Tricycle front questions

sodly · Oct 2, 2009

Probably dumb questions but...

I understand the purpose of tricycle front ends... for cultivating and for mounted corn pickers. One thing I'm not totally sure of, though, is why the front wheels are in a "V" shape rather than just running vertical. Was is simply to narrow up the footprint of the two front wheels in the furrow? Or to shed mud better? Or does it have something to do with orienting the wheels in the shape of the furrow to help them follow the furrow better?

The other thing I've never fully understood is why two wheels rather than one? I know some models did use a single front wheel (such as vegetable tractors) due to very narrow row spacing, I think. But why are the vast majority of tricycles dual front wheeled rather than single? Seems like a single wheel would do the same thing and be simpler and cheaper than dual wheels. What am I missing here?

Janicholson · Oct 2, 2009

The slant is to put the contact patch of the tires closer to the center of the axis of the bolster. they are thumb wreckers anyway, and those who have set them out (most can be adjusted wider) soon learn the risk of displaced finger joints when the tractor runs over a stone with one wheel. Singles are usually wider than the tires on dual systems, but steer harder when stopped because the dual wheels turn in opposite directions rolling as they turn. the single has to scrub more dirt to do it. JimN

sodly · Oct 2, 2009

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that.

Goose · Oct 2, 2009

I always figured the slant would also help the wheels follow lister ridges while cultivating, back when corn was still planted with a lister.

Old Roy · Oct 2, 2009

To add to Janicholson .

If you had a flat with the single you lost a half day jacking and removing a single. the duals were also meant to be easier to change because you only needed a block to run the good one up on.

Or maybe you could get that last couple rounds in before repairing.

jd-tom · Oct 2, 2009

I'm not sure about other brands that had a tricycle front, but on a John Deere the axle that the 2 wheels spun on was mounted slightly behind the center of the pedestal. This helped with steering since they had a little "caster action" built into them.

bradley martin · Oct 2, 2009

The inward tilt is called "camber"...it makes the vehicle easier to steer and improves cornering...all modern vehicles including cars and trucks use it. It is more exagerated on a narrow front end due to the geometry. When the NASCAR boys are setting up the front end of their cars, altering the camber is one of the things they are doing.

Tricycle front questions

sodly

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Janicholson

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sodly

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Goose

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Old Roy

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jd-tom

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bradley martin

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