Ballasting Of Tractors & Power Tillers

Description of Ballasting Methods ,Need & Types
Power Tillers Working, Components, Mechanism ,Powerflow Diagram.

1. Ballasting & Power Tillers Prepared By: Submitted To: Yash A. Lad Prof. Pragna patel (1719MEAE30006) Special Purpose Vehicles

2. Content

3. Introduction: Ballasting To understand ballasting better you need to know about the working of a tractor. A tractor has bigger rear wheels as it's a vehicle that requires higher torque . The basic guiding principle is as follows: Power = Torque * Angular velocity So when you think of cars they have more angular velocity or the rate of rotation of the wheels is very high. While a tractor owing to it's bigger tyres has more torque . So for the same power a car runs faster but a tractor generates more torque; Which is Partly the reason for a tractor being slow on road( though on a well levelled road it can go up to speeds of 40 km/hr or sometimes even faster ).

4. Why is torque required ? A tractor has to work in field, pulling implements or pull trolley (having heavy loads ) on roads. So basically you need the ability to pull. That's where torque is helpful. The entire engine construction and transmission is also designed to generate higher torque.

5. What exactly is ballasting ? So going from the torque point of view you can increase the torque by: Increasing the size of tyres( but only to an optimum level) Add weight on the rims of the wheel, thus increasing weight of the wheel (This is the most popular method). This process of adding weight to the rear tyres or rear tyre rims is called ballasting . It helps the tractor to reduce slipping of rear tyres thus improving the pulling power . This can be done by: Adding weights in each of the rear rims (mostly circular weights of 25–35 kg) Adding water inside the rear tyres (sounds different but is actually a cheap and effective way to increase torque)

6. Ballasting Types: Normal Ballasting: The only reason for ballasting is to control wheel slip. Tractor slip should optimally run at 10 to 15% for two-wheel drive (2WD) tractors and 8 to 12% for four-wheel drive (4WD) or front wheel assist (FWA) equipped units. These measurements apply only when the tractor is delivering full power.

7. Over Ballasting: Over ballasting is by far the most common error. If your tractor is over ballasted, you'll probably find that it feels doggy or sluggish, burns more fuel than it should, and will experience premature drive train problems. Under Ballasting: An under ballasted tractor is really no better. This condition wears tire tread at an accelerated rate due to the excessive slip, while never really delivering full horsepower to the drawbar. Again , fuel is wasted, because of the many extra wheel revolutions made to travel the same distance.

8. Methods: A grain elevator scale is a good way to check your actual weight. Or, you can usually get your tractor's shipping weight, complete with additional equipment , from your dealer. These figures are intended as a starting point only; actual measured wheel slip, at full power, is the real determining factor for optimum performance. An alternate method , that's just as accurate, has you measure the distances, loaded and unloaded, for the same number of wheel turns each time . If your tractor is a newer one, it may have a radar sensor with additional electronics that will tell you " actual slip " on the go. Regardless of your measurement procedure, you should use the actual wheel slip for your tractor in your conditions to determine proper ballasting.

9. Why do we need ballasting ? Mostly it's done during puddling (The process of tilling or rather mixing soil with water in the field). Pudding requires higher torque and is one of the difficult operations done by a tractor. There are many other operations that require ballasting too like deep ploughing etc.

10. Power Tiller(1) It is a prime mover in which the direction of travel and its control for field operation is performed by the operator walking behind it. It is also known as Hand tractor or Walking type tractor . The concept of power tiller came in the world in the year 1920. Japan is the first country to use power tiller on large scale . In Japan , the first successful model of power tiller was designed in the year 1947. Production of power tiller rapidly increased during the year 1950 to 1965. Power tiller was first introduced in India in the year 1963.

11. Power Tiller(2) Manufacturing of several makes of power tillers like Iseki, Sato, Krishi , Kubota, Yanmar and Mitsubishi were started in India after 1962 In agricultural power tillers are used for ploughing, sowing, spraying, harvesting and transporting works . It is the most wanted machine for puddling operation in rice cultivation. Power tiller may be called a single axle walking type tractor , though a riding seat is provided in certain designs. Average size of holding in India is about 2.5 hectares. There are 89% of total land holdings of less than six hectares. Under such conditions, power tiller may be useful as a power unit.

12. Power Tiller

13. Components Engine____________ ( Diesel Engine Or Kerosene Engine ) Transmission gears__ ( Gear Type Or Belt Type ) Clutch____________ ( Friction Clutch Or V-Belt Tension Clutch ) Brakes ____________ ( Inner side expansion type brake ) Rotary unit ________ ( Centre drive type Or Side drive type ) All power tillers are fitted with an I.C. engine. V-Belt Tension Clutch_ High Efficiency & Works as Shock Absorber

14. Transmission Power Flow Diagram The flow diagram for transmission of power is given below: (1) (2)

15. Operation The main clutch is a lever on the handle. The lever can be shifted to on or off position while operating in the field. When the lever is shifted to on position, the power from the engine is transmitted through the main clutch to the various parts of the power tiller. When the lever is shifted to off position the power from the engine is cut-off from the rest of the transmission.

16. Thank You…