TC55 Steering Problems Fixed?

[Soundguy]

Add weight to the top of the rake. Sine it is a ways back from the 3pt arms.. the weight will have an extra impact due to leverage. A couple 50# CI weights.. or a weight bow made from an ammo can and scrap lead fromt he tire store or two may do the job.. or at least help. I've seen poeple take a concret block with hollow cells, run a chain thru one cell, then fill both cells with cement, and use the short piece of chain thru it with a bolt to 'hang' it on as temp weight.. then just unbolt the weight when you don't need it.

Soundguy

 

[Boomerang1]

Adding rear wheel weights or fluid in rear tires will make front wheels turn easier.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I thought about it Chris, I have a few 87 pounders I can just dangle one of them on the frame. Today I put 6 of them on the sides of my 7' box blade for some added counterweight then lifted 3000 pounds of shingles up 10' and unloaded them. The tractor never even felt tipsy as I was on a very slight grade. and having 260 pounds on each corner sure did help hold things still.

 

[AndyMA]

Adding rear wheel weights or fluid in rear tires will make front wheels turn easier.

Boomerang

I hate to keep dwelling on this, but this is simply not the case. Yes adding weight to the rear wheels will change the center of gravity, but it will not take weight off the front axle. It will simply add weight to the rear wheel contact points. Haxmat's free body diagrams explain all this. This does not mean that a race car won't handle differently with rear wheel weight added. It will, but not becanse there is less weight on the front end, there is just a different weight distribution. To truly "lighten" the front end, you need to add the weight behind the rear axle where it will have some leverage to "lift" the front end. Statics and physics simply don't lie.
Might I suggest you get a gram scale and build a small model with popisle sticks using paper clips for weights to prove this ti yourself.

Andy

 

[Boomerang1]

If you add weight on the rear axle, the tractor will steer easier.

 

[hazmat]

If you add weight directly above the rear axle, it will move the center of gravity to the rear. Moving the center of gravity to the rear will take weight off the front axle. If you don't believe me, ask any race car owner about weight transfer.

I apologize for being blunt but, the first sentence is correct - adding weight to the rear axle will move the CG to the rear. The second sentence is incorrect - moving the CG by adding weight to the rear axle does not take weight off the front axle as proven in my static (not moving) analysis. You are shifting the CG to the rear, but now the tractor weighs more - the front carries less proportion of the weight, but still the same absolute value.

The axle loads are calculated by setting the sum of the moments (torques) to 0 at any given pivot point. So starting at the rear axle, you multiply the weight of the tractor times the distance to the cg from the rear axle to get the gravity moment. The front axle reaction (or load) is exactly equal in magnitude, but opposite direction - dividing the gravity moment by the wheelbase will give you the front axle load.

With two pivot points, this isn't the simplist introduction to free body diagrams, and it is much easier to explain in person using some props & experimentation to prove out the theory. I've also been told by my wife (who is a teacher) that while smart & handsome I'm not the best educator

As far as the TC55 steering issue, it is approximately a static situation that the steering problem seems to occur - ie trying to steer the tractor while not moving. The CG movement will affect dynamic stability, but frankly I'm not inclined to spend time analyzing that since it is not relevent to the issue at hand. Besides I'm a little out of practice.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Guys, he is just posting now to get a reaction from you. Let it drop and make the guy happy thinking he got the last word in for whatever reason.

 

[Roto]

Adding enough weight behind the rear axle will make the tractor pull wheelies.

Believe it or not

 

[nc10sbum]

They have yet to acknowledge that there is a problem with the steering!!!

I just purchased a TC48, Aug06, and only had a partial load in the bucket but was on a slight downgrade backfilling a foundation when the steering locked. I contacted the dealer where I purchased the unit and initially they said they had not heard of any steering problems.

This is a little difficult for me to believe. After a few additional "discussions" now they have informed me that they know what’s wrong and all I have to do is bring it by and they can repair the problem. Brining it by is not as easy a task as some may think since I've taken the tractor to the mountains to use on my farm but that's another story.

I mainly wanted it to be known that this is a problem and others are experiencing it. This is a safety issue and should not be take lightly.

Pete

 

[froggy]

Would like to hear what the fix is? Did the dealer give any details?