flat or elliptical neckseat

[fabian]

let’s discuss a littöe bit about the shape of the neckseat 😉

Who does prefer it flat, who likes it elliptical ?
Where are the advantages and disadvantages of both ?

The neckseats of my yokes are flat because I think, that the bigger surface area is an advantage .

Wolfgang

[Tim Harrigan]

If you have a dropped hitch point the bows will rotate back into the shoulder between the neck and the point of the shoulder when the team is pulling a load. An elliptical neck seat allows the yoke to rotate yet still maintain a nearly constant surface contact area with no pressure point such as you would have with a flat surface with a square corner such as a 2×4 for instance. A completely flat surface would have an advantage if the load was straight down on the neck. But the line of force is typically 14 to 18 degrees from horizontal.

This is with our North American-style yoke. I believe animal comfort is greatly enhanced with the elliptical design with our yoking tradition.

[fabian]

Hello Tim.

I do not have square corners on my yokes. The are well rounded. But the mean surface area is flat. I thought that it would have an advantage when carrying an one-axled cart because the point of pressure with an elliptical neckseat is more “concentrated”.

Wolfgang

[Tim Harrigan]

Yes, I can see where you would want a larger bearing surface if you had significant tongue weight. With most cart loads the horizontal load is not as great as with a tillage tool or stone boat so there would tend to be less rotation of the yoke beam.

I have heard there will be an ox event at Ecomusee d` Alsace in Ungersheim, FR in the next few weeks. Will you be going?

[fabian]

@Tim Harrigan 8836 wrote:

I have heard there will be an ox event at Ecomusee d` Alsace in Ungersheim, FR in the next few weeks. Will you be going?

That’s next week (23. and 24. of may). I won’t be there, because I have to sell my products on another market.
But in June, 27./28. there is an ox event at the museum of Kommern (International oxmeeting), which is about 90 km from here. There I will go (but without ox ;), so that I can enjoy the other oxen more.)

Wolfgang

[Rob FLory]

But is the neck of the ox flat?

Rob

[fabian]

@Rob FLory 8947 wrote:

But is the neck of the ox flat?

Rob

Please show me the place in front of the fat pad where the ox has an elliptical dent (found this word in my dictionary :confused:) in his neck.

Wolfgang

[Author]

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