1460 poor traction, gets stuck easy

[m5040]

Well I started a job on a fairly steep hill and was very disappointed in how easily the 1460 spun the wheels and soon couldn't move up the hill. Went to get a tractor with a log winch and ran out of fuel, gage doesn't go below 1/4, guess it was one of those days.
Anyway when I got the 1460 back into the shop, I checked the tire pressure. 12x16.5, 10 ply with 40 psi and a 5,500 lb load rating. So one tire could carry the complete tractor.
I took out the valve core on a rear tire, as they have the most load when the loader is empty, and watched for sidewall bulge. When I thought it looked good, I put the core back in and measure 8 psi. Far cry from 40.
I went and got a 2,000 lb weight and did the same with the front, found they looked good at 15 psi.
Tried the 1460 back at the hill and it was a completely different tractor. Did the whole job without getting stuck and it rides better now too.
Why they send them out with 40 psi is beyond me.

 

[SpringHollow]

I believe for the 1850, they recommend 8 - 10 on the rears and 12 - 20 on the fronts.

 

[m5040]

Good, that is in the range I thought, except for the 10 ply tires. As the air was coming out and the pitch was slowing, I started to wonder if the tires would squat if they had no air, but they eventually did.

 

[MossRoad]

My guess is they over-inflated the tires to seat them on the rims and that's that.

 

[ponytug]

Thanks for posting this!

Can you post a photo of "good" squat?

Thanks.

All the best,

Peter

 

[m5040]

"Can you post a photo of "good" squat?"

I looked and it is hardly noticeable and would not show well in a picture. If your tires are over inflated, I would take the valve core out and just watch close as it deflates, when you see any bulge, put the valve core back in and measure what you ended up with. If you ever see pulling tractors and how low they air them down it would give you some reference. That is an extreme and some have the tires screwed to the rim so it doesn't spin in the rim.
If you have a maxed out load on the front and the tractor rolling along, you should see the tire squatting noticeably and if I had to quantify it, maybe 1/2" wider then the unloaded portion (when fully loaded).
Hope this helps

 

[ponytug]

That helps. Thanks! I barely see the 1/2" on mine, but they are also loader tires.

All the best, Peter

 

[m5040]

IMO Loader or loaded tires, you would still want the tire to flex to match the ground contour. Mine are loader tires too, with 40 psi you could drive over a baseball and the tire wouldn't deform.

 

[5030]

Probably the wrong tires. I run R1 radials on both mine, cast weights on the rear not loaded. Don't believe in loaded tires.

 

[m5040]

Probably the wrong tires. I run R1 radials on both mine, cast weights on the rear not loaded. Don't believe in loaded tires.

Thanks for the suggestion. I would love radial tires, but until they come with them from the factory, I don't think I will wear out the originals. My problem was severely over inflated tires, problem corrected and it works like it should. Power Trac has the engine in the back so it doesn't need any added weight. Unless you see a FREE ad on Facebook and need to have it. But when I get home I ask why?
View attachment 691851

 

[5030]

When you order a NEW Kubota, you can choose what tires you want or at least used to be able to.

I'm on my second sets on my M9's. Just changed out 4 to the tune of 5 grand.

 

[joshlee]

John, how do you like the braking system on the 1460?

 

[m5040]

Great, probably one of the best features. Brakes on all four wheels, so it holds the tractor on steep hills, easy on and off with just a click of a toggle switch. And if you leave it in the off position, when you shut down the engine, it comes on anyway (and when you restart, it shuts off). When the brake is on, it prevents the drive from working, so you can't accidently start to drive through the brake.

 

[MossRoad]

Brakes: I've had a couple situations where they would be handy.

 

[m5040]

They only slow you down

 

[joshlee]

That braking system sure does sound nice. I play around with the idea of getting a 1445. Maybe next time I go down to Tazewell I’ll see if I can test one out.

 

[m5040]

The only neg on the brake system is what to do if the engine is inop? You need to have some kind of very hi pressure pump and connect into the brake block to release them. Not to bad if on your property, but I sometimes use the tractor to pick up stuff offsite, it would be a problem if in a bad area.

 

[m5040]

That braking system sure does sound nice. I play around with the idea of getting a 1445. Maybe next time I go down to Tazewell I’ll see if I can test one out.

I thought hard about the 1445, especially since there is a low hour used on about 2 hrs away.
I figured the price was so close 30k vs 27k between the 1460 and 1445. If your going to spend that much, why not go another $3,000 and get substantially more lift ability, AND A FOOT HIGHER LIFT, more flow, more PTO PSI, larger tires, more HP, 4cyl vs 3 cyl, larger implements (I just made an adpter to Bob Cat style and use all them). All that for just 10% that you can't add on later.

 

[ponytug]

As long as it isn't too steep, the 1460 is definitely a more powerful, capable tractor, but the center of gravity is higher.

Slopes...1445 does better. I had a series of conversations with Power-Trac before buying, and they firmly pushed the 1445 for my 30-35degree slopes.

If I were doing it over, I might go for the 1850; at the time that I bought the 1445, I didn't appreciate that the 1850s could run singles, and I just couldn't see maneuvering duals around the buildings. Might...I do use all the lift on the 1445 pretty often. I am definitely happy with it.

All the best, Peter

 

[m5040]

Sometimes I wonder if everyone gets a different story. If you look at the specs the 1460 is 3" wider and the engine, which is the heaviest part, I was told sits lower. Those to facts usually add up to greater side stability.
I always had a hard time telling which tractor I was looking at, until after they said to me the engine sits lower and has a lower hood on the 1460. Look how the hood is below the seat back in the PT group picture of the left 2 tractors, then the 1460 pic and 1445 pic.
I would think both tractors are stable, maybe the 1445 is a little better, but that does not make up for 12"- 600lb lower/less lift.