Flexible Steel Wheels Out Pull Rubber Tires

Flexible steel wheels out pull rubber tires TRACTORS Miscellaneous 14-4-10 "They ride nearly as well as rubber tires and they've got more traction," says Roy Zimmerman, Denver, Penn., who installed a series of rubber blocks between Cater-pillar tracks and a home-built inner wheel rim assembly to build flexible rear steel wheels for his Deere 3020 tractor. "Conventional solid steel wheels sacrifice traction and ride because they're in-flexible," says Zimmerman. "The rubber blocks in my steel wheels allow the tracks to form themselves to the ground, improving traction. The blocks transport power from the inner wheel rim assembly to the track. They also allow the tracks to flex from side to side." Zimmerman removed the rubber tires that were on the tractor originally, leaving only the axle and axle hub. He disassembled 16-in. wide, 36-link crawler tracks designed for a Caterpillar D3 and shortened the track to 28 links to fit the circumference of the wheel. He welded a steel box made from channel iron and steel plate onto the back of every track link. Each steel box contains a pair of 3 by 4 by 8-in. rubber blocks set side by side. The next step was to build the inner wheel rim assembly that bolts to the axle hub. He made a circular band out of steel plate and welded 6-in. wide, 2 1 fl-in. high divider plates onto the outer circumference of it. The plates stick up between each set of rubber blocks and serve as a propellor. He welded metal tabs onto the inside circumference of the band to bolt to the axle hub. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ivan Zimmerman, 680 S. Muddy Creek Road, Denver, Penn. 17517 (ph 215 267-2459).

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