transport speed

[jimg]

The other day I was passed by a PU pulling a disc mower doing the speed limit (about 50mph). This isnt the first time Ive seen this done but it made me wonder how mfgs come up w/ listed transport speeds for their pull behind equipment (which usually hovers around 20mph). Is it a matter of setting a limit to shift liability from mfg to user? In those instances Ive seen there didnt appear to be a problem. Since I have no direct experience w/ this is there anyone here who moves pull behind equipment on the road w/ something faster than a tractor that could give insight?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Generally, those types of equipment have implement tires with a rated speed listed on them. I've towed a disc from an auction some 75 miles from home. I got real brave after an hour on the highway. Got it all the way up to a whopping 40 MPH. Talk about sphincter lock! I've pulled a few hay wagons at road speed also. That can be a rather tense experience too, depending on the condition of the wagon running gear.

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

Most farm tires are rated to 25 MPH.

What seems to happen is if all the transport pins and devices are in place and the equipment pulls okay and you keep an eye on the wheel bearings. This seems to be the justifcaton to move down the road at a faster speed.

 

[jimg]

implement tires
Over a certain speed they dont track well or is there some other problem (like failing due to heat build up)?

wheel bearing
I hadnt thought about the wheel bearings not being able to take the elevated speed. Im surprised they use a type not rated for a higher speed as good roller
bearings arent terribly expensive.

So, at elevated speeds is the problem fishtailing? If so I can imagine it would be upsetting to have a ton or so trying to tear itself loose.

Something I just though of is that the implement doesnt have brakes so stopping could be a problem if youre going too fast and the implement is heavy.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have been unfortunate enough to have to haul my equipment all over. I keep it slow and very seldom do I go over 35mph with any thing. The one item I was real concerned about was the 4 star tedder. The wheels and bearings heated up real quick on that thing (they are small) and I was still 50 minutes from home if I drove 60mph, so it took a while but I made it home without destroying a bearing.

The discbine I have now has seen the road a lot. When I went to demo it the dealer hauled it 20 miles to where I was working. I cut 5 acres with it and one of the wheels fell off. I don't know if it was because of being transported too fast or what but I do try to keep things slow.

The main thing is that implements can loose control very quickly and cause a lot of problems. If they are heavy implements they will toss a half ton truck around very easily. Hay wagons need to be set up properly to trail well but if they are loaded you want to go slow as they can start whipping very quick just by hitting a small bump in the road. Discbines put almost all the weight on the truck and trail very well so some people get carried away and drive full speed. A guy took an older 489 haybine back from my house to the other farm and didn't keep things slowed down as the tire blew out about half a mile from the farm. 20 mile drive made in 35 minutes when it usually takes 30 when you aren't pulling anything. The tire was not in great shape as it was old but the heat buildup made the sidewall blow out (the entire sidewall ripped apart as if someone tried to cut around the tire).

Stopping most of these items is not hard if you keep your speed down. Get careless and get into a situation where you are going to fast and have to stop and you will learn a lesson real quick. Go slow and drive with caution around other drivers and you will be fine.

 

[Woodbeef]

I've pulled balers(round & square) and mower conditioners for many miles at normal road speeds for up to 10 hours at a time before. Main thing is to make sure they are road worthy.Bearings packed with fresh grease,good tires,well lit,chained and hooked up correctly. I stop every hour to check tires and heat of the bearings. Sure get odd looks draging equipment through Toronto I must say.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hi there Woody, its been a while since I have seen you online. Hopefully you have everything back in order up there.

I get plenty of looks when I pull my equipment thru the towns and cities here. They are use to seeing grape equipment but not too much haying or tillage equipment goes thru. Pulled two hand loaded kicker racks of hay thru one town the other day. Definitely got some attention but at least they were good about it and no one was blowing the horn because we were going slow.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm surprised at the bearing issues. many of the bearings in the equipment cross over to pretty standard auto looking bearings.

Perhaps it is a size issue. And smaller axles with smaller bearings don't have enough ov a grease cavity or can't disapate heat.

My next though it to agree with the tires. Unless your tires are rated for the speed.. there may be issues.. ( kinda like those uhauls with 40mph tires! ).

I see large implements behind county trucks all the time, Including a batwing once.

Soundguy

Soundguy

 

[Renze]

back at school, we didnt just calculate bearing life, but also the ability to dissipate heat. Passenger car tires are balanced as well, with lead ballast on the rim edge.
The rubber itself is of a different quality, and the carcass has more plies, to deal with the centrifugal forces from the high speed rotating. implement hubs usually are a bit more sloppy than high speed hubs as well.

Off course an old dodgy bearing will see its chance clear and break at the occasion it is ran at 40 mph...

 

[Soundguy]

Lots farmers areound here seem to have old car tires on many of their implements... as the tread is no bar or rib, or smooth.. but rather has the 'road' tread look.. etc.

I'd never really thought about it.. but they are probably used tires .. (take-off's ). etc..

Soundguy

 

[slowzuki]

The implement tires generally will heat up too much at road speeds. They were only ever meant for the 25 mi/h. Take a look at the cost of a equivanlent size and load rating highway speed tire. Huge cost different.

I have seen plenty of 31x10.50 highway tires used on haywagons but they don't all have enough load rating. Many are very light. We blew one out with an overloaded rack one time on a hill. Scary stuff try to block a huge wagon to leave it to find a spare.

The bearings are cheaper too, there is a big leap in bearing costs as quality goes up. Bearing life in rotations really drops off at high loads so part of the highspeed problem can simply be the bearings will wear out prematurely.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

That is the main reason I carry a spare in my truck at all times. I have two types of rims for my wagons and carry one spare for each type just in case I have a problem. This way I don't have to unhook the wagon from my truck.

When I am baling or pulling wagons I have my spares, jack, blocks, big tool kit, air tank and a few other odds and ends. So far I have had to use everything at least once so I make sure I am prepared as I dislike breaking down.

 

[slowzuki]

That is the kind of operation I like. We are still running poorly as we haven't organized spares for all the common breakage yet on our equipment. I have been trying to get assortments of roll pins etc and extra teeth for stuff instead of having to find them in a hurry.

It is funny the stuff you find going over equipment at the start of the season, for example, the arm on our rotary rake was missing. Gone! We have no idea how this could happen, was parked in the shed all winter, was used last fall on second cut.

That is the main reason I carry a spare in my truck at all times. I have two types of rims for my wagons and carry one spare for each type just in case I have a problem. This way I don't have to unhook the wagon from my truck.

When I am baling or pulling wagons I have my spares, jack, blocks, big tool kit, air tank and a few other odds and ends. So far I have had to use everything at least once so I make sure I am prepared as I dislike breaking down.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It is amazing how much money we have to have in parts just to support our equipment in case of a Saturday afternoon break down. I have rolls of roller chain, replacement links, belts, pins and so on. Hardest part is keeping them all organized as you add new equipment and new parts to the fleet.