Dead weight

[TJ5208 1,824]

If you were pulling dead weight where would you want the hitch would you want it higher or lower. I figured higher would pull better because the weight is pushing down on the rear tires.

[roadapples 6,983]

Higher may want to lift the front end...

[Pullstart 62,862]

There’s a perfect balance as to where it lifts the front tires just barely so ALL the tractor’s weight is on the drive tires.  This is puller talk here.  For use around your property, you’ll want to steer of course.  Pullers generally have adjustable height hitches for just this reason.  Track conditions play a big role in this figure too.  For most all around the house work, hitch height shouldn’t matter.  Just add more weight to the tractor.

[953 nut 55,226]

If you take a look at the big boy pulling tractors you will see that all the added weight is low for added stability. Hooking low also adds stability. Many garden tractor pullers have an adjustable weight bar at the front that allows the weight to be extended forward to suit the traction needed for that track.

Dan @Achto says weights are for sissies!

 

[ebinmaine 67,487]

What's the dead weight?

[953 nut 55,226]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

What's the dead weight?

Some of my former coworkers would fit in that category!              

Dead weight is basically non-rotating weight. Wheel weights and loaded rear tires would not be considered dead weight. 

[ebinmaine 67,487]

11 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Some of my former coworkers would fit in that category!              

Dead weight is basically non-rotating weight. Wheel weights and loaded rear tires would not be considered dead weight. 

Did you drag them around??

 

 

 

I figured that's what we were referring to...

 

I'm wondering what, specifically, is @TJ Salyers trying to move?

 

I ask because I find with vast experience that dead weight is easier, safer, and more efficient to move when changed to rolling weight. 

[TJ5208 1,824]

Im wanting to move logs and our Hustler. And anything that wont start or that is stuck.

[ebinmaine 67,487]

6 minutes ago, TJ Salyers said:

Im wanting to move logs and our Hustler. And anything that wont start or that is stuck.

To move logs put them in a trailer and keep the dirt out of your chainsaw chain. 

Things that won't start might  have wheels. 

Something stuck means get a bigger machine. You can't change physics. Sometimes a cable and reduction block helps. 

 

[TJ5208 1,824]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

To move logs put them in a trailer and keep the dirt out of your chainsaw chain. 

Things that won't start might  have wheels. 

Something stuck means get a bigger machine. You can't change physics. Sometimes a cable and reduction block helps. 

 

So you mean it wont pull the hustler.

[ebinmaine 67,487]

5 minutes ago, TJ Salyers said:

So you mean it wont pull the hustler.

I don't what that is.....

[TJ5208 1,824]

Its a zero turn mower

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

I don't what that is.....

It is a zero turn mower.

[ebinmaine 67,487]

2 minutes ago, TJ Salyers said:

Its a zero turn mower

It is a zero turn mower.

IIFF the zero turn has a "free wheeling" ability your tractor should move it. 

[ebinmaine 67,487]

But.... Why not just drive the zero turn?

Broken?

 

[TJ5208 1,824]

It has a bad te

Just now, ebinmaine said:

But.... Why not just drive the zero turn?

Broken?

 

It has a bad tendency of getting stuck it. If one of the tires spin its over.

[ebinmaine 67,487]

4 minutes ago, TJ Salyers said:

It has a bad te

It has a bad tendency of getting stuck it. If one of the tires spin its over.

I'd fix that instead of using it to keep getting stuck. 

 

Fluid filled tires. 

Find a place to put more weight. 

Use different tire tread. 

Chains. 

 

Multiple directions to go.  

 

If it's stuck and you're wanting to use the tractor it may not pull it out.   

 

 

[Lee1977 6,659]

47 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I'd fix that instead of using it to keep getting stuck. 

 

Fluid filled tires. 

Find a place to put more weight. 

Use different tire tread. 

Chains. 

 

Multiple directions to go.  

 

If it's stuck and you're wanting to use the tractor it may not pull it out.   

 

 

There isn't a lot you can do with a zero turn as all the weight is in the deck out front. Best bet is speed, keep going. If its too rough to go fast or too many things to get around is when you get stuck. 

[TJ5208 1,824]

Would wider tires with weight help I figured I could get more weight In bigger tires.

[ebinmaine 67,487]

1 minute ago, TJ Salyers said:

Would wider tires with weight help I figured I could get more weight In bigger tires.

That's a tough line to draw. 

 

Yes, you can get more fluid weight in wider tires.  

But...

Sometimes having wider tires isn't an advantage because the weight is spread out more. 

Think of traction as friction. 

 

Friction is basically pounds per square inch.  

 

[Handy Don 12,217]

6 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Friction is basically pounds per square inch

Well said.

The definition I had to learn in engineering school was more complicated but, dang, it boiled down to this most of the time!

 

[953 nut 55,226]

16 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Friction is basically pounds per square inch.

Yes but,

The coefficient of friction depends on the material you are working with. If you are stuck in the mud that has no good subsurface traction added surface area could be beneficial because the contact area could overcome the low coefficient of friction. The best solution (other than avoiding the mud) could be changing to an aggressive tread pattern tire which will have a much improved coefficient of friction.

 

What is the coefficient of friction?

As an example, ice on steel has a low coefficient of friction – the two materials slide past each other easily – while rubber on pavement has a high coefficient of friction – the materials do not slide past each other easily.

 

Lesson learned,    don't play in the mud!

[ebinmaine 67,487]

12 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Lesson learned,    don't play in the mud

Yeah but it's so much fun!!