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Omar F. Zubia, PhD

ABE 63 Agricultural and Biosystems Power Engineering

LECTURE # 17
HITCHES, TRACTION & STABILITY

Omar F. Zubia, PhD

ABE 63 Agricultural and Biosystems Power Engineering

TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES

➢ Structures made for attaching and/or
supporting implements
➢ Hydraulically controlled in 4W
tractors
➢ Dimensions and locations are
standardized
➢ Drawbar and three-point hitches

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TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES
➢ DRAWBAR/HITCH for 2W Tractors

1-Hole Hitch

3-Hole Hitch

TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES

➢ DRAWBAR for 4W Tractors

Clevis Type Drawbar

TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES

➢ THREE-POINT LINKAGE for 4W Tractors

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TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES
➢ THREE-POINT LINKAGE for 4W Tractors

Three-point hitch connections on an implement

TRACTOR LINKAGES AND HITCHES

➢ THREE-POINT LINKAGE for 4W Tractors

❖ The dimensions of the three-point linkage shall be

based on these categories to enable implements
to be attached to all makes of tractors

MOMENTS & CENTER OF GRAVITY

Moment
➢ Created when
a force acts
perpendicular
to a distance
on a tractor
body

Center of Gravity
➢ Considered to be a
balance point where the WB - Wheelbase
tractor weight’s act

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3
WEIGHT TRANSFER & STABILITY

11

WEIGHT TRANSFER

➢ refers to the changes in the front and rear wheel

reactions that occur when a tractor pulls a
drawbar load

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WEIGHT TRANSFER
𝑋𝑐𝑔 𝑊 = 𝑅𝑓 𝑊𝐵

𝑅𝑓 𝑊𝐵 + 𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑟 = 𝑊𝑋𝑐𝑔

𝑊𝑋𝑐𝑔 − 𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑟
𝑅𝑓 = = dynamic front wheel reaction
𝑊𝐵
𝑊𝑋𝑐𝑔
𝑅𝑓𝑜 = If Fdb = 0
𝑊𝐵
𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑟
∆𝑅𝑓 = 𝑅𝑓𝑜 − 𝑅𝑓 = = weight transfer (front)
𝑊𝐵
𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑓
∆𝑅𝑟 = 𝑅𝑟 − 𝑅𝑟𝑜 = = weight transfer (rear)
𝑊𝐵

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4
 Example:

A tractor with a total weight of of 28.5 kN

has a front wheel reaction of 9.0 kN when the
tractor is sitting on a horizontal surface. During
operation, the tractor pulls a drawbar load of 12
kN. The pull is parallel to the ground and the
drawbar height is 580 mm. Calculate the
following if WB is 2000 mm:
a. Center of gravity
b. Rear wheel reaction
c. Weight transfer

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Static Loading
W = 28.5kN
Xcg
drawbar
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

𝑅𝑟𝑜 = 28.5 − 9
580mm
WB = 2000mm
Rro
9kN 𝑅𝑟𝑜 = 19.5 𝑘𝑁

෍ 𝑀𝑅 = 0

9 × 2000
𝑥𝑐𝑔 =
28.5

𝑅𝑟𝑜 = 631.58 𝑚𝑚

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Dynamic Loading
W = 28.5kN
Dynamic Front Wheel Reaction
𝑊𝑋𝑐𝑔 − 𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑟
𝑅𝑓 =
12kN 𝑊𝐵
28.5 × 631.58 − 12 × 580
𝑅𝑓 =
580mm 2000
WB = 2000mm
Rf
Rr
𝑅𝑓 = 5.52 𝑘𝑁

Weight Transfer (front wheel)

𝐹𝑑𝑏 𝑍𝑟 QUESTION
∆𝑅𝑓 = 𝑅𝑓𝑜 − 𝑅𝑓 =
𝑊𝐵
∆𝑅𝑓 = 9 − 5.52 = 3.48 𝑘𝑁 How much weight is transferred
OR in the rear wheel?
12 × 580
∆𝑅𝑓 = = 3.48 𝑘𝑁
2000

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5
WEIGHT TRANSFER & STABILITY

STABILITY ENHANCEMENT

WEIGHTS

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BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION

TRACTION
➢ Force parallel
to the
direction of
travel,
developed by
the traction
device and
transferred to
the vehicle

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BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION

DYNAMIC WEIGHT/LOAD
➢ Also known as “true tire load”
➢ Load on the driving wheels during pull
condition
➢ Equal to tractor weight (W) when the
tractor is operating in four wheel drive
➢ Equal to Rr for two/rear wheel drive
tractors:

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6
BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION
DYNAMIC TRACTION RATIO (DTR)
➢ Refers to the ratio of drawbar pull over the dynamic
weight on the driving wheels

2W/RW Drive:

4W Drive:

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BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION

TRAVEL REDUCTION (TR)
➢refers to the reduction in forward speed that occurs
when a tractor pulls a drawbar load

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BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION

TRACTIVE EFFICIENCY (TE)
➢ refers to the fraction of axle power that is
converted to drawbar power by the drive wheels

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7
BASIC CONCEPTS OF TRACTION
MAXIMUM Tractive Efficiency

➢ some travel
reduction – i.e,
increased
slippage - is
necessary in
order for traction
to be efficient

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BALLASTING FOR TRACTION

BALLAST
➢ Material added to the
tractor to improve
traction and stability
➢ Types/Methods:
✓ removable cast-iron
weights that are bolted
to the rim of the wheel.
✓ partially filling the tires
BALLAST
with water

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TRACTOR TIRES
➢ Lugged tires are used to increase
traction
➢ Ribbed tires are
suitable for steering
(front tires)

➢ Lugs/tread should be
oriented to
penetrate the soil

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8
TRACTOR FRONT TIRES

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DUAL TIRES
➢ provide greater contact area with the soil and
may permit the use of additional ballast
➢ improves floatation so the tractor is less likely to
sink into soft soils

➢ increases
the stress
on tractor
axles,
bearings,
and the
entire
drive train

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Field, Harry L. and John M. Long. 2018. Introduction to Agricultural

Engineering Technology: A problem solving approach. 4th edition.
Springer Nature.
Goering, Carroll E. and Alan C. Hansen. 2004. Engines and Tractor Power. 4th
Edition. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2950
Niles Road, St Joseph, MI.
International Commission of Agricultural Engineering. 1999. CIGR Handbook
of Agricultural Engineering: Plant & Production Engineering. Volume III.
American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
Liljedahl, John B. et al. 1989. Tractors and their power units. 4th edition. Van
Nostrand Reinhold.

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