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REDEYE
01-12-2006 05:45:30
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Re: Disadvantage of wheel weights? in reply to Kevin, 01-11-2006 19:03:17
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I have known some people to swear that it makes a difference, justifying thier decision from drag racing where they try to lighten all rotating components- wheels, pistons, rods, driveline, ect. to go faster. In tractor pulling I dont think it causes, or have been able to notice any siginificant diference in the different weight loadings. Granted I do not throw on 4000# of weight either. In either case you will have to get the weight moving forward, and if you put it on the axle you have to get it rotating as well. BUT, in antique pulling the wheels turn so slow that the power to make the weights turn is minimal. Remember that power requirements needed is proportional to the mass and to the square of the speed. Eg. double your mass double you power needed, double your speed, quadrouple your power needed. If you go fast, say 10 or 15 mph, or throw 1000# or more on each axle you may notice a slight lag when you let the clutch out, but once you get up to speed it wont matter, unless you slow down and then want to go full speed again. Another thing that people dont realize, or forget, is that the bearing loads in these tractors are going to be up to about 80% or so for a field tractor doing field work. Load the wheel and the bearings dont know its there, load the frame and you better hope that the engineers that designed the final drive threw in a cushy safty factor for the bearings. Also weight on the axle is neutral in terms of balance. Personally I wieght the axles to a few hendred# less than max for a class then use the rest up front or hang from brackets on the frame to get the balance right, total weight about 1500# at most. But then I stay south of 5mph and get a bigger tractor to pull a class thats a lot heavier. just my $.02
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