Oil Pulls

Once you have seen one, you will never forget it. Built in LaPorte, Ind. 56,647 OilPulls, in 14 different models, were built between 1910 and 1930. The OilPull featured a carburetion system designed by John Secor and William Higgins. The Secor-Higgins carburetor enabled the OilPull to burn low grade fuels such as distillate and kerosene. Water injection was used to prevent pre-ignition and the engine was cooled with oil instead of water to keep the temperature high enough to aid the burning of low grade fuels. The radiator had vertical air passages and the engine exhaust was directed through a nozzle located in a shroud atop the radiator, to induce a draft through the air passages. In their sales literature, Rumely touted how the amount of draft was proportionate to the work the tractor was doing, the harder the engine was working, the more draft, thus keeping the engine at the right temperature at all times.

Bill Smith, of Baraboo, WI owns this Rumely OilPull model E, built in 1923 and rated at 30 horsepower on the drawbar and 60 horsepower on the belt. Introduced in 1911, the model E weighs 13 tons and is equipped with a two cylinder engine with a displacement of 1884 cubic inches and running at a maximum speed of 375 rpm. In Nebraska Tractor Test #8, the model E burned 10.73 gallons of fuel an hour and exerted a maximum pull of 75.6 horsepower. This massive machine was built to work hard and last long. This is one of the very few machines at our show that has been here for every show since 1963.

In 1911, Rumely introduced the model F. Originally rated at 15 horsepower on the drawbar and 30 on the belt, it is basically half of a model E. The engine is a one cylinder engine with a low tension make and break ignitor. The bore is 10 inches and the stroke is 12 inches, giving a displacement of 942 cubic inches. In 1918, the F was re-rated to 18 drawbar and 35 belt horsepower. The tractor pictured above is an 18-35, built in 1918 and belongs to Paul Grotophorst, of Baraboo, WI.

In 1919, Rumely introduced the model G. It had a twin cylinder engine with 8 inch bore and 10 inch stroke, running at 450 rpm. Equipped with spark plug ignition, effected by a Bosch DU2 magneto, the model G did well in Nebraska test #11 in May of 1920 by putting out 46.19 horsepower on the belt and 30.07 horsepower on the drawbar. The tractor pictured here is owned and was restored by Harold Gjersvig, of Tomah, WI and was built in 1919.

George Hoffman is seen here operating the 1922 Rumely OilPull model G owned by Mark & Neil Manke, of Lodi, WI. More photos of this tractor, and also of traction engines, can be found on the Sawing & Threshing Page.

The OilPull model H was introduced in 1918 with a two cylinder engine with 7 inch bore, 8 1/2 inch stroke, low tension ignition and operating at 530 rpm. Intitially rated at 14 drawbar and 28 belt horsepower, the H was re-rated to 16 drawbar and 30 belt horsepower in 1919. Along with the re-rating came the change from low tension ignition to sparkplugs and a Bosch DU2 magneto. The H was produced until 1924.
The tractor shown here is owned by John Raemisch's children, Mike, Chris and Zach, all of Lodi, WI. Mark Hellenbrand, of Waunakee, takes care of the maintenance and can often be found running it during the show.