Farmers Review Africa Sept/Oct 2018 FRA - September - October 2018 digital 5 | Page 53

NEWS
Tractor Counterweights
T
ractors are used in the agriculture
industry to lift, lower and
transport heavy loads. They
operate such that once the tractor
starts the required operation, the
center of gravity of the machine
is moved immediately forward or
backward.
The more the tractor arm raises the
load, the more the center of gravity
moves further and higher. This, more
often than not, usually leads to the
tractor’s overturning. Point to note,
therefore, is that the major safety factor
while operating a front end loader
tractor is its stability while lifting and
transporting a load. This is because
the extreme working conditions in
which the machine is used increases
the risk of tipping over and requires an
adequate solution.
That bring said, counterweights have
been proven to be rather crucial in
the maintenance of the stability of the
tractor when using front end loaders.
Furthermore, the fitting of a front end
loader onto a tractor shifts the centre
of gravity forward. The centre of gravity
is further amplified when the loader
lifts a load thus putting pressure on
the tyres, axle and rims.
As such, special counterweights need
to be inserted at the rear part of the
machine to secure a proper weight
distribution and stability.
Traditionally tractors’ owners have
added homemade counterweights.
Some of the solutions are welded
metal plates attached onto tractor’s
body or a permanent magnet put on
tractor’s front. Cresent Foundry make
their counterweights primarily from
Cast Iron or Ductile Iron. A single Counterweight
can range from 1 kg to 55 tons.
However, a proper tractor
counterweight should take into account
the tractor’s weight rack as well as
designing accurate shape that is
supposed to fit exactly into the given
space. This is important because lack
to the adherence of the same could very
well spell doom for the machine operator.
Due to the unreliability of homemade
counterweights, some manufacturers
such as Cresent Foundry recommend
the usage of the three point hitch /
linkage (3PH / 3PL) implements with
weights combination. 3PH or 3PL
refers to the way to attach implements
to tractors. This configuration provides
the best counterbalancing effect by
applying some force behind the rear
axle and reducing in this way the weight
carried by the front tires, rims and axle.
When using a 3 point linkage, the
counterweight is hooked up with a 3
point linkage set behind the rear axle.
This is the best method to improve stability
and it reduces the amount of pressure
placed on the tyres, axle and rims.
Crescent foundry manufactures,
among other products, iron castings
for the agriculture segment through its
various foundries located in Kolkata
and Vadodara, India. They are also
currently the largest manufacturer of
Agricultural roller rings from India.
Some of their products include Link
Housing, Suitcase weights, Wheel
Weights, Tractor Weights, Roller rings,
Hydraulic lift housing, Cylinder Head,
Trumpet Housing Rear Axle Support,
Flywheels and 3 Point Linkage and
other related castings.
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