Wow I just saw a Vega today on my way home. So at least one survived!
Aluminum vs. Cast Iron as tractor components in CUTS and SCUTS?
- Thread starter Threepoint
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Wow I just saw a Vega today on my way home. So at least one survived!
PILOON
Super Star Member
Both have their advantages. Cast iron is heavier, tougher but heavier (think transport).
Shipping being a serious consideration (as well as manufacturing cost) aluminium wins.
Aluminium is far easier to machine than cast iron.
As long as you don't exceed the load specs aluminum will perform as specified, but who really works to specs?
Don't we all push our CUTs beyond the advertised specs?
LOL, more than a few times I have hoisted weight that exceeded my CUT advertised capacity to the point that the rear end was up in the air!
I'm lucky in that nothing is broken yet. (I however never crash into things, simply ease in and let hydraulics do their job)
But then my Mitsubishi was well designed from the get go. (INMHO)
Shipping being a serious consideration (as well as manufacturing cost) aluminium wins.
Aluminium is far easier to machine than cast iron.
As long as you don't exceed the load specs aluminum will perform as specified, but who really works to specs?
Don't we all push our CUTs beyond the advertised specs?
LOL, more than a few times I have hoisted weight that exceeded my CUT advertised capacity to the point that the rear end was up in the air!
I'm lucky in that nothing is broken yet. (I however never crash into things, simply ease in and let hydraulics do their job)
But then my Mitsubishi was well designed from the get go. (INMHO)
TMGT
Elite Member
I'm not familiar with a lot of the other companies, but Kubota has been making the B and BX series rear axles out of aluminum for many years, I haven't noticed a problem with failures in those models.
Even the B26 tlb uses an aluminum rear axle and that is commonly used as a rental.
Materials have their place, engineering and material grade selection are very important.
It also comes down to cost, using cast iron or steel just cost less for the strength factor, and since weight isnt an issue then it makes sense. Does that mean cast iron is superior to aluminum? No, it just fits the application better from an economics and application standpoint
My application is a tractor that can have the weight removed and tread lightly when I'm doing landscaping on yards, I have a B series Kubota and it fits my application.
I'm not worried about the rear axle and I don't always take it easy on my machine.
I was called the other day about repairing a broken cast axle housing for a NH tc33 I believe, it wasn't practical to repair so I looked for a replacement, based on the amount of broken axle housings or junked tractors with the housings missing that I found, I'm guessing it is a somewhat common failure.
Was it because it was made of cast iron? Probably not, more likely just not properly engineered or cast.
Even the B26 tlb uses an aluminum rear axle and that is commonly used as a rental.
Materials have their place, engineering and material grade selection are very important.
It also comes down to cost, using cast iron or steel just cost less for the strength factor, and since weight isnt an issue then it makes sense. Does that mean cast iron is superior to aluminum? No, it just fits the application better from an economics and application standpoint
My application is a tractor that can have the weight removed and tread lightly when I'm doing landscaping on yards, I have a B series Kubota and it fits my application.
I'm not worried about the rear axle and I don't always take it easy on my machine.
I was called the other day about repairing a broken cast axle housing for a NH tc33 I believe, it wasn't practical to repair so I looked for a replacement, based on the amount of broken axle housings or junked tractors with the housings missing that I found, I'm guessing it is a somewhat common failure.
Was it because it was made of cast iron? Probably not, more likely just not properly engineered or cast.
LostMy65
Bronze Member
How would the cast iron blocks make the engines not last as long?
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
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- 26,823
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Had one too. How long before it started using oil? The Nickasil plated bores didn't last very long. I had a wagon mysellf. When the motor started using more oil than gas, it came out and we tubbed it and dropped in a 350 small block with a turbo charger and a high stall Turbo 400 and a heavy duty rear pig too. I would go high nines at the strip and could eat anything on the street and yes it was plated for the street too. No ac though.
ptsg
Super Member
Had one too. How long before it started using oil? The Nickasil plated bores didn't last very long. I had a wagon mysellf. When the motor started using more oil than gas, it came out and we tubbed it and dropped in a 350 small block with a turbo charger and a high stall Turbo 400 and a heavy duty rear pig too. I would go high nines at the strip and could eat anything on the street and yes it was plated for the street too. No ac though.
Such a nice setup and no AC? How dare you? :laughing:
5030
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,823
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Was a fun car. Hard on tires though, especially the Hoosier rear cheater slicks. Ran wrinkle walls at the strip, cheaters on the street.
Pretty hard to have ac when the back of the engine was under the dash. Pretty hot ride. The turbo dumped in front of the right front wheel and it was always fun to be at a traffic light and have a gal standing on the corner and throttle up the engine and have the exhaust bear down on her.... Those were the day. Long gone.
Ugly little car with a huge engine.