About Tractor Parts & Repair: Our site brings you the info and resources you need to care for your tractor. Learn more about Tractor Axle here, and find the parts you need to maintain your tractor and keep it at optimal performance.
Tractor Axle
A tractor is different from a car or other heavy vehicle in that a tractor's axle housing isn't typically part of the tractor's chassis. With a tiller (one that drives the tractor) there is an axial joint where the tractor's fifth wheel is joined. There is also what is known as a flanged joint which allows for the use of attachments like a dolly or boom truck. The fifth wheel is supported by castors which move by being attached to the track. With a tractor having a semi-trailer attachment there is an axial side-by-side joint at the cab end of the fifth wheel. With a front end loader there is also a similar joint at the front of the fifth wheel but it doesn't have the flanged join that comes with a front end loader.
A tractor axle is made up of a transmission and a number of drive wheels either directly behind or alongside of the engine. The drive wheels are usually mounted on a rack along the rails of the chassis. A front end loader has an axial-sillbolt connection between the front and back axle housings. This allows it to be easily changed to accommodate any circumstances. A tractor axle system also generally consists of pinion or rack bolts that connect the pinion to the center rail, the rack to the tractor wheels, and the pinion to the trail or wheel near the rear axle of the tractor.
In addition to the above there is also what is known as a track and joint system that links a tractor to a tiller or wheel. When a load is placed onto the tractor, it pulls on the trailer which puts pressure on the track, which in turn pulls on the joint that holds the tiller or wheel. This creates a lifting action that draws the tiller or wheel away from the tractor axle which then pulls the tractor axle into the frame of the trailer. This type of mechanism has a number of advantages over the earlier slip-joint types. It provides excellent tracking and is less likely to lock when the trailer is loaded. This type of mechanism is also considered more economical.