Posted by Shorty Dear on March 09, 1998 at 10:08:50:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Is a Narrow Front less stable? posted by Jim on March 09, 1998 at 09:05:35:
:
: : John, I echo you opinion. Lots of people claim the narrow front is unstable compared
: : to a wide front. I have about half and half narrow and wide. I have found that the
: : steering is about the same in difficulty. Steering over rocks is a little better with
: : a wide front. As far as experience with tipping, I've not had any - preferring to be safe.
: : Regarding theory, center of gravity is the key. If a vertical line running through the
: : center of gravity passes close to the bottom of the rear wheel, the tractor is going to tip.
: : The wide front does not give any protection when the tractor begins to tip as it is on a
: : free pivot. My advice to tractor buyers, don't believe that the wide front will give you
: : any more safety - only common sense will do that.
: : Regards,
: I agree...I grew up on narrow front end tractors and am still here.....a Narrow front end is less stable on a sharp turn on a hill....but I once dropped the front end in a broken drain tile hole, snapped the front end clear off...and the tractor didnt tip.....
: If you are careless on a tractor, you will get hurt or killed no matter what front end you have....
I will argue with you guys on what you base your theory on. The wide front axle is on a free pivot, but it doesn't pivot in a complete circle does it? No, it pivots only so far till it hits the stop and at that point, it will support the tractor from turning the rest of the way over. Wrong or right?