Can all tractors flip over easy?

[npalen]

Oh dear... Npalen was right. Depending on how suddenly the tractor rolls the fluid could become a factor. Initially the fluid helps to lower the CG. But once this becomes a dynamics problem roll rate, time, etc. become involved. The fluid certainly does not stay in the bottom of the tire once some amount of movement occurs and establishes the momentum npalen mentioned.. This becomes a complex dynamics problem with many variables. My opinion is that ,in the progress of a rollover, the fluid will never matter because by the time it MIGHT matter the catastrophe has already gone beyond the point of no return and the machine has upset.

Sorry, I didn't realize you had already posted the above when I posted. I think you're right about the dynamics involved particularly the point in time that the sloshing liquid hits the downhill side of the "top" tire. My take is that the liquid weight and resulting inertia may make the difference between whether the tractor ends up on its side or continues to roll downhill on to its top.

I can also envision that the height of the loader could make a difference. The advice to always carry a load as low as possible is good to prevent rollover. But what happens if the tractor does start to roll and the loader is down low? The "low" loader will make it easier for the tractor to continue rolling on to its top. A loader in the "high" position would tend to make it more difficult for the tractor to continue rolling. Pick your poison?

 

[Liquidsilver]

...and there are how many row tractors (tricycle) on the market today?

Correct. The pivot on the front axle limits the yaw far before the point-of-no-return on a row tractor... but those were made for a purpose.

I think the answer to the original poster's question is yes, all tractors will flip over easy... depending on what you're doing with it. That's why the computer behind the steering wheel needs to be turned on.

 

[npalen]

i like the that old film about momentum. Kind of the key to do things safely. Go slow, and you lessen momentum, so you can correct it before it goes out of hand.

I agree with what you're saying but I don't necessarily think that the speed at which the tractor rolls is determined by the forward speed prior to the rollover. I would think that the height of the center of gravity and the incline would determine the roll rate.

 

[IndyJay]

I agree with what you're saying but I don't necessarily think that the speed at which the tractor rolls is determined by the forward speed prior to the rollover. I would think that the height of the center of gravity and the incline would determine the roll rate.

The speed of the rollover will be determined by the speed of the inertia shift which, at the point of center of gravity, precipitated the rollover.

 

[jeff9366]

Tractors seemed like they could do any kind of plowing. I was wrong.

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Tractor capability is more closely correlated to tractor weight than any other single (1) specification. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.

When considering a tractor purchase bare tractor weight first, tractor horsepower second, rear axle width third (for stability under load), rear wheel/tire ballast fourth (partly for stability under load).

 

[npalen]

The speed of the rollover will be determined by the speed of the inertia shift which, at the point of center of gravity, precipitated the rollover.

What factors determine the speed of the inertia shift?

 

[JasperFrank]

You buy a tri-tractor if you live in Kansas. The Tri-pod
1943 John deer was an accident waiting to happen.

And don't know how many people remember belts, which for some reason we still used to power other stuff in the 70s. Big, flippy belt that could come off any time and kill you.


The John Deer we had was completely a bad choice to the rolling hills of Maryland. In an event, My first question was, did you get hurt,.... after its many rollovers. Luck be it, that no one got hurt. They jumped out. I did get tired of pulling it out off its side. It was a stupid machine for my Grand Father to have bought in the first place to work 9 degree hills. A farm hand often said, "Don't ask me to run the JD." Three other tractors available with quad stances that can do the same thing better. If they ask, its the way to go.

My Dad still kept running this tractor on the slopes. I don't know what his point was as it also tuned over to the side a few times. So this tractor got retired, after his death, and sold off to a collector for a hell of a lot of money.

 

[IndyJay]

What factors determine the speed of the inertia shift?

Rapid change of direction. Can be from turning too quickly or suddenly dropping a tire into rut or hitting a bump while at or near balanced at center of gravity. Like when my buddy was loading a tractor onto a low boy using wooden planks and using brakes for steering. I watched as one of the boards kept scooting back each time be let out the clutch. I hollered for him to stop, he just looked over at it and kept inching up. When he finally got the rear wheels on the trailer there was less than on inch of the board still on the trailer. If it had scooted just a little more it would have perfectly demonstrated a very quick shift in inertia.

 

[DutchInNZ]

There were tractors specially made for steep inclines in wineries on mountains by e.g. Holder and an Italian company. They had a very low centre of gravity and the steering was by a hydraulic link in the middle, between the front and the back frames. The Holder A45 is one of those and they claimed in their folders that they can do angles up to 45 degrees, sideways or up/down. The centre of gravity is so low that, if it gets steeper, they just start sliding downwards.

 

[TerryR]

Your drawing is right to some degree but you’re ignoring the fact that the front axel has stops.

Not ignoring them, but accounting for the fact that they don't come into play until you have already rolled a bit, and you may well have enough momentum by then to go on over, especially on a side hill situation.