Tandem axle slurry tankers

[Boohoo]

Passive steer and forced steer are so last year, what you really want is crab steer like the SlurryKat tanker I was following a few days ago. Makes them a bit wide on the road but it's bound to reduce ground compaction...

 

[shumungus]

Passive steer and forced steer are so last year, what you really want is crab steer like the SlurryKat tanker I was following a few days ago. Makes them a bit wide on the road but it's bound to reduce ground compaction...

I take it that it couldn't be switched on and off then. Was it an unspecified extra?

 

[Boohoo]

I take it that it couldn't be switched on and off then. Was it an unspecified extra?

Unsure if it's standard or optional, maybe depends on what day of the week it's built...

 

[shumungus]

Maybe its experimental, was it heading for the hedge or the white line?

 

[Boohoo]

Maybe its experimental, was it heading for the hedge or the white line?

The white line

 

[shumungus]

Ah that's alright then. If you asked Cairns about it, he would say they are set up that way to help on roundabouts.

 

[Down farmer]

Maybe someone from SlurryKat could comment or explain this phenomenon

 

[agri knives]

I’ve not seen a forced steering arrangement in the flesh but wouldn’t the arm that attaches onto the tractor which controls the steering get in the way if you needed to turn real sharp?

It’s not an issue because the steering kicks in quicker and brings the machine around behind you a lot better so there’s no need to be locking a wheel against the drawbar.

 

[Mouser]

The big differance is that forced steering works in reverse , this saves tyres , tyres on forced steering machines will last at least five times longer than tyres with passive steering . I have 4 machines with forced steering and I’d never even consider buying a machine on passive steering , also get the ball and spoon hitch.

Really! At least 5 times longer? Is that because 80% of tyre wear occurs when reversing? What if there is no reversing to do? Just turning round in yard to get load on or even reversing straight back?

 

[agri knives]

Really! At least 5 times longer? Is that because 80% of tyre wear occurs when reversing? What if there is no reversing to do? Just turning round in yard to get load on or even reversing straight back?

A lot of steering axles are locked on the road and end up taking a lot of corners when locked. We were reversing loads of grass around a 90 degree corner all day , a demo wagon came on passive steering , reversed in a load and left big black rubber marks on the concrete, no rubber marks from our wagons . I have a 14 year old torro wagon with 80% tyres which are origionial doing a lot of work. I’ve a 7 year old jumbo tyres still 90% with 6000 loads done . Forced steering pays for itself with the saving on tyres.

 

[daijd]

A lot of steering axles are locked on the road and end up taking a lot of corners when locked. We were reversing loads of grass around a 90 degree corner all day , a demo wagon came on passive steering , reversed in a load and left big black rubber marks on the concrete, no rubber marks from our wagons . I have a 14 year old torro wagon with 80% tyres which are origionial doing a lot of work. I’ve a 7 year old jumbo tyres still 90% with 6000 loads done . Forced steering pays for itself with the saving on tyres.

How much more on top of passive steering would you say is forced steering?

 

[Mouser]

A lot of steering axles are locked on the road and end up taking a lot of corners when locked. We were reversing loads of grass around a 90 degree corner all day , a demo wagon came on passive steering , reversed in a load and left big black rubber marks on the concrete, no rubber marks from our wagons . I have a 14 year old torro wagon with 80% tyres which are origionial doing a lot of work. I’ve a 7 year old jumbo tyres still 90% with 6000 loads done . Forced steering pays for itself with the saving on tyres.

A lot of steering axles are locked on the road and end up taking a lot of corners when locked. We were reversing loads of grass around a 90 degree corner all day , a demo wagon came on passive steering , reversed in a load and left big black rubber marks on the concrete, no rubber marks from our wagons . I have a 14 year old torro wagon with 80% tyres which are origionial doing a lot of work. I’ve a 7 year old jumbo tyres still 90% with 6000 loads done . Forced steering pays for itself with the saving on tyres.

So forced steering is better than passive steering not used properly and reversed round 90 degree corners all the time. I agree, why make such ridiculous claims about tyre life being 5 times longer?

 

[cvx175]

So forced steering is better than passive steering not used properly and reversed round 90 degree corners all the time. I agree, why make such ridiculous claims about tyre life being 5 times longer?

Which part of that description is not using passive steering properly?

 

[Suckndiesel]

Have forced steering here on a tanker, aye it’s good for reversing but road undulations/camber changes and you can feel it affecting the tractor. Passive steering with the lockable axle would be nicer to tow in certain situations.

Agri knives are you also James ds on this forum?

 

[Mouser]

Which part of that description is not using passive steering properly?

Being locked on corners that cause tyre scrub.

 

[agri knives]

Have forced steering here on a tanker, aye it’s good for reversing but road undulations/camber changes and you can feel it affecting the tractor. Passive steering with the lockable axle would be nicer to tow in certain situations.

Agri knives are you also James ds on this forum?

That’s me , my iPad broke that I used here all the time and my new one linked in to my email which I registered years ago under Agriknives.

 

[ollie989898]

Am I right to assume that you can't have forced steering unless the object being towed is on the special spoon hitch with the link for the steering bar?

 

[Frankzy]

Am I right to assume that you can't have forced steering unless the object being towed is on the special spoon hitch with the link for the steering bar?

In order for it to work, yes.
But you can just weld it on yourself as far as I know... no need to buy a new ball just for that.

 

[agri knives]

Am I right to assume that you can't have forced steering unless the object being towed is on the special spoon hitch with the link for the steering bar?

I had a joskin dump trailer with forced steering and it didnt have a ball and spoon hitch. But when I was ordering my first two pottinger wagons in 2006 I wanted the forced steering on them and pottinger would only supply forced steering with the ball and spoons , all for luck as the ring hitches on pottinger wear out quick enough.

 

[twentyspence]

Passive steer and forced steer are so last year, what you really want is crab steer like the SlurryKat tanker I was following a few days ago. Makes them a bit wide on the road but it's bound to reduce ground compaction...

Boohoo - rep here from SK who operates the kit aswell as sells the equipment.

I reference to your comments above and would just like to comment on a few things. I totally agree with the positive steer and passive steer option - positive wins hands done for tyre wear in reverse but passive steers is a lot cheaper, simpler, steadier on the road(if locked) and with a bit of common sense by reversing more when empty if possible can make a big difference. The positive kit also adds a bit more weight.

Regarding the tanker you witnessed on the road, there could be many things to explain why the machine may have been crab steering. Simply the camber on the road, with an opened steering axle can give this effect.
Secondly, this crab steer mode can have a visible multiple effect if the Tie Rod has lengthens slightly after some excessive use without ain’t routine maintenance.
Thirdly, all the above must be checked once the tanker has done some work as bushels become bedded in and axle alignment should be checked if machine isn’t pulling straight when axle is locked.

Anyone having an issue with a tanker, regardless if it’s an SK, I’d be happy to help if I can.

Commenting on the single axle against tandem is a big question??? -firstly a tandem has 4 wheel passes on the same land, with 2 of them having a lot of weight on the same place(second wave effect)
Also the increased cost to go for tandem and out the machine on the correct tyres over going for larger 900/1050s on a single. It’s a tough call and only the farmer himself will know what financially suits him best and what fits his type of land and system best.