I found my calender with the information. The Big Bud spec sheet(link) has the as-built information, this reprinted article has updated specs as of 2000. 1977 Big Bud 747 "Awesome" just isn't an adequate word to fully describe this biggest of the Big Buds. It's 16-cyl Detroit diesel engine, retrofitted with the biggest injectors made, produces 900HP! It's over 20ft wide, 28ft long. It's 14ft to the top of the cab. Power from the engine is transmitted through a twin disc, clutch-free power-shift transmission. It weighs 130,000lbs with fuel in its 1,000gal tank, and ballast in the eight specially made 8ft tall duals. The Big Bud was built in Harve, MT by Northern Bfg. Co. owned by Ron Harmon. The Big Bud's back home. The owners are Robert and Randy Williams of Big Sandy, MT. Thier giant tractor was used in Californa and Florida before the Williams Bros. bought and restored it. But the 747 doesn't sit around just looking pretty. It pulls a huge 80ft chisel plow and does 60-70 acres an hour at 6.5-7.5 MPH. It takes only two weeks to work 8,000-9,000 acres for small grains under optimal conditions. "We put 400 hrs on it this spring, no proglem," they say. They paid $95,000 for the Big Bud, an one-of-a-kind, spent another $15,000 to restore it. The Williams Brothers feel it's one of thier best investments. It's the biggest tractor built in the 20th century. Author John Harvey
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