LeTourneau ripper

How many sizes of pull type rippers did letourneau make ? Which size was made to pull with rd6 tractor? How many shanks on different sizes?

Chad,I went through my literature collection and found that as of May,1941 the only rippers they have listed in their price guide are the K-30,H,S models.The K30 is for D8 tractors.It has 3 teeth,weighs 13,500,cost $2115.00.The H model is also for D8's,has 3-5 teeth,8150lbs,$1620.00.The S model is for D7 tractors,has 3-5 teeth,weighs5150,cost $1200.00.Hope this help you.Mike Durkin

Here's what I have for pictures.....not great😊

thank you Mike for all info. I was not sure if they made many small sizes for smaller tractors. I know it takes a lot of power to pull ripper shanks through the ground at any depth. Thanks for great photos Old Magnet , very interesting decal on first photo. I also wanted to know about caterpillar pull type ripper,was told they are pretty rare? My buddy has a caterpillar one.Thanks for info. and time!! Chad .

Chad - Hicrop10 has pretty much nailed the common LeTourneau Rooter (or ripper) models. LeTourneau never built a Rooter for anything smaller than a D7, Diesel Fifty or the Sixty.
LeTourneau was experienced enough to understand that ripping requires a big heavy tractor, and wasn't a job for small or medium-sized tractors.

LeTourneau built his first commercial Rooters in 1931, and sold 9 of them in that year. Early ones were a single shank, and had a geared rack and pinion arrangement to alter and set the ripping depth. This arrangement was unreliable and prone to breakage, so it was replaced by the cable lift arrangement.

LeTourneau sold 300 Rooters between 1931 and 1935, and they were in demand, as tractors got bigger and better .. and hard rock jobs could be handled without huge shovels or blasting.
In 1936, the heavy duty K-3 appeared (as in OM's pic) .. but was soon replaced by the superior K30, designed to be used with the D8.

The K30 could be used with 2 x D8's (one pulling and one pushing) .. and I have seen pics of a LeTourneau Rooter being pulled by 1 x D8, and pushed by 2 x D8's .. 😮

The Cat towed rippers were modelled on the LeTourneau Rooters, and were in production from 1946 to the late 1950's.