Traction Traction

[magarj]

I have a JD 2240 orchard model with CC filled wide tires and lower stance. I am pulling a 8' JD disc on wheels. On the second or third pass the ground is soft enough that the disc starts to really dig in, that bogs the tractor down. It's starting to put a lot of ware on the tires due to tire slip. Also I have to lift the disc whenever I have to go uphill. I have been looking at a Landini 85HP 4wd model that weighs in about the same ~5500 lbs. It's not so much a HP issue but will the 4wd improve my traction enough that I am not going to quickly use up the tires? It's on a hillside, and some parts are steep. I have given some thought to getting a small cat to pull it as well. (D2,TD6 or even a BD2G)

Thanks

 

[wv cabin]

This is just a thought, but instead of buying another tractor why not try a smaller disc and see if that solves your problem since there would be less drag on the tractor. Tim

 

[MtnViewRanch]

You could also use the wheels to limit how deep the disk cuts as you have said. But in the end if you need the maximum depth that the disk will cut, you would be pretty much set with that Landini with maximum ballast. If you are disking on hills, you won't believe how much better a 4x4 is. A crawler will work good, but much slower I think. What size are your disk pans? I have 22" blades on my 8' JD pull disk and at 9" deep it is about all my 12k tractor will do to pull it up hill.

 

[whistlepig]

I have a JD 2240 orchard model with CC filled wide tires and lower stance. I am pulling a 8' JD disc on wheels. On the second or third pass the ground is soft enough that the disc starts to really dig in, that bogs the tractor down. It's starting to put a lot of ware on the tires due to tire slip. Also I have to lift the disc whenever I have to go uphill. I have been looking at a Landini 85HP 4wd model that weighs in about the same ~5500 lbs. It's not so much a HP issue but will the 4wd improve my traction enough that I am not going to quickly use up the tires? It's on a hillside, and some parts are steep. I have given some thought to getting a small cat to pull it as well. (D2,TD6 or even a BD2G)

Thanks

I pull a 7' disc with a B7800. I think a B7800 is a bit larger than a JD 2240. It maxes out my B7800 out even in 4WD. I only use this disc to take care of a one acre food plot. For big ground it would be too much for my tractor. Farm With Junk has a post on cutting a disc down to make it smaller. If you go tracks not worry. That will solve all your problems and then some.

 

[ampsucker]

i read in a farm magazine that you want 10-15% wheel slip. modern gps tractors can actually calculate this based on rpm, gearing and gps positioning and adjust the implement (i assume) to achieve a predetermined wheel slip percentage to obtain maximum efficiency.

i think those numbers somehow take into account the amount of dirt moved per gallon of fuel or something like that. it may change for disking/plowing/ cultivating/etc.

not sure how much slippage you're getting or how much your tires are actually wearing, but thought i would throw that out for your consideration.

might also consider chaining up the tires or removing the outside discs to make it slightly easier to pull? or try adjusting the 3pt to get more traction to the rears.

amp

 

[art]

Most orchard model tractors were set up more for PTO work like spraying with no towing load. They run lower wider tires that reduce the possibility of good traction on loose soils.

Your tractor might vary well have 24" rims that would be good for a 25 or 30 horsepower tractor where they would have been 30" diameter on a tractor of that size for farm duty.

 

[Charolais]

That 85 HP Landini is on the light side. 4WD will help but that kind of HP should weigh 8,000 -9,500 pounds and handle it with no problem.

I have an Agroplus 87 with the rear tires filled when purchased. It did fine until I hooked a 6 shank Hay King renovator to it. Even with 4 wd it would stop the tractor at times. Filled the front tires and added some steel weight to the front and now weighs a little over 8,700 pounds. It pulls the renovator good now.

If you get the Landini plan on adding plenty of ballast if you want it to pull and not spin.

 

[ToadHill]

Wish I could help but if my disk digs in all it does is turn over larger rocks.

 

[Reg]

Disk'ing DEEP on a hillside with an Orchard tractor (which I assume to be narrow) with a 6ft disk.
I'm guessing this isn't between trees ?

Anyway, yes 4WD would help with traction and reduce rear tire wear.
Not clear that you would save enough on rear tires to make it worth changing tractors and you might just trade rear SOME tire wear for SOME front tire wear.

I would search the goodyear ag site; Goodyear U.S. Farm Tires IIRC.