Tractors and wood! Show your pics

[VroomVroom]

I’m not here to have someone tell me what I’m doing is safe or not safe. Or to point out something I may say is ridiculous, wrong or full of -@$$&. In the last 15 years I had more bul &$& involving deaths, social media, greed, arson, and theft, loss of business and most likely my loss of retirement. That the last thing I need is a competition of sorts on a media forum that what I’m talking about is so stupid and ridulous that I’m made somehow to feel ridiculous about what I typed on a whim conversing with like minded individuals. It’s a tractor site. I appreciate thoughts , ideas, and advice. But somehow I’m figuring with my 70 IQ , that’s not your intentions. In a state of quickly conversing, on a phone, 3000 miles from home I quickly typed spring, sprung, unsprung, and possibly any or everything in between. Does it really matter what I typed? Is it really that important to show me or others how stupid I am. You or I could have stage 4 cancer tomorrow and while laying in bed realize, showing someone else how little they know on a media platform, means nothing in the end. In referring to spring or unsprung, I was merely referring to unsprung weight being the weight which the ground is carrying the weight. The sprung weight I referred to any weight the axles have to carry. Filled tires do not add , in theory, to the weight the axle is carrying. The tires sitting on the ground. My carcass sitting on the seat, the axles have to carry that.
I’m not really sure why I’m even bothering to explain what I was thinking. The people in that conversation excepted what I had typed and knew very well what I had meant. Whether it was correct or not. I’m thinking you most likely did too.

 

[John_Mc]

VroomVroom - by the way, you were correct anyway. The weight of the wheels on a tractor are still commonly referred to as "unsprung weight", despite the fact that a tractor has no springs. I have an off-road trailer with no suspension. The manufacturer refers to the unsprung weight as not counting toward the maximum that that trailer can carry.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Yes I noticed that. Like hens teeth to find used ones. The sub frame is attached to the backhoe on mine. But I built an identical subframe which rests in a c-channel type receiver in the rear and pins under your feet. I then welded a 1/4” plate on that, which flares out between the front and rear tires. It hinges just forward of the front axle and gets bolted on some vertical plates that’s bolted to the front bumper on each side. So it adds 200-300 lbs im sure. I could calculate the weight next time I’m near. I have a front loader on as well. I thought of filling the tires in the past. I still could I suppose. I do like the idea of the unsparing weight. I been thinking of a set of ice chains too when I’m snowblowing they would be good. I’m guessing I’m a little over 3000#. Maybe 3300#.

Sometime if you have a chance post a picture of that subframe plate you built. I don't know what your trails are like but if they are rough with rocks, holes and sections of side hill any weight you add that is low like your subframe plate, loaded tires, or chains will give you more stability moving around the woods by lowering the center of gravity of your tractor, as well as increasing traction and winching capability. Loaded tires help a whole lot with safety and stability in the woods.

gg

 

[VroomVroom]

Sometime if you have a chance post a picture of that subframe plate you built. I don't know what your trails are like but if they are rough with rocks, holes and sections of side hill any weight you add that is low like your subframe plate, loaded tires, or chains will give you more stability moving around the woods by lowering the center of gravity of your tractor, as well as increasing traction and winching capability. Loaded tires help a whole lot with safety and stability in the woods.

gg

I’ll see if I can find a few pictures in a bit

 

[VroomVroom]

 

[VroomVroom]

 

[VroomVroom]

It does lower the clearance a lot. But if it is much rougher terrain, I just won’t go there. I’ll use the j5 now. I did think about scoring those “ wings” between tires, and bending up slightly for more clearance height between front and rear tires. But then it might be awkward backing over the plate. I back over it. Insert the round pipe on the plate into a receiver on the tractors rear. Then lift the front of the plate up to install two 1” pins on each side. The plate hangs there then. I then lift flap up in front and bolt in place to two vertical plates I have bolted in place permenently on the left/right side of the tractor up front. You can see this in the last picture. At the time the tractor was all I had, and wasn’t keen on using it. All I had were forks on the rear. And I had fear of hooking a hydraulic line underneath her, and losing oil and possibly damaging the pump. Not sure how that would go down if it happened. So I built skid plate. I did also think about making vertical walls to bolt on the plate once on. But never did. They would protect that main hydraulic block on it. The front wheels turn so sharp that the skid plate is a mere 13” wide up front. Leaving front wheel wells exposed. I would probably pave the trail I’d use before going in anywhere rough. I also don’t like the tractor tipping enough to one side or another that the front walking beam runs out of travel. Not sure how much torsional stress that places on cast mounts on the tractor body.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
Nice job!

 

[VroomVroom]

I probably could have built it lighter. But at the time I had no where to put the tractor etc. so the plate was to be left on the ground. Running over it on unlevel ground I figured I’d bend it. So it’s 1/4” plate. Since then I built a garage with a nice cement floor. So no stress on it while backing over it. It goes on in a minute or so, off in seconds. In the pictures I did not have the one inch pins I use with the backhoe, they were 20 miles away. So I just had a large bolt dragging around I used to hold it in place.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Good pictures Vroom. Thanks for posting them. I like the way you did that - plenty of protection there.

gg