The Bison Pullers are a division of North Dakota State University’s Agricultural and
Biological Engineering department.

What do we do?

Each year our team of undergraduate students set out to design and build a 1/4-scale pulling tractor for an international collegiate competition sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The competition consists of a performance pull as well as design judging, a written report, and an oral presentation. The goal of the competition is for the team members to be able to utilize some of the knowledge gained in various classes and see those concepts develop in a real world application. In addition, the students also learn invaluable teamwork and communication skills as well as developing real world contacts, which could later prove valuable in their careers.

Rules?

The competition is designed to bring out the creative side of each team. This creativity must be restrained somewhat however by a common set of rules. The following are some of the basic rules;
1. Must use 16hp Briggs & Stratton engines, may use multiple engines
2. Each team must design a fully customized frame
3. Tractor must be no wider than 72 inches or longer than 96 inches
4. Tractor may be 2 or 4 wheel drive
5. Tractor must not exceed 900 lbs. and must pull in 1,050 and 1,300 lb weight classes
6. All driven tires must be size 26 x 12.00 – 12

How's this compare to a regular tractor pull?

The ¼ Scale Tractor Competition is made up of teams from the Student Branches of ASABE from around the world. The competition is similar to a normal tractor pull with a few different objectives; not only are the teams trying to pull the sled the length of the track, but we also have to compete in several engineering objectives. Each team prepares a written design report, an oral presentation, cost analysis and a design log for their tractor. Also, each team is judged on the manufacturability and serviceability of their tractor.

Bison Puller’s History

The Bison Pullers are entering our sixth year in competition at the American Society of Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineers (ASABE) National competition in Moline, Illinois.

Bison Pullers in action at 1999 National Competition	Pouring it on in 2007
2001 Tractor in final state of construction	2007 Maneuvering Course
Maneuvering Course	Hooking up in 2004

ASABE Student Engineering Branch

ASM Club

 

This page is property of the NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department.
Last Modified on 5/4/08

For questions of webpage issues email Curt Thoreson @ curtis.thoreson@ndsu.edu