How Does a Tractor "Ride"?

[airbiscuit]

Occasionally I here comments about how a tractor rides. Other than narrow narrow tractors being less stable on side hills, air suspension seats being nicer, is there a lot of variation about how a tractor rides?

On a related discussion, how do different tire configurations "ride"

R1 Agricultural Tires
R3 Turf Tires
R4 Industrial Tires
Loaded vs Air Only Tires

 

[oosik]

My tractor is a 2009 Kubota M6040 - weighs 10,100 pounds - has a HD 820 pound grapple on the FEL - R1 tires - rear tires loaded with 1550 pounds of Rimguard and a 1050 pound rear blade hanging off the 3-point. Going down my gravel driveway with the - not yet repaired winter potholes - it rides somewhat rougher than my 2006 TJ Jeep.

On the county road - it feels the same as my Jeep. Except there is more tire noise than the Jeep makes.

I only have experience with R1 tires on this tractor. I have R3 tires on my riding lawn mower but there is no way you could compare the ride of the two vehicles.

I have no exacting data but JMHO - R1 tires because of their tread design probably have the roughest - most jarring ride of the tires you have listed.

 

[airbiscuit]

My speculation on tires is...

R3 Turfs - are the softest ride - tight tread spacing - more air cushiony (opposite of low profile)
R1s Ags - have the most vibration/stutter on hard surfaces due to all the space between the traction bars
R4s Industrials - the harshest bumps due to the stiffest sidewalls

 

[California]

In theory at least on a smaller tractor - ballast consisting of iron weights on the wheels will ride better than tires loaded with liquid. Because liquid reduces the casing flexing.

(But in many cases you need both).

 

[rScotty]

My speculation on tires is...

R3 Turfs - are the softest ride - tight tread spacing - more air cushiony (opposite of low profile)
R1s Ags - have the most vibration/stutter on hard surfaces due to all the space between the traction bars
R4s Industrials - the harshest bumps due to the stiffest sidewalls

Many compact tractors have a simple seat with a hinged front and the back of the seat sitting on two coil springs. There is enough space between the two coil springs to add a third spring, sponge block, or even a damper.

I run all my tractors with less than the recommended tire pressure to soften the ride. No problems doing that.

Another thing that helps is to lube, adjust, or replace the front axle center pivot to reduce the front end bounce over ruts. That is often overlooked, and really makes a difference with a loader.
rScotty

 

[Tomtint]

My L3700 has R4s and ride is harsh.. I had looked into a suspension seat change over but I think it was in the $1,000.00 range to do so. ..if I used it every day, I would probably do it. But where the hours are only 30-40 a year on it, I can live with it.

 

[Grateful11]

My L3700 has R4s and ride is harsh.. I had looked into a suspension seat change over but I think it was in the $1,000.00 range to do so. ..if I used it every day, I would probably do it. But where the hours are only 30-40 a year on it, I can live with it.

Someone in the reviews made this suspension seat fit a BX. I figure if it'll fit a narrow BX it should fit most any CUT. The price is pretty good, on sale for $330, and so are the reviews.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200268424_200268424

 

[smstonypoint]

My L3700 has R4s and ride is harsh.. I had looked into a suspension seat change over but I think it was in the $1,000.00 range to do so. ..if I used it every day, I would probably do it. But where the hours are only 30-40 a year on it, I can live with it.

While I guessing that tires make a difference, I think that the "tire effects" pale in comparison to the "seat effects." The ride on my B2320 with R4s is brutal compared to the ride on my TN 55 with R1s. Like you, I don't put that many hours on my CUT, but I'm seriously considering a seat upgrade.


Steve

 

[CobyRupert]

Jeez, I knew that "ride" and other creature comforts like heated seats, sound systems, blue tooth and power everything had taken over the sissified truck market; where the market caters to road queens that want to drive (have the drive of) a car, but need the physical appearance of a truck for personal identity (& gender insecurity) reasons .

...but now tractors too?!

Ok, whatever, its 2018. A good seat is probably best. I don't know what best tire giver best ride, but these are probably the worst.

 

[LouNY]

Almost all that I have used have been R1 tires a couple of smaller tractors with R4's;
on the roads I haven't seen much difference from the tread differences,
higher ply tires will be stiffer then lower,
radials will be smoother then bias,
Only air compare to filled the air will be smother,
the main difference in fields and woods is the tire height the taller the tire, the better the ride.
Anytime that you compare tire ride and traction the taller the tire the better,
the holes and bumps that will pitch you about on 24 inch (rim) tires are almost unnoticeable with a 38 inch (rim)
and when you get a 42 with radials the same field is smooth.

 

[California]

Many compact tractors have a simple seat with a hinged front and the back of the seat sitting on two coil springs. There is enough space between the two coil springs to add a third spring, sponge block, or even a damper.

My little YM186D had this front-hinged seat with only the bare pan remaining after 35 years. That hinge allowed the seat to wobble side to side, and the foot pads are too far forward to stabilize the wobble with weight on my feet like you would in horse stirrups. My back muscles were always sore after a while.

