Special Built Ridge Tractor

Special built ridge tractor TRACTORS New Tractors 9-5-8 Ridge-tilling farmers got a peek at the future recently when Hiniker Company, one of the leading manufacturers of ridge-till equipment, unveiled its special-built, ridge-till tractor. Built from the ground up by company designer Dick Schultz, the experimental tractor was built solely with ridge-till farmers in mind. Because a ridge-tilling farmer basically only uses a tractor to plant and cultivate, pulling power is less important than good visibility, balance (many ridge-tillers have to carry large amounts of ballast on the front of their conventional tractors), and lateral stability (keeping ridge-till planters and cultivators on top of the ridges). The articulated tractor's "pull-under" design provides the visibility needed, along with precision control. There's two-way hydraulic 3-pt. hitch between the wheels on the front, extended axle. Despite the long length of the machine, it has a tight 5-ft. turning radius because of the combination of front wheels that steer and an articulation point just ahead of the cab. The frame of the machine was built from the ground up. Schultz used an International 345 engine and hydrostatic combine final drives. The engine is mounted in the rear over the main drive axle andkjust behind the cab. Hydrostatic 4-wheel drive moves the 145 hp. tractor through an infinite speed range from 0 to 18 mph. The 15,000-lb. tractor is carried on 18.4 by 38 rear tires and 14.9 by 26 front tires. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Hiniker Co., P.O. Box 3407, Mankato, Minn. 56001 (ph 507 625-6621).

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