[AT] Question about modern 4WD tractor (while watching Oliver Super 77 Diesel)

[Mike Sloane]

Generally speaking, unless the manufacturer states otherwise, farm 
tractors are designed to be run at rated maximum load for extended 
periods of time. (unlike cars, which can only put out their maximum for 
short periods, but that is they are made for). The only concern would be 
if you were not working on loose soil (i.e. pavement) and running the 
front wheel assist - that would be very hard on the front wheel drive 
train and tires. But your application is pretty much what the tractor 
was built to do. Keep your engine speed up and watch your wheel slip (no 
more than 10% is considered ideal). If you are slipping more than 10%, 
you need to either adjust your ground speed by changing gears or perhaps 
add ballast. Three shanks should not be overloading that tractor.

That is base on what I have read in the various farm literature, not on 
any direct experience. So others may be able to give you more accurate 
information.

Mike

Grant Brians wrote:
> This question is probably directed primarily at Mike Sloane as he has recent
> experience with New Holland 4WD tractors. I have been driving my 1996
> NH6610S with mechanical 4WD ripping fields. For those not in California, we
> typically mechanically work the vegetable fields 2-3 feet deep to break up
> hardpan, aid in leaching salt from irrigation water and ease root
> penetration every so often. To eke out the last horsepower out of the
> tractor and aid in traction, I am running full time in four wheel drive.
> This is nominally about an 80hp tractor, but it was dyno tested at 93hp just
> before I bought it by the dealer. In the loam and clay soils (heavy...) that
> I work, I'm running 3 shanks between 20 and 28 inches deep in third gear at
> around 3.5mph.
>     The question is, using the full power of the tractor as I am, am I
> hurting it? I don't think so, but would like some feedback.
>     Also, I must comment on the Oliver reference in the email title. One of
> our Olivers is a Super 77 Diesel wide front with cultivating bars. It is the
> preferred tractor by the renter's tractor drivers for seeding with their air
> seeder and other things - they much prefer it to the modern (last ten years)
> tractors they were using before! It is smoother, quieter and just easier to
> operate - except for that lack of power steering and even that is not enough
> to overcome their like for the tractor.
>         Grant Brians
>         Hollister, California
>
> 

-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
mikesloane at verizon.net
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always 
so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. -Bertrand
Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)


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