Why do the front wheels slant?

     These are "rowcrop" tractors, designed to be able to handle "cultivating" duties. The idea is to have the wheels as CLOSE together as possible so that they will go between rows of crops as narrow as where the rear wheels will go. There ARE tractors with just ONE front wheel, but that way generally the "footprint" is so small that the weight of the tractor makes the front tire sink into the ground a bit too deep, causing VERY difficult steering.

> It would seem that the weight of the tractor
> would cause wear to the axles, not to mention
> the corners of the tires with this set-up.

     So, the wheels are slanted to allow the tractor to be supported by a substantial pedestal and still allow the tires to almost touch each other at the bottom. The axles are, of course, DESIGNED for this set up, and they seldom, if EVER, need to be replaced. Yes, wear would occur to the corners of the tires if ordinary "truck tires" were on there. However, proper tractor tires are designed with three ribs, and they do not HAVE corners.

> I have tried to find the reason in
> the books that I have but nothing
> is said on the subject.

     Come to think of it, I haven't seen anything written about it EITHER!! That's what I am here for.

> I might be totally mistaken but on
> modern equipment it seems that
> they would be perpendicular.

     You are right, but it's because most modern tractors are not "rowcrop" type tractors. They do not have the "narrow front", so there is no reason to slant the wheels. The "tricycle" or "rowcrop" front end allows the tractor to make a 180 degree turn in a space no greater than twice its width. This is very handy for going up and down the rows of crops and for making square corners when mowing. The drawback is that the tractor can be unstable on hilly ground and can easily tip over if one rear wheel goes into a ditch. A four-wheel tractor avoids this problem.
     Also, a "rowcrop" tractor with an ADJUSTABLE wide front end can sometimes bridge wider rows than a tractor with a 3 point stance. This can come in handy especially when the crops are grown in wide beds, rather than narrow rows.