RE: (ET) front end

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

It's more than that.  There are narrow and wide front tires.  The wide 
offer far more floatation.  Both front axles can take a LOT of vertical 
load (Snow Thrower is nearly 400 lbs with mount), but they are not made to 
push hard.  If a front tire 'digs-in' mud while the back still has 
traction, you can bend or break something.  I'm sure you can with a loader 
or forklift too.  The worst combo is heavy weight AND the front tire drops 
in a hole.  So why would anyone want narrow fronts?  I do; I till and 
cultivate and like the extra clearance.

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Rhett T. George [mailto:rtg ee duke edu]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 8:13 AM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) front end


 - Greetings -

Chris Meier asked a good question regarding front axles.  From a design
viewpoint, the steel kingpin turning in the cast iron of the I-beam
axle is much superior.  Steel against steel in the box section, welded
axle is a sorry design.  If not kept well greased, the rubbing surfaces
will gall.  This makes further turning or disassembly very difficult.
It also make the person doing the repair fill the air with blue words.

The cast iron axle will break if overloaded, the box section will bend.
The 42" blade is the largest accessory I use on the so I have not had
either a broken or a bent front axle.  This leads to the question, "Has
anyone bent or broken a front axle?"

                                        Rhett George