Wheel Spacers and Center of Gravity

WranglerX · Jul 2, 2019

I am looking for a youtube video where father was doing a little science teaching to daughter using wheel spacers on tractor ... He was using cable come along and electronic scale and using various width wheel spacers and trying to show how wider track is less prone to tipping...

Have searched youtube about 16 different ways and cant find video.... Out of desperation I am asking for help...

D.

dragoneggs · Jul 3, 2019

Know that C of G is simply the location of the mass (weight) if you concentrated it at one point. Very simple to explain stability which is what I think you are getting at. Imagine a camera tripod with the legs close together. Push the top of the tripod to the side. Doesn't take as much tilt to get it to 'over center' and fall vs. if the legs were spread out wider. Don't need a scale for that... has nothing to do with weight. It is the angle where the C of G passes the vertical.

Rustyiron · Jul 3, 2019

Sorry DL, I have no help but will be following and hope you or someone finds it. Your title got me to thinking - then make me wonder if (regardless of a machine's current c/g) does every inch added to the track width lower he c/g equally? Could it be that simple or is that relationship on a curve of some sort?

BrentB · Jul 3, 2019

Is this it?

BX25D Tipover Challenge: Stock vs Wheel Weights vs Spacers - YouTube

WranglerX · Jul 3, 2019

BrentB said:
Is this it?

BX25D Tipover Challenge: Stock vs Wheel Weights vs Spacers - YouTube

That is the one..... Thank you, thank you, thank you...

D.

Rustyiron · Jul 4, 2019

:thumbsup:

dragoneggs · Jul 4, 2019

Rustyiron said:
Sorry DL, I have no help but will be following and hope you or someone finds it. Your title got me to thinking - then make me wonder if (regardless of a machine's current c/g) does every inch added to the track width lower he c/g equally? Could it be that simple or is that relationship on a curve of some sort?

To answer your question... theoretically adding inches (no weight) to your lower width does not lower the center of gravity. But that said, the spacer weight would very slightly lower the C of G. It is a function of the weight and height of the spacers vs. the weight and height of the tractor.

TerryR · Jul 4, 2019

The CoG does not move with respect to the center of the tractor. But it does get farther away from the tipping point - the outside of the rear tire - and thus does improve stability.

Rustyiron · Jul 6, 2019

So you guy's are saying that (were talking about a sideways rollover) if your track was 48" or 78" the c/g is still the same* and that there is only a stability difference? Or to put it another way, there is no relationship between the c/g and stability. Not arguing at all, just stimulated and wished I'd paid more attention to what ever class that was in.:thumbsup:

*disregarding the minor additional weight of the added structure/support