Traction on smooth surfaces?

[Pullstart 62,905]

@jeremi3210 you mentioned that on many pulling tracks, you just run turfs.  I have skinny ags on Chloe the 953 right now and she’s been the shop tug lately, pushing and pulling the hilo when it decides not to drive.

 

I have some wide GT14 turf tires that I could use in place of ags.  I also have some narrower car tires on 4 lug wheels.  Would either likely provide more bite on the smooth surface or just be less psi to the ground?

 

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

I believe I’ll try the widest ones first.  Like a drag car, more rubber to the road.

 

 

 

[ri702bill 8,327]

6 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I believe I’ll try the widest ones first.

Always nice to have a "Selection Collection" ....

[bds1984 1,435]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

@jeremi3210 you mentioned that on many pulling tracks, you just run turfs.  I have skinny ags on Chloe the 953 right now and she’s been the shop tug lately, pushing and pulling the hilo when it decides not to drive.

 

I have some wide GT14 turf tires that I could use in place of ags.  I also have some narrower car tires on 4 lug wheels.  Would either likely provide more bite on the smooth surface or just be less psi to the ground?

 

 

 

Are you sure you just didn't want to do a burnout?

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

I can't tell if those tires are original on your 953, but if they're old I imagine being dry rotted doesn't help the grip factor either lol

[Pullstart 62,905]

30 minutes ago, bds1984 said:

Are you sure you just didn't want to do a burnout?

t’weren’t me sheriff!

 

 

[jeremi3210 717]

For turfs I'd run the wider ones. And adjust the pressure pretty low so the rinkle a bit under load. I run about 8psi in mine but I believe that they are 6 ply tires. The guys I pull with are really loose on what they consider turf tire I think but if you want to be competitive you have to follow somewhat.

[Pullstart 62,905]

Thanks @jeremi3210!  I think I needed way more weight even though the tool box was full of lead, and maybe more gear reduction.  

[jeremi3210 717]

13 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Thanks @jeremi3210!  I think I needed way more weight even though the tool box was full of lead, and maybe more gear reduction.  

My rear tires are filled also with bioballast. If my memory is correct they are about 100lbs each. I have some extra weights on it right now cause I we pull tomorrow! No worries! I will make sure you can see the videos this time!

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

8 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Like a drag car, more rubber to the road.

Yep, should work. And lower tire pressure like @jeremi3210 suggested plus more weight are your best bet.

Something like 'contact patch times pounds per square inch equals grip"

 

[953 nut 55,293]

7 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

I can't tell if those tires are original on your 953, but if they're old I imagine being dry rotted doesn't help the grip factor either lol

Sixty year rubber tends to be a bit petrified, probably at least a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.  

Kevin, you have a bunch of used roundy-round soft compound tires around,                could be worth a try.

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

I pretty much just made wider marks on the ground!  I’m more okay with smoking turfs off in the shop than perfectly usable ags though!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

3 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Sixty year rubber tends to be a bit petrified, probably at least a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.  

Kevin, you have a bunch of used roundy-round soft compound tires around,                could be worth a try.

 

They’re even 15” tires too!  GENIUS!

 

 

[953 nut 55,293]

34 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

 GENIUS!

[Pullstart 62,905]

@953 nut Mr. Richard, Rylee agrees.  You’re pretty much a genius!

 

These are 26.5x8-15’s and I have a handful of 27” tires too that would likely fit.  I’ll keep the 26.5’s just for a little more low end grunt over the taller 27’s.  I swear I had two spare 15” wheels but only found one.  I’ll go back through pictures of taking delivery and see.

 

 

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

Went to a tractor pull that I was not familiar with (it may have been the Gratz Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania) and it was quickly noticed that all the pullers were using wide turf tires .... well, I just knew then with my 23-degree AG Firestones I had this pull in the bag! Then I looked at the track and saw it was a hard cinder covered surface. Well let's just say I drove a long way home with my tail between my legs.

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[8ntruck 7,016]

Do you have some tire de-glazing discs somewhere in your racing stuff collection?  Roughing up the surfaces of the tires might help.

[Pullstart 62,905]

11 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

Do you have some tire de-glazing discs somewhere in your racing stuff collection?  Roughing up the surfaces of the tires might help.

My dirt racing in-laws probably do!

Edited August 20, 2022 by Pullstart

[Handy Don 12,233]

11 hours ago, Pullstart said:

@jeremi3210 you mentioned that on many pulling tracks, you just run turfs.  I have skinny ags on Chloe the 953 right now and she’s been the shop tug lately, pushing and pulling the hilo when it decides not to drive.

 

I have some wide GT14 turf tires that I could use in place of ags.  I also have some narrower car tires on 4 lug wheels.  Would either likely provide more bite on the smooth surface or just be less psi to the ground?

Friction = downward force x the coefficient of friction, i.e. weight x the grip of the tire. Softer, new rubber that can get a good grip on the concrete floor is your ticket. I'd think medium soft slicks (a la the hi-lo!) would be the perfect tire for that.

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

Now I don't have anything against redneck engineering or any kind of engineering for that matter.. BUT.. would'nt it be easier to fix that forklift-a-ma-thingy? 

[Pullstart 62,905]

2 hours ago, sjoemie himself said:

Now I don't have anything against redneck engineering or any kind of engineering for that matter.. BUT.. would'nt it be easier to fix that forklift-a-ma-thingy? 

I haven’t been able to locate a service manual for it, and most every wire is white!  indeeed!

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

Have you got make and model, type and or serial number? Maybe I can help you locate some info 

[Pullstart 62,905]

1 hour ago, sjoemie himself said:

Have you got make and model, type and or serial number? Maybe I can help you locate some info 

Raymond.  That’s it.  The model/serial sticker is long gone and the local supplier has given me an LED display diagnostics manual.  This thing has dirt on it older than LEDs!

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

I'm probably going to kick in an open door but have you contacted the Raymond company to see if they can help you out?

Seems like they're still in business.

[Rob J. 1,942]

I’d fill the AGs and see what happens.