tarcoleo 119 #1 Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) I recall that early 20th Century farm tractors were furnished with cogged steel wheels. I don't recall seeing any such wheels fitted to Wheel Horse tractors. Why not? Surely for snow plowing such wheels would be superior to rubber/chain wheels for traction.. It would not be a big deal to weld cogs on a 15-16 in. auto steel rim with an appropriate 5-lug bolt pattern. Would look something like- Come to think of it, wheel might have to be 18 in. or so depeding on cogs used. Edited October 22, 2014 by tarcoleo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redrooster 83 #2 Posted October 22, 2014 Will a 5 lug auto rim fit a wheel horse? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 590 #4 Posted October 22, 2014 I would say steel wheels are not superior to rubber/chains for traction. I have seen many of these steel wheel tractors stuck on flat land at tractor shows. Flat bars would just slip. Maybe if you had lugs bolted to a flat surface, might do better but would surely tear up the surface you are plowing on. Plus steel wheels make for the roughest ride in the world. Ask any of the Amish in my area! One good thing about steel is you can drive over a bed of nails and never have a flat tire! Kyle 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 11,023 #5 Posted October 22, 2014 Here is a photo on some on a Wheel Horse in northern Indiana! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse79 271 #6 Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) I remember reading once in a book about tractor history that there were tests done in the '30's by rubber tire companies proving that rubber tires were better than steel. Steel wheels tear up paved surfaces and don't have the flotation of rubber tires. Under certain conditions, flotation can greatly increase traction. My Grandfather had a '36 Farmall F-12 that has a set of steel wheels and also a set of rubber wheels. Since the rubber wheels were narrow and worn, the steel wheels usually worked better for plowing in sod which had a somewhat slick surface. The steel tines allowed the wheel to cut into the sod for better traction. However, this was the only circumstance where I remember that steel wheels were better than rubber. And boy, did they ride rough on gravel and pavement! Edited October 22, 2014 by WheelHorse79 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarcoleo 119 #7 Posted October 22, 2014 Lugs on a flat surface in order to obtain flotation--that makes sense. Thanks guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
groundhog47 347 #8 Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) I recall that early 20th Century farm tractors were furnished with cogged steel wheels. I don't recall seeing any such wheels fitted to Wheel Horse tractors. Why not? Surely for snow plowing such wheels would be superior to rubber/chain wheels for traction.. It would not be a big deal to weld cogs on a 15-16 in. auto steel rim with an appropriate 5-lug bolt pattern. Would look something like- Come to think of it, wheel might have to be 18 in. or so depeding on cogs used. This is prob pushin it, but these are listed (pic removed by poster), but not here and have been listed for awhile. Following post ahead rubber and chains or ags seen best to maintain the blacktop Edited October 22, 2014 by groundhog47 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 39,141 #9 Posted October 23, 2014 Not much traction on this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
km3h 543 #10 Posted October 23, 2014 And then there is the hard ride. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
