Locker?

This subject has reared its ugly head many times over the years and Grummy has been in the thick of some discussions about this.

Welding up the spiders is a really, really bad move. Differentials were created for a reason. When a vehicle turns right or left, the inside wheels slows down and the outside wheel speeds up because each wheel is travelling through different arcs or radii. If the axle is locked solid, then one wheel will begin to skid on the surface because it cannot keep up with the opposite wheel. This causes major tire wear issues on pavement. It cause lawn damage on turf and it takes a lot more engine HP to make the tractor turn a corner.

The other common methods are

1. Some sort of mechanical locking device that can be engaged whenever more traction is needed while driving in a straight line but can be released immediately after the crisis is over, thus returning the differential action to the vehicle.

2. Adding some sort of "limited slip" feature to the rear end that will transfer power to the wheel with the most traction.

Both ideas have been explored and found to be unworkable due to cost and trans-axle design. There's not a lot of room inside. Go to the MAIN PAGE in a few days to the DESIGN link and you will find photos showing the internals of the Case/Ingesoll trans-axle. Ken is about to release that page to the members.

The third idea is to install "Steering brakes" like other brands have. It has been done but it's a lot of work.

The fourth idea is much simpler. Install tires that have tread matched to what the tractor is being asked to do. Install chains if need be. Install wheel weights, counterweights and load the tires. And lastly..... use your head by not driving your tractor into areas where you will probably get stuck. :thumbsup: :lol: :lol:

ing3018 said:

I just saw a video on You tube of a guy that set up a sliding weight on his Craftsman riding lawn mower. The weight shift was controlled with a electric linear actuator.

My feeling is that the steering brakes would be the most practical to implement.

Click to expand...

I agree.

Whenever I see threads like this, it makes me somewhat upset because three years ago, Eastman was gung-ho on their prototype 4400 Series tractor that came with a limited slip trans-axle as standard. Of course, this was a sub-CUT and not a GT but that project died in spite of many promises to the contrary.

A locker would be the #1 choice because it makes both wheels turn in unison whether they like it or not. A limited slip differential would the choice #2 as it would instantly shift power to the wheel with the most traction. But since those are not available or even possible, all we are left with are tire choices and careful weighting. The bottom line is always this. It's the operator that gets the machine in trouble to begin with and then is pissed off because the machine fails to bail his ass out of the jamb he created. Take it from someone who buried a crawler-loader in the mud while shouting "I am invincible." I have also stuck my graders and they have diff lock that makes all four rear tires rotate as a unit.

What I am trying to convey is this. No machine, no matter how it is equipped, will pull itself free from all conditions all of the time. I take my cue from the big contractors around me with the big equipment. When the rain comes down, they shut off the D-9 Cats, the earth scrapers, the big excavators and all the compaction equipment. They go home and do something else until the sun comes out and dries up all the rain. Experience has taught them that they are further ahead in the long run.