sandman2234
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2005
- Messages
- 6,019
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Tractor
- JD2555 and a few Allis Chalmers and now one Kubota
I don't want to start an argument, read most of the above posts, didn't try to do the math that was presented, but wanted to mention something, just for thought.
Take a Popsicle stick and lay it across a couple of crayons, spaced like the axles on a tractor, leaving a little sticking out on both ends. Now put equal weights on the ends outside of the crayons. If you use equal weights, then neither end lifts up. However, if you add enough weight at both ends, the next problem you are going to have is the wooden stick is going to start bowing upwards in the middle. This bowing effect is very hard on the center section of tractors. Now, the big question is how do you keep the rear wheels on the ground when using the FEL, without stressing the center section of the tractor? My first thought would be to add loaded rear tires, and if that isn't enough, start adding wheel weights. This weight isn't sitting on the tractor causing the bowing effect, and only comes into play when you try to lift if off the ground with the FEL. If loaded tires aren't enough, and weights can't be found, make them. a piece of 1" plate cut into a circle will be a start, a couple of them start adding up. Drill and bolt them to your rear wheels and it won't be load supported by the tractor or the axle bearings. If you still can't handle a full bucket (try not overloading it) then adding some weight to the 3pt hitch will be ok, but realize that that weight is bending the tractor a lot more than wheel weight.
If this doesn't make sense, or someone sees a flaw in my thoughts, by all means please comment for discussion. This is simply an observation and really doesn't have some of the experience behind it that some of the other posters have with tractors. I have seen a lot of tractors broken in the middle from FEL work (and abuse), so the bending effect does have merit.
David from jax
Take a Popsicle stick and lay it across a couple of crayons, spaced like the axles on a tractor, leaving a little sticking out on both ends. Now put equal weights on the ends outside of the crayons. If you use equal weights, then neither end lifts up. However, if you add enough weight at both ends, the next problem you are going to have is the wooden stick is going to start bowing upwards in the middle. This bowing effect is very hard on the center section of tractors. Now, the big question is how do you keep the rear wheels on the ground when using the FEL, without stressing the center section of the tractor? My first thought would be to add loaded rear tires, and if that isn't enough, start adding wheel weights. This weight isn't sitting on the tractor causing the bowing effect, and only comes into play when you try to lift if off the ground with the FEL. If loaded tires aren't enough, and weights can't be found, make them. a piece of 1" plate cut into a circle will be a start, a couple of them start adding up. Drill and bolt them to your rear wheels and it won't be load supported by the tractor or the axle bearings. If you still can't handle a full bucket (try not overloading it) then adding some weight to the 3pt hitch will be ok, but realize that that weight is bending the tractor a lot more than wheel weight.
If this doesn't make sense, or someone sees a flaw in my thoughts, by all means please comment for discussion. This is simply an observation and really doesn't have some of the experience behind it that some of the other posters have with tractors. I have seen a lot of tractors broken in the middle from FEL work (and abuse), so the bending effect does have merit.
David from jax