I bought a suspension seat at Tractor Supply, $89 on sale. (I see similar seats on Ebay are listed to fit all Fords 9N through 5000).

This seat was far too high for my use. I need to drive under my orchard trees. So I took out the suspension springs (similar to an office chair with adjustable back-tilt) to let the seat ride on its rubber bottoming-out bumper. It's now a couple of inches lower than shown in the photo below, still several inches higher than the front-hinged seat pan that it replaced. This seat's solid base mount plus the armrests to stabilize an elbow against, reduce that back strain that was caused by the seat wobbling. The additional height helps load some weight on my feet, to also reduce wobble.

I took the photo below halfway through fabricating the mount for the seat. The back of the track bolts down to an existing threaded hole in the crossmember. For the front I drilled the existing upright and put an eye-bolt in it that goes back horizontal to where a vertical bolt from the track attaches to it. The (optional) power steering diverter valve is under there. The front of the track could be much lower if that weren't in the way.

Results: Recommended! Far less of that back strain fighting to stay upright on that wobbling original seat.

Photo: before completing the install.

 

[Tomtint]

Someone in the reviews made this suspension seat fit a BX. I figure if it'll fit a narrow BX it should fit most any CUT. The price is pretty good, on sale for $330, and so are the reviews.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200268424_200268424

Thanks for the link, I ordered it.. waiting for the shipping quote now.. hopefully it's not a pita to fab a mounting solution for it.

 

[4get gto]

Thanks for the link, I ordered it.. waiting for the shipping quote now.. hopefully it's not a pita to fab a mounting solution for it.

Very nice seat. I have that on a zero turn. Got it at Northern too. Took about a month to get it. Hope it's quicker for you!

 

[airbiscuit]

Anybody have before and after experience with loaded tires?

 

[Texasmark]

Ag tires F1 are usually narrow and as such have a large foot-pound print and soft sidewalls relating to a softer ride.

Turfs R3 usually have the largest balloon and the largest volume of air to be compressed without generating a rebound effect, but stiff sidewalls which negates some of that benefit.

R4s seem to me to ride the roughest as most are made for industrial applications and are built with many plies (6 ply hard to find) and stiff sidewalls....to stand up to the industrial environment.

On my 2400 I replaced my Rear R4s with R3s and at reduced air pressure ride easier but not as easy as I would have liked even though I went down from 6 ply to 4 ply in the process, due to stiff sidewalls. The problem here is that you have a tractor that weighs out at 1800# and it's equipped with a 12.5x16.5 stiff sidewall R4s with a 2450# rating per tire at 30 psig.......daaaaaaaaaa. Even at 6-8 psig (which is hard to keep the tire on the wheel with it's stiff sidewall) it's rough riding.

Weights helped a lot but the main solution was in the seat. A good smooth, softly sprung seat has worked best for me with low air pressure in the tires and where applicable, wheel weights, either liquid or solid.

 

[majorwager]

Copy,
Agree, if tractor purchased for ride qualiy, sell it, hire the work to be performed, while parked in you favorite lounge chair. Might even monitor work progress w/ a new drone. and HD camera, If only Mercedes-Benz would offer a belly mower option and 3 point linkage.


Edit: actually they do, Unimog, $100,000+ and a nice smooth ride, keep the drone just in case.

 

[airbiscuit]

Copy,
Agree, if tractor purchased for ride qualiy, sell it, hire the work to be performed, while parked in you favorite lounge chair. Might even monitor work progress w/ a new drone. and HD camera, If only Mercedes-Benz would offer a belly mower option and 3 point linkage.


Edit: actually they do, Unimog, $100,000+ and a nice smooth ride, keep the drone just in case.

FWIW I wasn't really concerned about "ride". I've operated tractors since I was 8 years old, and never gave it a thought until I saw comments on TBN. When members complained about ride, I thought it might be about wheelbase or having loaded tires. I thought it might make an interesting topic for discussion.

The post that precedes yours makes some logical points.

As for Mercedes .... I don't always choose tractors for ride, but when I do, I choose Lamborghini ....

 

[majorwager]

Airbuscuit,
Clever, but the lamborghini Ag tractors at Agritechnica last year are really run of the mill Farm tractors. I am trying to justify a JCB 4220 w/ coil springs and shocks at all four corners. But maneuverability and traction not ride is the motivation, Unimog not really AG applicable, but stiil a smooth ride. Maybe see you in Germany next year?

 

[k0ua]

My L3700 has R4s and ride is harsh.. I had looked into a suspension seat change over but I think it was in the $1,000.00 range to do so. ..if I used it every day, I would probably do it. But where the hours are only 30-40 a year on it, I can live with it.

Tom, the L3700 has no suspension seat as you know, but its stablemate the L3400 does actually have one. That and a couple of other little things is the difference between the two tractors. If you could get a seat off of a wrecked L3400 it would be an upgrade. Of course the ideas of buying an aftermarket seat would be a good one too.

 

[mapper]

My old 8N had a much better ride than my current tractor. It probably had to do with the long steel leaf spring with about 6 inches of travel.