Big Bud 747
The Big Bud 747 or 16V-747 Big Bud is a large, custom-made farm tractor built in Havre, Montana in 1977. It is billed by the owners and exhibitors as the "World's Largest Farm Tractor".[1]
History
The tractor was originally designed by Wilbur Hensler and built by Ron Harmon and employees of his the Northern Manufacturing Company,[1][2] at a cost of $300,000.[2] It was made for the Rossi Brothers, cotton farmers of Bakersfield[1] or Old River, California,[2] where it was used for 11 years, then it was purchased by Willowbrook Farms of Indialantic, Florida; both farms used it for deep ripping.[1]
After a period of disuse, it was purchased by Robert and Randy Williams,[3] of Big Sandy, Montana, within 60 miles (97 km) of where it was built, in 1997. It was used on the Williams Brothers' farm in Chouteau County to pull an 80-foot (24 m) cultivator, covering 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) per minute[3] at a speed up to 8 miles per hour (13 km/h).[1]
The United Tire Company of Canada, which made the tractor's custom 8-foot (2.4 m) tires, went bankrupt in 2000, partially contributing to the decision to stop using the tractor for regular work in July 2009,[2] to move the Big Bud 747 to museums.[3]
After its work on the farm, it was displayed at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, Iowa. In 2014, the Big Bud 747 was moved to the Heartland Museum in Clarion, Iowa, on indefinite loan from the Williams Brothers; the museum constructed a separate shed for the tractor in 2013.[3]
Statistics
General
- Height: 14 feet (4.3 m) to top of cab[1]
- Length: 27 feet (8.2 m) frame; 28 feet 6 inches (8.69 m) to end of drawbar
- Width: 13 feet 4 inches (4.06 m) over fenders; 20 feet 10 inches (6.35 m) over duals[1]
- Wheelbase: 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m)[1]
- Tires: 8 feet (2.4 m) in diameter;[1] 39.6 inches (1,010 mm) in width;[2] (38 x 35 16 ply duals)
- Weight: 95,000 pounds (48 short tons; 95,000 lb) shipping weight;[1] over 100,000 pounds (50 short tons; 100,000 lb) when 1,000-U.S.-gallon (3,800 l; 830 imp gal) tank is full;[1] 135,000 pounds (68 short tons; 135,000 lb) fully ballasted[2]
Tank capacities
- Fuel capacity: 1,000 gallons (diesel fuel)[2]
- Hydraulic reservoir: 150-U.S.-gallon (570 l; 120 imp gal) tank[1]
Engine
- Detroit Diesel 16V92T: 16-cylinder, two-cycle engine[2]
- Power: originally 760 horsepower (570 kW), but later increased to 860 horsepower (640 kW), then to 960 horsepower (720 kW)[2]
- Displacement: 1472 cid (24,1 ltr), or 92 cid (1,5 ltr) per cylinder[2]
- Induction: 2 turbochargers, 2 superchargers[2]
- Starter: 24 volts;[1][2] all other electrical is 12 volts[2]
- Alternator: 75 ampere[1]
Transmission
Other
- Cab features: Air conditioner; heater; windshield wipers; swivel bucket seat plus buddy seat; AM/FM radio; 8-track stereo system (made in 1977).
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "16-V 747 Big Bud “The World’s Largest Farm Tractor”". Big Sandy, Montana: Williams Big Bud Tractor. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 McGlothlin, Mike (Mar 1, 2011). "Big Bud: The World's Largest Farm Tractor". Diesel Power (online ed.).
- 1 2 3 4 "Heartland Museum Acquires World's Largest Tractor". The Wright County Monitor (online ed.) (Clarion, Iowa). 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
External links
- Williams Big Bud Tractor — official website