Today, Tractor Agriculture will focus on an important topic relateds to Front Axle, types & its functions in modern day farming activities. I was asked this question in my school days by one of my friends and could not answer at that time due to my ignorance on this subject.
It is an important Tractor Part which facilitates the movement of agricultural machines on the field. It is attached to the front side of the Tractor and is used in the process of steering the machine right or left.
What is a Front Axle & their different types?
Different Functions of Front Axle
- It is used to bear the full weight of front side of a tractor.
- It has king pin, steering arms using which machine can easily be steered.
- The machine is kept in a regular levelled position through its swinging action.
- The springs fitted inside the case absorbs the shocks.
- In a 4 wheel drive machine, the transmission of power to road wheels is also done using this tool.
(Download Pdf) Diagram
Types of Front Axles
In Tractor, Front Axle assembly is integrated into the Chassis by different methods.
- Rigid Type
- Swinging Type
In the Tractors of old era, rigid front axles were largely used and the axle beam used to be rigidly tied up with Chassis. With the passage of time, Tractors got compatible with different slopes.
Now, the rigid system has been replaced by swinging type of axles. In the Swinging Type, the center of axle is rested on the front side of machine using a center pin. Due to this alignment, the right or left wheel can easily move up or down or swing in different directions.
Front Axle Assembly
Axle Beam
Front Axle carries the front end load of the tractor fully. It withstands shocks while running on the field. Field is not a plain surface and is totally uneven. Due to this property, axle beams are very sturdy in nature. The different types of cross sections are used in the main axle beam are showcased below.
Split Type Axle Beam
In the older days, single beam axle was mostly used and is even used nowadays in case of Earth Moving Tractors. But Split Type Beams are generally used for Agricultural works.
These are made of 3 pieces where center portion is attached to the front part of Tractor Chassis using a center pin and right, left beams are tied to the center beam using nuts and bolts. Most of the Tractors have this system integrated but some machines also have a coil spring placed between the king pin and boss of axle beam.
Stub Axles
In Stub Axle, a wheel hub is attached using 2 taper roller bearing and maintained in position by a washer and nut.
Drag Linkball Joint
As we know, Steering Assembly is attached to the chassis frame and stub axle is fixed on axle beam which allows regular movement. To provide angular movement to Stub Axle, Ball Joints are used. In Ball Joints, balls move according to the angle. The 2 types of Ball Joints are:
- Fixed Type
- Adjustable Type
Fixed Types are used for small tractors and Adjustable types are applied in heavy machines. In Adjustable Type, pressure applied on the balls can be adjusted using nuts.
Radius Rods
Many Chassis less Tractors have radius rods. The main purpose of Radius Rods is to release the engine from front side thrust and to maintain the straight posture of front axle.
Front Axle Repair
The front axle attached to Agricultural Tractors is rigid in nature and generally does not require much attention. But, regular servicing and greasing is always needed. You should know the steps needed to prevent quality loss with time.
If apt maintenance is not done, regular wear and tear happens at center pivots and bushes of king pin. In such a case, it is advisable to replace old ones with new brushes or rebuilt the existing ones with good welding and machining procedures. Remember, once the bushes are worn out, it is good practice to replace them.
Thanks for sharing very well written and worth reading this article.
Wish to see more in the coming days.