Pull from the front or the rear?

[CalG]

Is the pivot point the bottom of the rear tires? Everyone thinks its the center of the wheels where it connects to the hub.

Pivot Point is defined as the center point of any rotational system.

Now, there is a thought problem! ;-)

Consider the extreme conditions.

First, Engine off , Transmission in neutral, a "tractor jack" (fork lift, hoisting crane, I don't care) Lifting the front axle of the tractor. Rear wheels are "chocked" with 8X8 blocks. Raising the front end, would show that the tractor "pivots" on the rear axle.

Second, Same conditions regarding the tractor, but instead of a hoist out front, put a long bar out back, ridgidly fixed to the tractors axle implement mounting pads. Pressing DOWN on the lever arm causes the front of the tractor to rise. The whole shebang pivoting around the rear axle center. The WHEELS are still chocked!

Third. Put the mechanical transmission in low, Lock the engine flywheel and don't let anything "inside" the tractor turn.
Remove the chocks. Any lifting of the front, or levering down out back will have the tractor pivoting about the TIRE CONTACT PATCH. At Ground level!

Actually, It would be difficult to arrange a situation that is a cross between the pivot points that present themselves in the above "Thought Problem".

So, for my money, When pulling an "over load". The engine torque can act at as a locked transmission, rolling the tractor around the ground contact point. But any difference in speed over the ground relative to wheel rotation (slip + or -) manifests as a pivot about the axle.

The important for safety aspect would be to keep the slip going in the correct direction. i.e. slipping clutch, or hydro drive if fitted.

A nice long draw bar sticking out past the rear wheels answers every requirement. 3pt pulling is deadly.

 

[MHarryE]

Ah, but 3 point pulling is not deadly. The obvious example is the 8N. Have a plow attached to the 3 point and the end of the plow becomes the tipping point. However the drawbar pinned between the lower links turned it into a dangerous tractor. Back in the old days the 8N was the demo tractor for backward rollover and tricycle types with loader for sideways rollover. I’m old enough to remember coming home from school and asking dad why so and so doesn’t have a father. The top 2 answers were kicked in the head by work horse or tractor rollover.

 

[MossRoad]

Now, there is a thought problem! ;-)

Consider the extreme conditions.

First, Engine off , Transmission in neutral, a "tractor jack" (fork lift, hoisting crane, I don't care) Lifting the front axle of the tractor. Rear wheels are "chocked" with 8X8 blocks. Raising the front end, would show that the tractor "pivots" on the rear axle.

Second, Same conditions regarding the tractor, but instead of a hoist out front, put a long bar out back, ridgidly fixed to the tractors axle implement mounting pads. Pressing DOWN on the lever arm causes the front of the tractor to rise. The whole shebang pivoting around the rear axle center. The WHEELS are still chocked!

Third. Put the mechanical transmission in low, Lock the engine flywheel and don't let anything "inside" the tractor turn.
Remove the chocks. Any lifting of the front, or levering down out back will have the tractor pivoting about the TIRE CONTACT PATCH. At Ground level!

Actually, It would be difficult to arrange a situation that is a cross between the pivot points that present themselves in the above "Thought Problem".

So, for my money, When pulling an "over load". The engine torque can act at as a locked transmission, rolling the tractor around the ground contact point. But any difference in speed over the ground relative to wheel rotation (slip + or -) manifests as a pivot about the axle.

The important for safety aspect would be to keep the slip going in the correct direction. i.e. slipping clutch, or hydro drive if fitted.

A nice long draw bar sticking out past the rear wheels answers every requirement. 3pt pulling is deadly.

So the pivot point is anywhere between the center of the wheel and the point where the tire contacts the ground, depending on traction and internal mechanical slippage?

 

[CalG]

So the pivot point is anywhere between the center of the wheel and the point where the tire contacts the ground, depending on traction and internal mechanical slippage?

I would say that the position is binary, not analog. That is, either one or the other. Never half of one and half the other.

 

[goeduck]

Tractor pull tractors do not flip over. They are drawbar hitched below the rear axle.

 

[CalG]

Pulling tractors must usually play by the rules. Some have adjustable height hitch points.

They also have the safety benefit of running on table top smooth and flat pulling grounds.

That single detail would likely reduce working tractor flips to ZERO!

 

[4570Man]

Pulling tractors must usually play by the rules. Some have adjustable height hitch points.

They also have the safety benefit of running on table top smooth and flat pulling grounds.

That single detail would likely reduce working tractor flips to ZERO!

Maybe because regular tractor tires can’t get enough grip on the hard packed slick dirt, but other than that I don’t see how it helps with flipping over backwards.

 

[goeduck]

Pulling tractors must usually play by the rules. Some have adjustable height hitch points.

Right, and hence they do not flip over backwards. Always below the axle.

 

[CalG]

Maybe because regular tractor tires can’t get enough grip on the hard packed slick dirt, but other than that I don’t see how it helps with flipping over backwards.

If one were working a tractor on table top smooth and flat grounds, what would catch up and cause the load to unexpectedly flip the tractor? The operator would know at starting off if the load was too much. No surprise! No catastrophe.

Unless you feel that the typical tractor operator is incapable of making adjustments that might extend his or her life span.

go back to post 140, click on the link, and watch how DIFFICULT it is to flip a tractor over backwards.

It takes three things to conspire to make a really bad wreck. And the first one is usually "I was not paying attention when....".

 

[the old grind]

The gist of what CalG said in post #171 that effective pivot point is not always fixed .. again what I've offered in support .. and what Moss asked to be clarified in #173 (... and for any who haven't read/processed every post in this thread) ...

Playing 'by the rules' here, (hitched below the axle, no?) suggesting that there are other forces/vectors/axes at play than only pulling the front wheels down by hitching point location ... (also level ground, wheels not chocked ...)


Is this proof of magic?