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Tractor Horse Hitch A Real Crowd Pleaser
Hometown celebrations are a big thing in many rural communities in the good of summertime, and here's a novelty that's a proven crowd pleaser.
In and around Shelbyville, Ill., Barker Brothers Equipment Company, has come up with this multiple hitch of four garden tractors pulling an old flare bed wagon, and controlled strictly with reins.
The unique tractor "horse" hitch has turned out to be such a hit that the Barkers have been invited to perform in other parades throughout the state.
The feat that fascinates viewers most has been the turning of the "team". In one town, the viewers were so fascinated by this that parade officials cleared a street along an entire city block so the mechanical horses could demonstrate a series of figure 8's.
How is the hitch put together? One of the secrets is that all the pulling is done by the two lead tractors. The others just tag along for the effect. The center driver is responsible for the steering while the two "outriders" operate hydrostatic drive levers. All operations are handled with ropes that simulate "reins" in the time-honored horse hitches.
The hydrostatic lever moves forward and backward. Forward is neutral, and back is in gear. There is a pulley on the hood latch for neutral position.


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1982 - Volume #6, Issue #5