Aluminum really inferior for tractors???

[Egon]

A really nice Titanium framed bicycle would also be nice!

 

[RobJ]

As for Al vs Fe --> does it really matter?? I mean, if you buy a small light tractor Al is probably the best material. If you buy a larger heavier tractor Fe is probably better. Both will crack and fail over time. My old Ford 4140 TLB had the rear end housing and transmission housing both replaced due to non-repairable cracks. All cast iron. Not to say Al would have been crack free, just that every material will crack with time and use.

Doesn't CI have a longer trackrecord than cast AL? Iron was cheaper, easier to get to, cheap to make. Got to be over a 100 years old, I couldn't find anything on google. CA has to be a lot younger.

If I had a B tractor with a MMM for mostly mowing, AL would be great, lighter, easier to transport, etc. For HD stuff I'll take CI on the bigger tractors.

 

[Egon]

I am not sure but I think it would be reasonable to assume all steels, all cast irons and all aluminums may not be created equally.

Therefore it would seem that choosing any of the materials suitable for the application would work in a proper design.

 

[Dargo]

A 4WD Titanium tractor would be nice, no rust either!

Hot dang it!!!! You beat me to what I was going to post! Although I'm quite certain it would be cost prohibitive, I wouldn't bet that in the future that some sort of alloy might not be the standard. Having mostly had relatively heavy tractors, I see that some chores would be much better suited for a tractor that had a much larger hp/weight ratio. Everyone knows that it is extremely easy and extremely cheap to add weight, but if you have a heavy tractor to begin with, you can't take it off. You are then simply left debating why you like your 'heavy' tractor while it is totally unsuitable for certain jobs.

I really can see a point in the future where one tractor can be both. If you don't think light weight metals cannot be just as strong (usually stronger) than steel, cast iron etc., you are way behind the times. I think that right now it's simply the cost factor that prevents one single tractor from being superior at jobs that require less weight but a lot of hp, and then also being superior at doing jobs that require lots of weight and plenty of hp.

 

[Soundguy]

I wonder how the track driven Cat and JD tractors have faired in popularity since they compact the ground less. Of course those are sort of 2wd aren't they? They sure do look cool and I'd love to drive one one day.

I guess you might call them 2x2's .? (grin)

Lots of people using big rubber tracked cat tractors to pull dirt pans around my aeas..

Soundguy

 

[scott_vt]

Personally I'm waiting for a Titanium tractor. Stronger than any of the above mentioned choices, lightweight but able to easily be loaded with static weights when ballast or traction is needed.

Hi Bob,
Well I can tell you if it ever caught on fire I wouldnt want to try and put it out

 

[SkyPup]

Titanium does not catch on fire, magnesium does.....

 

[scott_vt]

Titanium does not catch on fire, magnesium does.....

OPPS Thanks Skypup, senior moment

Sorry

 

[Dargo]

Titanium does not catch on fire, magnesium does.....

Yeah, and for some reason, it's really hard to put out...

 

[_RaT_]

I wonder how the track driven Cat and JD tractors have faired in popularity since they compact the ground less. Of course those are sort of 2wd aren't they? They sure do look cool and I'd love to drive one one day.

Well, heres one that is 4WD