live spindles on fron end

oleblu · Mar 14, 2013

I was just thinking about the plowing we did last fall with an Oliver 950. No power steering, just ARMSTRONG! It steers pretty easy.
I suppose the tall 18" front tires help and the large diameter steering wheel is also a plus. What about the live spindles on the front end? Any advantage in the steering there?
I think Oliver used this setup on all their standard and wheatland tractors on the four digit series, 50 series and 55 series.
Did any other tractor manufacturer use this? If not, why?

oliver fan · Mar 14, 2013

Oliver started using the live spindles when they introduced the super standards and industrials in 1954.

You are a tire man, but you might be to young to remember when a lot of semi tractors used what was called "center point steering". The Oliver live axle worked in the same way. The tractors steered good, but without power steering the steering wheel could still get away from you.

I don't know of any other brand of tractors that used this type of axle (steering).

oleblu · Mar 14, 2013

Thanks, oliver fan.

johns · Mar 15, 2013

The live spindles make a huge difference. It brings the tire in closer to the pivot point. Thats why the power steering option is so rare, most didn"t need it. Shows how brilliant Herb Morrell and his team of engineers were.

J.Wondergem · Mar 15, 2013

I remember when the trucks had center point, but I sure didn't know tractors had it.

live spindles on fron end

oleblu

Member

oliver fan

Member

oleblu

Member

johns

Member

J.Wondergem

Well-known Member

Similar threads