Tractor Mechanics: Components, Operation, and Efficiency

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 in Business Administration and Innovation Management

How is the Driving Force Transmitted to Caterpillars or Wheels?

By gearing or hydraulic systems. Drive components transmit efforts through continuous gear, brakes, and clutches.

Hydraulic systems also have the advantage that efforts are absorbed by abnormal slip of transmissions, although their frequency may lead to heating within the system. There are more sophisticated transmission systems, equivalent to those employed on tractors, that respond to power-shift technology.

Parts Included in a Tractor Tire

  • Frame or chassis
  • Diesel engine
  • Main clutch
  • Gearbox
  • Final drives
  • Power take-off
  • Tires (pressure between 1.75 and 2.5 kg/cm2; tires are not effective in wet clay or in riverbeds; in these cases, caterpillars are used)
  • Steering
  • Hitch

What Ensures Grip in Difficult Conditions for Tractor Tires?

Introducing water up to 80% of the tire’s capacity, leaving the rest with air, since increasing the weight of the tractor increases its grip.

Advantages and Disadvantages Depending on the Type of Tractor

The main advantage of a caterpillar tractor is its ability to work in areas devoid of roads where a tire tractor cannot enter (land with low bearing capacity, muddy, shifting, or icy terrain).

The main advantage of tire tractors is their maneuverability and ability to reach high speeds.

The crawler tractor has the great advantage of a low load on its stand (0.5 kg/cm2). The speed of the crawler tractor is lower (8 km/h) than that of the tire tractor (45 km/h).

Factors Affecting Productivity

The general performance coefficient is divided into adaptation and management or administration:

  • The adjustment factor depends on the conditions of adaptability in the field, the machine, and the type of work. It takes into account the downtime caused by the nature of the terrain, the season during which work is performed, or any unforeseen issues that arise during execution. The effect of these factors depends on the machine type, model, and its characteristics.
  • The management coefficient depends on the direction and organization of the work. It takes into account the time lost due to poor coordination. All these factors depend on the management of the work and influence its performance.

Parts Comprising a Crawler Tractor

The main parts that make up a caterpillar tractor are:

  • Main chassis frame or support
  • Caterpillars
  • Diesel engine
  • Main clutch
  • Gearbox and torque converters
  • Speed gearbox
  • Caterpillars and their components
  • Clutches and steering brakes
  • Final drives
  • Power take-off

PTO, Hydraulic, and Cable Controls on a Crawler Tractor

Cable Controls

They can be positioned in front of or behind the tractor and are driven by the crankshaft itself or by a shaft driven by the gears of the distribution.

In the case of a rear PTO, it can be driven by the crankshaft or another transmission system. The control cable actuates a disc clutch that can have three positions: working, braking, and unwinding by its own weight.

Hydraulic Controls

Consisting of:

  • A pump that sends oil at a certain pressure to consumer items.
  • A distributor with several slides, with the appropriate circuit protection, non-return, and reflux valves. The slides for the other controls have three positions: lift, drop, and stop.
  • Multiple cylinders: two or one for control of the blade or cabinet, one or two to control the rear ripper, and one for the eventual control of the inclination of the blade.
  • An oil reservoir.