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Q: Agriculture Bar Tire rotation theory

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Alien5044

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I know bar tires are mounted on driven tractor and equipment wheels with the chevron pointing in the direction of rotation, some even have an arrow embossed on the sides of the tire showing correct rotation/mounting. Makes sense.

However, I have noticed that in equipment ads, many bar tired grain carts and other towed equipment with bar tires the tires are mounted with the chevron pattern pointing away from the direction of rotation. The only difference I can see is that those are not driven tires.

Any theory on this?
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
steddy said:
Just a theory, but the traction is needed on a ground driven implements in the opposite direction of a driven wheel with the same tire, right?

I picked up an 8N just yesterday and got a chuckle because the rear ag tires are on backwards.
Click to expand...
Ohh, I'm sort of looking for a local 8N for tinkering. Just two things are delaying though, money and space.
 
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#6 ·
In the farming world with the tires mounted correctly as the tire spins, it pushes loose material out to the side of the tire so you are biting solid ground. If you turn them the other way, the bars are pulling loose material into the center of the tires, now you are trying to get a grip on marbles.

On a piece of equipment that you tow that may get power from the tires on the equipment, you would mount the tires the other way for the same reason. Some mowers, rakes or manure spreaders to name a few get power from the tires on the equipment as it is towed.
 
#7 ·
I asked that question nearly 50 years ago when I was an apprentice in the Operating Engineers, as to why the front tires on a road grader/maintainer were on backwards. Short answer was longer tire wear. If you look at any road grader, except AWD models, the front tires are also mounted backwards. The maintainer where I worked @ ODOT had 4 drivers on the back, fronts were just steering tires. I remember them changing the traction tires a couple of times due to wear, but the fronts were only worn about half. Granted, they were R-4 Industrial tires, but still a chevron style tire.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
steddy said:
You might not want this one. A rod went through the block and oil pan. But fine other than that. PO states it was still running (albeit poorly) after it broke.
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Wonder if running with one blown rod is where the idea of the Ford 3 cylinder engines came from..?? :unsure: ;)
 
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#9 ·
In respect to a ground driven implement like a rake or whatever. The bar is turned backwards As it will grip better. Some of the tires are marked forward for traction or backward for drive. If I have one in stock at the shop I’ll Snap a picture tomorrow
 
#10 ·
My grandfather used his 2 wheel drive Ford 900 to load a lot of trucks with gravel out of our pit. He used to put the chevrons on his rear tires with one going forward and one going backwards telling me it improved backing up performance. It was a common practice where I live.

Myself, I don’t think it did a whole lot but that was the prevailing thought for many years.

Most of the time I am proud of where I live, but not regarding the mentality of that!
 
#11 ·
I've seen that on several farm tractors with loaders over the years. If you think about it, if backing up and the tire for forward traction is spinning when backing, feather that brake to power the wheel/tire with tread reversed giving it traction to back up. It will power out to the wheel with the least resistance.
 
#13 ·
The old tractors, including the Ford 900, did not have a differential lock. He is right, you could get a tractor out of a stick spot using the brakes; it’s all we had to work with.

Of course they did not have cabs, four wheel drive or power steering either. I am not saying they were better, but I am glad I got to operate the old stuff because I now appreciate the newer tractors so much more.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Right and left brakes is all there was. Worked getting out of mud most of the time. Learned on an 8N as a kid.
 
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#15 ·
Years ago (many) I asked dad why the tires on the tractor were on the tractor one way but the tires on the turd hearse which was ground drive were on reversed. He said the tractor uses tires for traction and the spreader tires drove the spreader so both were used for traction.
Later when I worked for a dealer some folks put the tires on their combines on backwards, and it was explained to me it rode smoother on the hard roads AND if you got stuck in mud you could usually back out.
 
#16 ·
Alien5044 said:
I know bar tires are mounted on driven tractor and equipment wheels with the chevron pointing in the direction of rotation, some even have an arrow embossed on the sides of the tire showing correct rotation/mounting. Makes sense.

However, I have noticed that in equipment ads, many bar tired grain carts and other towed equipment with bar tires the tires are mounted with the chevron pattern pointing away from the direction of rotation. The only difference I can see is that those are not driven tires.

Any theory on this?
Click to expand...
Those tires are mounted to drive a mechanism on the towed equipment, such as a spreader or unloading chain.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
beenthere2 said:
Those tires are mounted to drive a mechanism on the towed equipment, such as a spreader or unloading chain.
Click to expand...
Not on grain carts, those drive nothing.
 
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#20 ·
Back when I had two different garden tractors ... I replaced all the turf tires with bar (R1) tires ... The fronts I mounted "backwards" ... As they allowed a better grip for turning ...
 
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