The little AC "B" never ceases to amaze me. We used ours in the summer pulling wagons to pick up tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes and whatever else we had. During can-house season we loaded the wagon really heavy with baskets of tomatoes. More than once I saw the tires on the "B" look like wrinkle walls pulling the wagon load up out of the field onto the asphalt road. The road had a lot of scars from that little tractor. She never let us down when we needed her. Cool video. 👍👍👍
As the US was preparing for the Second World War, President Roosevelt and his secretary of Agriculture asked all farm equipment manufacturers for their recommendations about agriculture and farm machinery. While all the big manufacturers recommended large farms and large tractors, Bob McNamara who was president of Ford presented the first computer analysis. It concluded that mixed farming of around 100- 150 acres was the optimal size to maximize farm production. Likewise tractors of between 25-35 horsepower was both the most efficient and cost effective size for agricultural production. As a followup study done in the 1970's it was demonstrated that even on exceptionally large farm operations (hundreds of acres), tractors of around 70-90 horses was all that was needed to be the most productive and cost efficient. Growing up on a farm, I always believed that farmers were over-powering their operations. My dad and I worked three farms with a BF Minneapolis and a Cockshutt 30 - we could even run a case one row corn harvester and wagon with it!
Back in the late 60's I pulled a similar size baler with a C and even pulled a wagon. The big thig is to not make too heavy of windrow. Both the B and C have plenty of power, it's just a bit under weight to handle traction on the larger hills
We baled with a Ferguson TO35 when the other vintage tractors were down (Oliver 880 and Farmall 806). We didn't pull a wagon stacking a hundred bales, just dropped on the ground. The low weight of the tractor like you have with the B allows the 'surging' that gets tiring over a day but they get the job done. The old iron does a lot more than many believe it can.
My friend farmer has a 1953 IH Farmall H that he bought from his neighbor;i tedded ,raked and haul hay wagons with it.He still has it for pulling events.
A Modern 21 Hp V-Twin wouldn't do anything if it was governed at 1500 rpm! It amazes me what that B! 125 CID can do!! A Fregie TO-20 could bail hay and its engine was about the same size! Actually 120 Cid but governed at a race car speed of 2200!!!!!! THe CA was capable of running an All Crop 60 and the B could pull it but AC recommended Aux power unit to run the Combine!! I bet the B could run the combine in a pinch but you may have to take partial swaths in heavy crops!
