Aluminum vs. Cast Iron as tractor components in CUTS and SCUTS?

hks003 · Jan 4, 2020

I read several places on here where tractors with aluminum transmission housings had them cracked by stuff done with the loader, since that's where the loader is mounted to on some tractors it seems. Was it doing stuff the loader wasn't designed to do? Maybe. Would cast iron potentially take a bit more abuse than aluminum? Probably.

ptsg · Jan 4, 2020

LD1 said:
What material are the pistons made out of in your beloved cast iron blocks?

My beloved cast iron blocks? That's funny. Then tell me why we don't see aluminium blocks on tractors...

Instead of keeping a friendly and simple discussion, you want to take this to a sarcastic/ironic discussion for some reason other than your ego.

LD1 · Jan 4, 2020

ptsg said:
My beloved cast iron blocks? That's funny. Then tell me why we don't see aluminium blocks on tractors...

Instead of keeping a friendly and simple discussion, you want to take this to a sarcastic/ironic discussion for some reason other than your ego.

My ego.....you're funny, dont flatter yourself.

Im not an engineer building tractors. So I dont have a definitive answer. But I doubt longevity is one of them.

Cars go hundreds of thousands of miles on aluminum engines. Not sure which is cheaper to make.....aluminum does cost more even if its easier to MFG. But for the auto world, aluminum is lighter. And it conducts heat better. In turn, other stuff can be made lighter / smaller. And in the auto world, every pound counts for emissions and fuel economy to appease uncle sam.

Tractors have none of those concerns. Weight is not a factor. And often times, the engine / oil pan are also doubling as frame tying front and rear axles together.

KennyG · Jan 4, 2020

hks003 said:
I read several places on here where tractors with aluminum transmission housings had them cracked by stuff done with the loader, since that's where the loader is mounted to on some tractors it seems. Was it doing stuff the loader wasn't designed to do? Maybe. Would cast iron potentially take a bit more abuse than aluminum? Probably.

I can't quite envision a loader mounted to a transmission. Is that really a design for some tractors?

aczlan · Jan 4, 2020

KennyG said:
I can't quite envision a loader mounted to a transmission. Is that really a design for some tractors?

Many tractors are setup that way.

Aaron Z

ptsg · Jan 4, 2020

aczlan said:
Many tractors are setup that way.

Aaron Z

If not all. At least SCUT and CUT. :thumbsup:

KennyG · Jan 4, 2020

ptsg said:
If not all. At least SCUT and CUT. :thumbsup:

On my John Deere, the loader is directly mounted to the frame. Nowhere near the transmission.

LD1 · Jan 4, 2020

KennyG said:
On my John Deere, the loader is directly mounted to the frame. Nowhere near the transmission.

The 2320 is a totally different design. Its not built like most tractors. It actually has a frame, which means they can get away with a lighter motor / casting as it has no weight to support. And Im not sure on the gear tractors, but the HST tractors dont even have a transmission bolted to the engine. Its connected via drive shaft (that is a PITA to get at them u-joint grease fittings).

Most of the modern tractors in the 30+ hp range are made similar to the tractors of the old days. Where for the most part the engine - transmission - rear axle are built heavy enough to do double duty as the frame.

Sawyer Rob · Jan 5, 2020

On MY tractors, I absolutely want cast iron!

I want the extra weight, but most of all, CI takes vibration and shock loads that tractors are subject to, much better and last longer.

AT LEAST -----> farm tractors are subject to loads ect. like that!

Yeaaa, anything can break, but machinery made to take the abuse a tractor gets, should be made from CI!

SR

aczlan · Jan 5, 2020

LD1 said:
The 2320 is a totally different design. Its not built like most tractors. It actually has a frame, which means they can get away with a lighter motor / casting as it has no weight to support. And Im not sure on the gear tractors, but the HST tractors dont even have a transmission bolted to the engine. Its connected via drive shaft (that is a PITA to get at them u-joint grease fittings).

Most of the modern tractors in the 30+ hp range are made similar to the tractors of the old days. Where for the most part the engine - transmission - rear axle are built heavy enough to do double duty as the frame.

Correct, for HST SCUT tractors (thinking of the Kubota BX series and Deere X700 series in particular, I would assume that the current Deere 1000 and 2000 series HST tractors are probbaly similar) there is a frame that goes the length of the tractor which the engine and transmission both bolt to.
Otherwise you have 2 feet of engine, 2 feet of transmission and 4 feet of casting connecting the two.

Aaron Z