Wheel Horse Tractor "Horse Hitch"

[GlenPettit 1,716]

Just found this article in this months;  "Farm Show" magazine:

 

 

Excerpts from the article:    "Hometown parades are a big draw in many rural communities, and Palmer Feldman and son Gordon have come up with a proven crowd pleaser. Their tractor 'horse' hitch features four Wheel Horse garden tractors that pull a covered wagon, with all the operations controlled from the wagon.  The pulling is done by one hydrostatic drive tractor on back, while the other tractors just tag along. Steering is done using reins attached to the tie rods on all the tractors.

We take it to parades every summer where it's always a big hit. People can't figure out how we control the tractors without anyone riging them. My son Gordon did most the work.  All the tractors are equipped with Kohler engines. Three of them have 16hp engines and standard transmissions. The forth tractor has a 10hp engine and a hydrostatic transmission and is the only tractor used to drive the team. A boat cable runs from the tractors hydrostatic gearshift lever back to a lever mounted on the wagon.

Covered wagons in the old days had a lever on one side to control the wagon's breaks, we're using that lever to operate the tractor's hydrostatic transmission. The operator steers by holding onto a pair of reins, which are attached to the tie rods on all four tractors. A pole runs forward from the wagon between the two sets of tractors, while a pair of crossbars connect the tractors from drawbar to drawbar. A tie rod extends from the pole to the outside of both front tractors. The reins run from a pair of pulleys mounted on the pole 3' ahead of the wagon, forward to the steering rod on each tractor.

We alaready had the tractors because for years we operated a Wheel Horse dealership.  (Palmer Feldman, 16543 Co. Road, Township, WI 54175).

This magazine is a bi-monthly only about "Made it Myself" reader stories about home-made Farm & garden/yard equipment, there are usually 5-6 full pages on just Garden Tractor implements & modifications only, in each 44 page issue, most are very unique and original, and with no paid-ads, very basic and sincere. ( www.FarmShow.com ).

Edited March 19, 2014 by GlenPettit

[AMC RULES 37,125]

Man, that is cool...imagine both, the big and little kids would love seeing that in person.

Any chance we can get Pamer and Gordon to bring it to the big  show?    

[Ed Kennell 37,988]

controlled from the wagon....radio or reins ??

[Ed Kennell 37,988]

Reins it is.. thanks or the update Glen.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

WOW! that is really cool. Thanks Glen

 

Glenn

[312Hydro 474]

That's some great thinking to put a rig like that together! Thanks for sharing. :handgestures-thumbupright:

[Tankman 3,518]

Thanks for the post Glen! Great pic and story.