It’s been common practice for dealers to put fluid in their tractor tires, at least all the inside duals on a four-wheel drive articulated steering.
However, I am convinced that is not always necessary, especially with radial tires. Remember, all that extra weight requires more fuel. So here’s an idea.
Go out in the field and see how much slippage is occurring. It should be 10 percent – not at least 10 percent or a maximum of 10 percent, but 10 percent exactly.
Farmers can do a fancy measurement of what is 10 percent by comparing distance travelled with a load and without a load.
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However, they can also look at the lug marks in moist soil. If the marks have moved their own width, that is 10 percent, which is the point where there is the least fuel consumption and the most pulling power.
In a variable load, such as pulling a cultivator when there is no slippage, the engine takes the shocks and the governor is always hunting. That takes fuel.
Ten percent slippage takes the shocks and the engine runs smoother.
Does more than 10 percent slippage mean more weight is needed? Not necessarily.
Consider the following options:
• Redistribute the weight by raising the implement’s hitch point, which transfers weight from the front to the back of the tractor. This provides a lot more weight to the wheels and prevents power hop. A hopping tractor isn’t pulling.
• Check tire pressure. It should not be more than three pounds per sq. inch different from outside to inside duals. The inside will dig a hole if the difference becomes too great. The tractor will then drop low enough to allow the outside dual to catch and the tractor will jump out of the self-made holes.
• Staggering the lugs will sometimes help.
If you decide you must add more weight, where should it go?
Add it to the back wheels on the big four-wheel drives with articulated steering to make the front and back axles similar. Add it to the rear wheels on front wheel assist tractors to make the front wheels slip first.
Henry Guenter is a former service manager for Massey Ferguson. Contact:
