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Tractor Pulling Discussion Forum

Wheelweights verses suitcase ?

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al

01-12-2004 20:33:24




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What are your thoughts on wheelweights verses hang on suit case? Some successful guys use wheel and I am not sure if it is just what they have, have room for or is a few on the axle a good thing. I can'task them but what do you think?
I have to concentrate on getting a better hook as I cannot keep up with the speedsters.




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slowsmoke

01-14-2004 13:22:04




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
My oliver LOVES wheel weights!!! they are a pain, even with a high hat, but i didn't do well the first half of last summer with just suit case weights, put the wheel weights back on, and brought home the trophies. Don



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Wild Horses

01-13-2004 10:15:27




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
I used to throw split weights on my M. But then I went to pressed steel rear wheels and dropped into 4500# class.
Around here most of the ones using wheel weights are the farm stockers. Wheel weights are an efficent way of adding weight. But when you have to throw weight 6-7 times a weekend, you quickly go to lighter more easy to manage suitcases. Plus they're more versitile for distributing weight.
But some guys, especially it seems JDs, who pull in classes where they don't have to strip down totally will use wheel weights because they don't remove them or if they go from like a 6500 class to a 9500 King of the Hill and need a lot of weight.

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Flogger

01-13-2004 10:13:25




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
I run one set of wheel weights on my M. I figure the wheel is as good a place as any to add weight, but I wouldn't think of changing full wheel weights between classes. The I-H half weights might not be so bad.



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jed

01-13-2004 09:37:39




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
I have pulled a Farmall M several times and I have only taken a first one time. You don't really need wheel weights on the back end. Think about it. The sled is pulling down on the back wheels through the drawbar. If you use weights they should be just ahead of the rear axel to hold the front end down. Also one piece wheel weights are a real bear to load and unload between classes. I can remember pulling 23rd of 27 and then having to come back at #4 for the next class. It is hard to switch weights that quickly. They weigh in at around 150 each. Alis Chalmers mounted equipment has teh best grasp on where to pull down on a tractor for max. pulling power. If you could find that point on other tractors it would simply be a matter of holding the front down.

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2 Cylinder

01-13-2004 08:48:11




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
It doesn't matter if you use a suitcase, or wheel weight. It is where you put them. There is a reason why they state the maximum distance you can put your weights on the front and back of your tractor, it because there is an advantage to putting it as far ahead or back as possible, the farther out the weights are the more leverage they have. Take a broom stick, put a 10# weight on it right next to your hand as you hold it out straight, then move that same weight out to 3 feet on the stick, the farther out on the stick the weight is the harder it is to hold out straight. Some people simply don't have any other spot to hang them, so the wheel is the last resort. I personally perfer hanging them on the front and back as opposed to putting them on the wheels.

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Don

01-12-2004 20:56:18




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 Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to al, 01-12-2004 20:33:24  
I run wheel weights. I tried to use suitcase last year, no wheel weights. I couldn't get it balanced right. It was easier to balance with the combination suitcase and wheel weights. Plus at slow speeds like I pull in antique classes I think the wheel weights are better, with the weight right on the wheel. Just my 2 cents, Don



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Stan(VA).

01-13-2004 05:38:04




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 Re: Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to Don, 01-12-2004 20:56:18  
That's an interesting question for me also. I'm new to pulling, just did my 1st hook late last Fall after watching them for several years. I weighed in 250 lbs light for my class (didn't bring any extra with me) and just pulled stock drawbar position to err on the safe side 1st time. So, I have been thinking about this also but the physics can make your head hurt ;)

I'm guessing that you need enough weight on the rear (some ideal percentage?) to start the sled moving, but then it seems that the farther the weight is from the axle the more leverage is working for you (provided the tractor is ballanced enough to just keep the wheels off the ground)? I know that it looks cool to have the nose way up durring the pull, but it seems the advantage of leverage is decreased the further up it goes sense the weight gets closer (horizontally) to the axle.

And sense I came in 8th out of 9 in my class you can take all that for what it's worth, 'plink', (I figure it's only worth one cent instead of the custimary two) ;) ;) Actually the people were great and I'm looking fwd to learning some more this year.
Stan(VA).

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BigART

01-13-2004 13:42:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to Stan(VA)., 01-13-2004 05:38:04  
My experience has been with ntpa pullers, but a number of past mods and smokers ran the quick change wt. style of a bolt on pipe to slide on wheel wts quicky and securely with only one or two bolts. Some even had roller bearing in the pipe, and it was readily apparent of the forces affecting those weights, as the tractor progressed down the track. My thoughts always were that the rear axle is the axis of the pull, and wts placed there are (1) directly over the pt of contact with the ground, and the leverage of that wt is less affected by the tractor rearing up or yoyoing down the track, that belly bar wts. or those hung very far behind the axle center line. For application to antiques, if you have a few hundred pounds that your are always run on the rear, or midsection, the use of wheel wts. as a permanent placement, even mounted in the traditional bolt and nut pattern, may be the ideal place to locate that weight. BigART

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Dave

01-13-2004 15:39:17




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Wheelweights verses suitcase ? in reply to BigART, 01-13-2004 13:42:22  
I've used both IH 150# wheel weights and now only use mostly (35)IH 100# (I also have 3-75#) suitcase weights. If you need 275# to make the next class weight, with wheel weights you can only put 1-150# on and then it can only be on one wheel. Suitcase weights are MUCH easier and faster to move around the tractor, front, middle or back end. With a mixture of 100# and 75# weights, I can get within 25# of any weight that I need to get to. Try that with the 150# wheel weight.

The ONLY time I use wheel weights any more, we have a small tractor that we pull only in one farm stock class and they don't allow suitcase weights in there. We have the tractor weighted up properly and don't take them off any more. They are a real pain in the back to move. By the way, we got a trophy every time we pulled this tractor last year.

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