Tires TC24DA front tire camber?

gregp · Aug 8, 2005

KYturkey, Thanks for the pictures. My tractor tires look like yours. What caught my eye was the right tire looked a little different than the left. It could be my crooked eyes. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifI have no oil leaks and have not had any difficulty steering on pavement or dirt.
Most of the time I use my tractor with a Harley Power rake and have had no trouble at all. When i get back from work next week i will post some pictures of what i see. Thans, Gregp

garchib · Aug 9, 2005

My JD looks the same and I have noticed a lot of CUTS have positive camber.....keep in mind I know zippo about NH(s), but wanted you to know that this looks to be "normal"

Boomerang1 · Aug 9, 2005

The reason tractors have positive camber is so the tires will be closer to 0 degrees when you have a load on them. I think gregp is saying that the right front tire is tilting out at the top more than the left tire. If it is, than there is problem with the way it was made.

jinman · Aug 9, 2005

( The reason tractors have positive camber is so the tires will be closer to 0 degrees when you have a load on them. )

Please tell me how a load changes the camber on a properly inflated tire on each end of a rigid axle. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Personally, I think positive camber makes an axle slightly more stable when running straight and also more response/easier to steer. . . period.

Tex22 · Aug 10, 2005

Mine look just like the pictures posted by KYturkey

Boomerang1 · Aug 12, 2005

Axles are not as ridged as you may think. Semi tractors will wear the inside edge of the drive tires if you haul heavy loads all the time and don't have axles that have been speced properly. If you put 1500 lbs. in the bucket, that probably puts about a 2500 to 3000 lb. load on the front axle. The axle will deflect slightly causing 0 degrees camber which will provide the best tire wear, the best traction and the least stress on the internal workings of the front axle when using the loader. It's kind of like preloading the bearings in a rear differential so there is less stress on them under a heavy load. Positve caster is the angle that keeps your wheels pointed straight and helps with turning. That is what makes the steering wheel in your car return to center after you make a turn. Also, that is why a chopper with raked forks is so hard to turn because the excessive positive caster tries to keep the front wheel pointed straight ahead. With the tractor's hydraulic steering it will not have the same effect. Positive caster is when the top of the spindle is tilted back towards the driver more than the bottom of the spindle, creating a lead point in front of the tire. The load point is at the bottom center of the tire where the tire contacts the ground.

RickB · Aug 12, 2005

So you expect us to believe that the cast axle housings found in NH (and other brand) tractors are going to deflect several degrees under normal loading? I know better than that, even if you don't. Castings simply don't react like that without failing almost instantly. Truck axles are completely different materials and construction, and even by your example do not deflect unless overloaded.

Boomerang1 · Aug 13, 2005

Yes I do expect you to believe.

jinman · Aug 13, 2005

( Yes I do expect you to believe. )

Boomerang, I just don't think you are thinking this issue through clearly. As Rick said, the front axle on a MFWD tractor must remain rigid or it will self-destruct. If the external cast casing didn't fail, the internal constant misalignment of gears and driveline would surely cause rapid failure.

I've never seen a large truck that had front-wheel drive. If it did, it would look something like the rear differential axle on trucks where they are made to resist flexing under tremendous loads.

As Rick said, tractor and truck front axles are different by design, especially the MFWD front tractor axles. Tractors are made to run and turn in loose dirt. Inherent oversteer is a big plus in tractors needing to be able to make tight turns, whereas in trucks or other highway vehicles, understeer is preferred, particularly at highway speeds. In these vehicles, negative camber actually preloads the front axle with inward pressure compared to positive camber on a tractor preloading with outward pull on the axle. It's the same action that causes a motorcycle to go left or right when the rider leans to change the camber of his wheels.

So I think flexing of the front axle of a tractor is a very bad thing, and there is no such design to allow the wheel camber to change. That is the crux of my disagreement with you. What you say about truck axles I'm sure is correct, and I agree that they do flex some if put under load. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Boomerang1 · Aug 13, 2005

I did a test this morning and here is what happened. I have a large pile of rocks that range from 4" to 10" dia. I scooped up full bucket so the loader would just lift it in the air. I drove to concrete pad and set down the bucket to take wait off the front axle and then used a little down pressure to simulate the tractor not having a loader installed. I took my magnetic protractor and stuck it to the flat part of the hub. That is flat part that the center hole of the rim fits over. I did not want measure off the rim in case the rim would flex. I got a reading of 2 degrees positive. I raised the bucket in the air until the rear end felt a little light. I got a reading of 3/4 degrees positive. That is difference of 1 1/4 degrees.