Limit Power-Hop On Your Tractor

In farming, productivity means profitability, and when your tractor isn’t performing like it should, it could mean lost dollars. One factor that can severely inhibit productivity is power hop — a bouncing effect a tractor sometimes experiences when pulling a high draw-bar load. By understanding what causes power hop, however, farmers can better diagnose the problem and make minor adjustments to correct it.

One of the major causes of power hop is unfortunately out of the farmer’s control — soil type. Power hop has been found to be most common in dry, loose soils, where traction is harder to obtain than in a high-moisture soil. Fortunately for farmers, all the other known causes of power hop can be addressed through adjustments to overall tractor weight, weight distribution and tire inflation pressures.

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Overall tractor weight
Insufficient overall tractor weight for the horsepower is one of the major causes of power hop. Every tractor manufacturer has different recommendations on weight-to-horsepower ratios, but these recommendations generally fall somewhere between 100 pounds per horsepower and 145 pounds per horsepower. In other words, a 450-horsepower tractor should weigh somewhere between 45,000 and 65,250 pounds. Where your tractor falls within this range is dependent upon average speed during heaviest draft operations and whether the tractor is a mechanical front wheel drive (MFWD) or four wheel drive (4WD).

As a general rule, the slower the average speed of a tractor, the higher the weight-to-horsepower ratio should be. MFWD tractors generally have a higher recommended weight-to-horsepower ratio than 4WD tractors. So, a 4WD tractor traveling at high average speeds (5.5 mph or more)

 

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should fall within the lower end of the aforementioned weight-to-horsepower ratio spectrum, whereas a MFWD tractor traveling at low average speeds (4.5 mph or less) should fall within the higher end of the spectrum.

In order for a farmer to determine the most appropriate weight-to-horsepower ratio for his or her tractor, it’s best to consult with the tractor manufacturer, as each company’s recommendation will differ slightly based on type of tractor and average speed. If it is ultimately determined that the tractor is underweight, it is recommended that the farmer add cast ballast to achieve the proper ratio. Liquid ballast has been shown to increase tire stiffness, which can increase susceptibility to power hop.

Weight distribution
Even more important than overall tractor weight is the way the weight is distributed between front and rear axles. Without proper weight distribution, a tractor is far more susceptible to the bouncing and swaying motions of power hop. Similar to overall tractor weight, proper recommendations on weight distribution will again differ between MFWD and 4WD tractors.

The general rule for MFWD tractors without suspension is that 30 to 35 percent of overall tractor weight should remain on the front axle and 65 to 70 percent on the rear. For 4WD tractors, 51 to 55 percent of overall weight should remain on the front axle and 45 to 49 percent on the rear.

Exact recommendations may differ between tractor manufacturers and could be influenced slightly by type of implement. Again, it’s best practice for farmers to consult with the manufacturer to arrive at the best solution. One important thing to consider when adjusting weight distribution, however, is that adding weight to an axle also increases overall tractor weight. A farmer should be cognizant of this while making any adjustments.

Tire inflation pressures
Inflation pressures can also play a part in susceptibility to power hop. As a general rule, the stiffer the tire, the more susceptibility there will be to power hop. So, for optimum performance, it is recommended that farmers adjust their inflation pressures to the lowest possible pressure for the static load, as recommended in the Tire and Rim Association’s (TRA) inflation pressure tables.
 

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