NH Supersteer An exclusive feature??

[ledebuhr1]

Is the New Holland SuperSteer front axle exclusive to NH?? Is there any other company that offers the articulating axle also??Like Deere or Kubota??

thanks

 

[thcri]

New Holland is the only one that I am aware of. Even the New Holland sister, Case does not have it available at this time.

murph

 

[PineRidge]

Some folks swear by SuperSteer and other folks swear at it. I myself would not trade it as it still amazes me just how fast I can turn a class 3 tractor 180 degrees. It almost turns on a dime. My neighbors think I have a zero turn radius mower. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ledebuhr1]

Thanks for your help, What are the positives and negatives of the Supersteer? what dont they like about it??

Also, does NH have the system patented?? I wouldent think you could patent just an articulating axle. Im wondering why the other manufactures havent copied there design.

 

[art]

On the NH tractors they offer two systems. The standard turn system is not up to the competitions turning circles. The super steer gives them a tighter turning radius then the competition. From the other side of the street it's a matter of why all the moving chassis parts for a few inches tighter circle.

 

[ledebuhr1]

So the turning radius isnt that much smaller than on a comparable Kubota or Deere?? I would think it should be much shorter with the articulating axle.

 

[AndyMA]

I beg to disagree. Having driven both Kubotas, Deere's and New Hollands I do not find any really noticably difference in their turning radius. I will note one thing though, on the Boomer spec sheets New Holland specifies the turning radius for every Boomer model. I looked over Kubota's spec sheets and the turning radius was not even stated for the majority of models. The ones it was stated for appeared to be larger than New Hollands. As far as Super Steer goes, It is not just a couple of inches of turning radius. The spec does it no justice. It is a totally different way of turning. The front tire actually ends up leading the front of the tractor and the tractor just swings around with much forward motion. I had both SS and non SS models of New Hollands TN and there was no comparison in turning. For anything other than loader work the SS is superior in my book. If you do a lot of loader work I'd go with the conventional axle.

Andy

 

[markie61]

I need to add:

Besides turning tighter, the Supersteer has something called Sensitrak, which turns off the 4WD when it senses that the tires are going to "dig" in. Net result is supposed to be less torn-up turf with a tighter radius.

I don't have it, but did test drive it. It wasn't worth the extra $ to me but I can see its applications. IMHO, it would be GREAT with a belly mower.

Mark

PS Standard NH steering radius is just as good as the others.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I tested a lot of tractors from Kubota and NH this summer. And because I was buying something to mow around trees, work in ditches, and groom trails, turning radius was a key point with me. I did not look at SuperSteer, but I did look at the turning radius of several sizes of tractors from both Kubota and NH, as well as some 20 to 30hp Cub Cadets. All of them, for any given frame size, were comparable. A small frame NH turns in about the same space as a small frame Kubota or Cub. As frame size goes up from Class 1 to Class 2, the turning radius goes up. But all were pretty much the same. The dealer showed me a NH with SuperSteer that was on the lot and was bigger than I was interested in, it turned in a circle that is probably smaller than the radius a Class 1 tractor turns in!

Several threads indicate that SuperSteer is hard to get used to for people who do a lot of loader work, but some others swear buy it. I just know what I saw my dealer do with one and I was amazed.

 

[ledebuhr1]

What makes is more difficult for loader work??

Also, anybody know why no other company offer an equlivant of Supersteer on there tractors.

thanks

 

[SethO]

For loader work, it is may be more difficult for those who are used to other types of tractors at least in the beginning. But if it is your only tractor, I see no reason why you can not adjust to the way the front end behaves.

I think in the field, because of the smaller size of the front wheels/tires, it will dig in. Using articulation will allow same sized front and rear wheels and achieve usable small turning radius, and I think that is the direction that other manufacturers have gone.

 

[jmc]

While the spes show only a couple of inches difference in "Turning Radius" between a regular axle and a Supersteer axle, there is a huge improvement in "Turnaround Diameter". So yes. the specs don't do it justice. For example, on a FWD TC35, regular axle vs SS (both w/ brakes):

Turning radius: 110 vs 106
Turnaround diameter: 127 vs 83

The specs need a picture.

 

[PineRidge]

The axle pivot point on the SuperSteer is actually located behind the axle. When you are not using a FEL there is no problem. But, add a FEL and when you 1st sharply turn left the front of the tractor moves right and vice versa, for a split second. This is more noticeable when the tractor is stationary than when moving, although it still happens. Kind of like getting used to driving a very sensitive semi. I park mine in close quarters in a pole barn and I quickly got used to the quirk without taking the paint off the new Toyota parked next to it. It is really a remarkable piece of engineering and I have only heard a few people that just could not get used to it. Some folks don’t embrace change very easily I reckon. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[thcri]

I have the super-steer and there is two reasons why it can be difficult for loader work. The first reason is the loader sways from side to side as you turn your wheels. Makes it tough when you are trying to go along side something. However, when trying to get in corners the super-steer actually allows you to get in tighter corners. The second reason is when you turn your wheels sharp you basically make your tractor, well kind of like a narrow front end tractor and it becomes tipsy.

So my advice is, if your going to do a lot of mowing around a lot of things then get the Super-Steer. If your going to do a lot of loader work then skip the Super-Steer. I love it because I do mostly mowing around lots of pine trees. I do some loader work but the majority is mowing. My next rig would have Super-Steer unless I move up some day and have a tractor for each thing I do.

murph

 

[8561]

ledebuhr1 -
One thing you didn't mention (if you did I missed it) was the approximate size or horsepower tractor you are interested in. In Kubota, their 24hp B2410 can be purchased with a feature called bi-speed turn. This system turns the front wheels at approximately twice their normal speed when the steering wheel is turned beyond a certain point. This feature can be switched on or off and only works in fwd. It is designed to reduce turning radius and also helps reduce the amount the front tires cut into soft terrain, like turf. I have a bi-speed B2410 and the feature works well. I have found it to be beneficial doing loader work in tight places, as opposed to what some have reported on the supersteer. To my knowledge, the B2410 is the only current Kubota offering bi-speed.

 

[dylan]

I have a TC33D with the supersteer and find it very handy. Like everyone else has mentioned, there is a learning curve for driving with a loader next to things, but the tight turning radius is fantastic in small areas. Drove MF and Kubota before and really like the difference when turning.

 

[ledebuhr1]

Thanks, I am looking at a Kubota L3430HSt with a cab. I dont think i would ever be in areas tight enough to need a Supersteer axle. Mostly for landscaping and snoplowing.

 

[PineRidge]

Murph I agree with you. Most of my work is finish mowing on 9+ acres so the SuperSteer is right handy. However I did get the FEL to play once the mowing work is done. It's so easy to take the 17LA off that I do not mow with it in place.

 

[equipman]

8561
Actually (for information purposes), the bi-speed feature is standard on the M110 and M120 4WD models.
Lewis

 

[8561]

Thanks equipman. I didn't realize they did that on the big tractors. Any idea why they don't offer it on more models? Must be that they don't think they can sell them. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I know they used to offer it on some other B models.