although it is still a great amount. In regards to compaction at that depth, if there wasn't compaction, then they're wouldn't be any point in the subsoiler, as all it does is lift the ground and drop it.

[joejedlicka]

And I want to say I'm not trying to be rude at all, just informative. I farm and I've seen what happens when different implements are applied to fields, and subsoilers are a valuable asset. :) One question I can never get answered is: "Okay, we broke the 15-17" hardpan, didn't we just make another one?" Although it should be less compacted, and maybe it's enough that the roots can penetrate it, as that's the problem with the original hardpan.

[oldSawyer]

Again I guess I would have to say I've been corrected by a farmer who know's. I didn't mean to high-jack this debating back and forth, and I appologise to anyone that's already gotten bored with it. But I also , as a Non-Farmer, would have to ask : Do corn , bean, or wheat roots even go that deep, or do you have to break the 'hardpan' for better water drainage? Other than the tap-root, most tree roots don't even go that far below the surface, they mainly spread out just below the surface.

[joejedlicka]

I mainly hear about it helping corn, as it's roots go deeper. I was surprised that it's roots go down that deep as well. And I've never heard the water drainage as a reason, but to tell you the truth, I think that might actually help more than the benefit it gives to root growth, especially if the field isn't tiled.

[Gr8CFce]

She's a beaut! Thanks for posting!

P.S....just wanting a piece of nostalgia here...anyone know what one of these might have gone for back in the day when they were new?

[immuki]

hit and miss engines cousin :D

[BRTowe]

How deep are those plows cutting?

[wilstonkeks]

what an monster! ;)

[scollins94]

thats one hell of a tractor

[12valvepower1]

locomotive technology.

[bamper42069]

I wanna see one of those hook onto a few trees.

[michaelovitch]

it's ugly but powerful....like we love!

[zachlutes]

@michaelovitch You and I have totally different definitions of ugly! :)

[michaelovitch]

@zachlutes

that's the point : )

[delcofiftyfive]

This is an amazing video. Thanks for the opportunity of showing people museum pieces that are in progress.

[Isaiah402831]

geez that baby's got some serious torque

[12valvepower1]

that is because all the parts weigh like 1k lbs each. huge rotating mass there, massive force on that crank

[Isaiah402831]

yeah, kinda figured that is why it has to have that power

[Tidermans]

my god

[ericabj40]

good lord!

[1singlet]

Holy!

[tonyppe]

see the size of those rims! haha

[12valvepower1]

44'' rims at least.

[soulprovider915]

That's Raw Power!!!!!

[drail80s]

I have photos if anyone is interested. EM me back.

I love talking about this stuff.

I can tell you all about the sparks show on Saturday night, and the other shows. They have a tractor that can lift its own self up completely off the ground.

Em me back

[drail80s]

The hitches theselves were huge. They were designed and built so that all the pull was spread out evenly.

They plowed up the field about quarter mile then turned around They brought us out to the field in school buses. I have lots of photos of this event in case anyones interested E M me ok

[dkrenshaw]

Thanks for your comment.

In 2005, three 110hp Case steam traction engines were used to pull SIXTY (60) 14" plows in Rantoul, IL. I believe it was a world record. I wish I could have been there to see either of those events!

[drail80s]

When I saw it was maybe 2003 and it was in honor of the 50th or so anniversary or 55th,

of the WMSTR at Rollag. It took about 25 men to

operate the plow. Needless to say listening to alot of

oldtimers talking it seemed not to impressive

because the outbound plows didnt cut at all

and the inner plows only seemed to scratch

the surface a few inches deep I think they used

3 Ramaleys to pull the plow and they designed

theyre own hitches so that all tractors pulled back

[drail80s]

Id like to say that at this event a few years ago

I witnessed a 50btm plow being pulled through the field. I took many photographs of the operation.

[drail80s]

20btm plow Afew years ago I was at Rollog and watched an anniversary pull of a 50btm plow over 20 men to operate and 3 Ramallys pulling it I have photos for proof 50btm plow

[Inventor72]

Man! I gotta get me one of these!!!

[mmmmna]

Thanks to all for running and maintaining this equipment!!

[antiquesteam]

Simply Impressive!!

[antiquesteam]

Simply impressive.

[engineeringjohnson]

incredible