Vintage Row Crop vs Farm Utility?

[goeduck]

Old 2WD Tractor but 4 WDs are basically the same. Front axle pivots on a horizontal axis around that big pivot pin in the middle. Makes it a tricycle.


(Until the axle hits a pivot stop)

 

[goeduck]

Going with old iron again since it is easier to find pictures. The front axle would pivot on a horizontal axis on these old Case tractors until the axle hit that inverted V you see in the picture.

 

[MossRoad]

I understand that. It's still less prone to roll over than a narrow front end single or double wheel tricycle.

 

[goeduck]

I understand that. It's still less prone to roll over than a narrow front end single or double wheel tricycle.

Agree. I will quote myself

Few crops back in the day were on slopes. Having said that a typical utility tractor stills pivots at the center on the front axle, so little difference, but they do hit a travel limit so they are safer.

 

[MossRoad]

Okey dokey. I was thinking that maybe I wasn't thinking of the same axle you guys were talking about.

 

[ovrszd]

So edjucate me.

Your statement is not true until the front axle is fully oscillated. Before that point it is irrelevent where the front tires are.

What a wide axle provides over a tricycle is to catch you when full oscillation is reached. A safety net of sorts.

With a tricycle, once the roll over starts there is no return.

 

[ovrszd]

To add to this discussion, old row crop tractors were built with a higher center of gravity. This was intentional to give them the ability to straddle taller crops without damage. As in cultivating corn or soybeans.

This change in height plus the tricycle design made them more dangerous as a chore tractor.

Lost a local cattle rancher last spring carrying a big round bale of hay on the 3pt with a 40yr old row crop tractor.

 

[KennyG]

On slopes, particularly with rough ground, the wide front end feels much more stable. I grew up driving both wide and narrow front end tractors (some exactly the same model) and always preferred the wide front ends. Another advantage is the more stable steering feedback. Without power steering, hitting a rock or hole with the narrow front end can force the tractor toward steering lock.

 

[ovrszd]

On slopes, particularly with rough ground, the wide front end feels much more stable. I grew up driving both wide and narrow front end tractors (some exactly the same model) and always preferred the wide front ends. Another advantage is the more stable steering feedback. Without power steering, hitting a rock or hole with the narrow front end can force the tractor toward steering lock.

Yep. The improved ride ces fom mathematically splitting the hole or bump a fromt wheel hits. If the tricycle front tire hits a 6" high rock the front of the tractor moves 6". With a wide front axle the tractor only moves 3". When discing moldboard plowed ground this is a dramatic improvement in operator comfort.

In regards to the steering wheel, you learn real quick to keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel.

 

[goeduck]

When lifting an off balance load or when lifting a load on a slope and a rear tire comes off the ground, notice that both fronts stay on the ground. Because of the center front pivot.