Travel Speed

Bird · Sep 5, 2000

I just got a bit off topic in the feedback forum about speed (talking about computers first and then tractors), but I've always wished my tractors had a "road gear" that would do 25 mph. How do the rest of you feel about it? And what do you think the chances are of any of the manufacturers doing something like that? Some of the big farm tractors will run 20-25 mph, but I don't know of any of the compacts that will. I understand it would make them easier to turn over, but that would apply to big ones, too.

Bird

MarkV · Sep 5, 2000

Bird,

My B21 is rated at 11.1 mph in high range and sometimes that feels real fast. My whole area is real hilly and I think that has something to do with it. Does your 2710 have 2 or 3 ranges for the hydrostatic tranny? Mine has 3 ranges although I don't use third often.

Thomas · Sep 5, 2000

Oh yes there has been times when I wish my compact tractor could go 20 to25 mph durning the cold winter...brrrr. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Do to the wheel base but mostly being a safety issue,I don't for see the increase of traveling speed for a number of years on the small compact tractors.

I'm not sure about your state Bird,but here in New Hampshire if one travels the main road for a distance,than the tractor must have a safety sign also a lic plate,and its a matter of time I feel before any register tractor will have to be inspected for the road./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Hope weather changes soon for you folks down there,for enough is enough.
Well got to skip out and cover the cukes for it feels like a frosty night./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Take care and stay /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thomas..NH

gordon · Sep 5, 2000

I feel much the same way, at times my high gear seems like I've really got her in the wind and other times I wish I had another 4 gears higher than I've got now.

What really dictates how fast I go on a road is the number of bumps on a smooth road I wish for the 4 higher gears and on a bumpy road I wish I had Marks new seat and then I would wish for the 4 higher gears./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

Bird · Sep 5, 2000

Mark, the B2710 has 3 ranges and the manual says 11.9 mph in high. Thomas, I won't be surprised if they change the law, but in Texas there's no tractor registration or license plate required, but you're supposed to have the SMV placard (orange triangle) on the back of anything that runs less than 25 mph, and I do have although almost none of the farm tractors I see on these Farm roads (used to be called Farm to Market roads and they are state maintained roads) have such placards and I doubt that citations are ever issued. Tractors and other farm equipment are quite common on all the roads around me. And Gordon, I have a brother-in-law 4.5 miles from here and a brother 7.75 miles from here, and the first quarter mile leaving my house the road is rough enough I don't run wide open, but after that it's pedal to the metal and wish I had twice the speed./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Incidentally, my brother occasionally runs his Kawasaki Mule on the roads around here, as does the neighbor behind me, and some other folks in the area have John Deere Gators on the roads, and my brother and I are the only two people I know who even have the orange SMV placards.

Bird<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Bird on 9/5/00 09:50 PM.</FONT></P>

MChalkley · Sep 5, 2000

Gordon - I've always found that the bumps dictate my top speed, too. Maybe I'll tear the tractor up sooner now, but I find I go a lot faster with the new seat, other condtions permitting, of course.

As for top speed, you'd be surprised how much difference bigger tires make. The manual lists my top speed at 16.4 mph, but my GPS measures mine at 18.6 mph. Some of that may be manufacturer conservatism though, because when I run the numbers through the spreadsheet, it says the speed difference should only be 1.1 mph.

Mark

scruffy · Sep 6, 2000

I remember moving that ol Oliver a few times, with those bar lug tires, and the nature of the steering, that ol horse had a tendancy to wander directions I didn't want to go. I thought it went plenty fast enough. (the first couple miles anyway)

roysallis · Sep 6, 2000

I would be concerned about the safety issue. My tractor is mid-size, JD5210, and with 13.6-28 tires it is supposed to go about 15 mph. With 15.5-38 tires it is is rated at 28.9mph. I have only had my tractor on a paved road once. I felt ok at 15mph but at about 25mph I will not feel safe. I definitely would not want to go 25mph on even slightly bumpy ground. I have had my tractor at full spee , about 15mph, with loaded tires, FEL, and a box blade on level, but slightly bumpy gound. It bounced me around quite a bit before a could back off the throttle. Due to the high COG it would be dangerous if I had to swerve suddently or make a quick stop. With the lower COG on the compacts it would not be as dangerous but I believe there is a definite safety factor. If a tractor will go 25mph on a paved road someone will try to go 25mph on bumpy ground or on hills. Also, as others have stated, if tractors are on the roads more someone is going to want them licensed.

gerard · Sep 6, 2000

I'm happy with my top speed (don't know what it is off hand) Ionly use 8th on the roadway, it's too fast off road due to the lack of suspension. Even on the road with R1's I wouldn't want to go faster than I can now. If I had turfs I might feel a little different but even then at 15mph you wouldn't want to make any quick direction changes.

RobertN · Sep 6, 2000

Mark,

Remember overall diameter of the tire affects the final gear ratio. So, with a taller tire, you have a higher gearing(lower numeric).

I seem to remember, although don't quote me.... that 1" of tire height changes the final ration about 0.250of a rati.o.

So, in that big bad Dodge of yours, if you ae running 3.55's in the diff with 31" tires, and switched to a 32" tire, it would have the affect of changing the diff ratio to 3.20's.

The taller tire will make you go faster. But, the change will take away a little of the bottom end power. Talk to anyone who put big tires on a 4x4 truck without regearing; they are sluggish off the line. they also go to fast in most cases for slow "creeping".

There are some formula's which will calculate it if you know your tire diameter, gear ration, rpm, ect

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif