PULLING SAFE

I'll try linking a diagram I posted on my website, done like my good ol' high school physics teacher did 'em back in 1960, so my memory may be a little rusty. Comments welcome.
Obviously, attaching above the rear axle would increase the lift on the front wheels immensely.
Tex Ferguson

1) Pulling backwards is not the best set-up as tractorfix said the cleats on the wheels are in the wrong direction for traction. Also the pull load will try to flip the tractor.

2) ALWAYS pull with the drawbar as low to the ground as possible! NOT HIGH. If the load stops the movement of the tractor, then the torque of the drive shaft will try to flip the tractor BACKWARDS. The only thing that keeps this from happening is a) the weight of the tractor acting at the center of gravity infront of the rear axle. and b) the drag load force times it's distance below the rear axle.

If you pull with the arms at the axle height then only the engine weight is keeping you from a roll over. If you pull with the drawbar higher than the rear axle then both the drag load and the wheel torque are working together to flip the tractor.

I would highly disagree that putting an implement on the back will add any safety factor. In fact I would argue that it is less safe.
a) The implement weight counter acts the front end weight pushing you closer to a roll-over. (mentally keep adding weight to the back and you will see that the teter-totter will go down on that side of the rear axle.) Thus the added weight is undesireable.
b) an implement will not stop a tractor from going over backwards. The hydrolics have NO DOWN force. Thus if the tractor goes over the three point will simply swing out of the way, pinning you between the top of the rear blade and the seat.

The Safest setup is to connect the load forward of the rear axle. However ther is no good attach point. Attaching to the front axle is not adviseable as it is not strong enough to handle the force.

I hope this helps...

Jeff

Point 1) was in agreement with tractorfix concerning tread cleats. The given statement can easily be interperted the other way. The statement that by pulling backwards the force used to pull the load will create a torque that will be in the direction of lifting the front wheels. enough power to do it or not was not discussed (in my mind) although I can see how the statement could be read differently.

Two year ago I asked if a rear implement would protect from a rearward flip and had my fingers severly cracked and was laughed at by the replies that I thought an implement would help... my fingers still hurt.

Also, I was just a little pissed off by the reply by rotten robert... Here is a real issue that does matter and should be better understood. Now whether he ment it as toung and cheek or sarcasim I don't know... I guess I am still feeling the toung lashing I got for asking the implement question a few years ago. i.e. I want to know and no one will give a straight answer. At least this time people did...

Sorry for the confussion...
Jeff

I wish my good old high school physics teacher would post one of his chalkboard diagrams illustrating the torque effect of the height of the drawbar. Common sense tells me if it is above the axle height, the front wheels will tend to come up sooner.

Tex

Why should the PTO be off?

I skidded a dozen or so big (12 feet x 12-18 inches) black locust logs once.I then loaded them on a dump truck with a boom. It worked out ok. I was proud of my To-20, but in retrospect it was insanely dangerous. It is cheaper to hire things out than to risk pretty significant injury. Farming is, after all, one of the most dangerous professions.

Frank

Thanks, you taught me something.

Frank