Implements narrower than tractor

[bdog]

I just bought a tractor that has duals on it. I don't really need them but I hear they help a lot with traction and reducing compaction. Problem is with the duals the tractor will be 126" wide to outside edge of rear tires. My disc and drill are wider than this but my chisel is only 9'. Basically would be 9" on each side not covered. This shouldn't be a problem I don't think or would it?

I know you can take the duals off and on but they weigh 1500 lbs a piece and I don't want to fool with that. I either want to leave them on all the time or sell them.

 

[slowzuki]

Should be fine, you could probably pull a larger chisel with that tractor if you are pinching the last pass too much. Are they axle duals or snapons? Duals sure are nice running around on plowed or disced ground to reduce how rough it is too.

 

[bdog]

I know I could probably pull larger but this is what I have. They are axle duals.

 

[slowzuki]

What is the tooth spacing on your chisel? A chisel is different things to different areas of country, something like a disc ripper or just old time chisel plow? Staggered rows or all on one tool bar?

My gut is you'll want to keep them on. If they aren't slid all the way in now you may gain a few inches yet. Are you in a wet part of texas or dry?

 

[Gary Fowler]

You may be able to slid the dual wheel adapter on the axle to shorten the spacing a bit but if you get them too close they wont have any room to shed mud and just slick over like a tire with no tread. It wont hurt a thing to have the tires running inside the plowed area when chisel plowing other than aesthetics with the tire tread showing in the plowed ground.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Another thing you could consider it removing any ballast from the outside tires (duals) so they are easier to handle if you need to remove them. If you don't need the extra weight of the ballast this makes for much less compaction in addition to the ease of handling.

 

[oldnslo]

With the chisel plow don't you want to maintain around 1 foot between the tines? If yes running the edge of the dual next to the last tooth pass would achieve that spacing.

 

[RG1]

I thought that you traded the duals in on some other stuff as part of your deal?

I wouldn't worry about overlap as small as 9". The added flotation and traction are worth it IMO. Any tire tracks in the already plowed dirt should get covered by the throw of the outer chisel on the next pass.

 

[bdog]

Chisel shanks are 13.5" apart. They are staggered on two rows. They are set as wide as they can go and my tires are set as narrow as they can go. I am in dry Texas. The tires are big. I think with no fluid or added weights they are nearly 500lb each. I do this stuff by myself and have a bad back so swapping them on and off will not be happening.

RG1 I was going to trade them in for another implement but in talking with some people they recommended that I keep them. They said better traction, less compaction, and better ride. I was thinking they would make the tractor super wide like 14' but in looking at the manual if you slide the inner tires all the way in and mount the duals close it is only 10' outside to outside which is not too bad to manage. I figure I will try it out and see how I like it. If I don't I am sure I can sell them locally as the dealer did not hesitate a minute on taking them on trade.

I think I will try it as is and see how it works. If need be an easy solution would be to buy two more shanks and weld 12" stubs on the outside of the plow to gain additional width.

I may be overthinking all this I just am anxious for my tractor to get here tomorrow and am trying to run through all the details on getting things set up.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I think you are over thinking it. I would just move the wheels in as narrow as they go and run the duals. Axle mount duals are a really nice option and I wouldn't sell them even if you just take them off and put them in the shed. There are times later when you might want them. What size are they? I've put 18.4-38 and 20.8-38 duals on and off by myself numerous times and it's really not that hard if you have something else with a loader.

I jack up one side so the tire is just off the ground, sling the dual with a chain with the loader, unbolt it and carry it off. Installing them is the same, just jack up one side, block the other side and put the tractor in neutral so you can spin the inner tire to line up the bolts. With a big impact wrench and a loader I can have them on or off in 20min.

 

[bdog]

That makes it sound easy. They are 18.4 38's. I have a skid steer I could use to move them and a 1" impact. I just thought a lot of sweat was involved in the process. I have an international truck and changing tires on it kills me and they don't weigh near what these tractor tires do.

 

[RG1]

I know you'll be happy you kept those duals. Get a bunch of pics of it up on here when you get it will ya?

 

[Verticaltrx]

That makes it sound easy. They are 18.4 38's. I have a skid steer I could use to move them and a 1" impact. I just thought a lot of sweat was involved in the process. I have an international truck and changing tires on it kills me and they don't weigh near what these tractor tires do.

Being able to handle the tires with the loader is what makes it easy. Another tip when bolting or unbolting them: hold the tire up with the sling on the loader, and use the jack to make the fine adjustments up and down to line everything up.

We also have a couple 2-ton trucks and I still haven't found an easy way to change those tires, just have to handle them manually.

 

[bdog]

How do you attach the sling to the tires? I was looking at pictures of the wheels and they have no holes in them other than for the lug nuts and center hub. You could put the chain through the middle and pick it up but you can't hold it up this way and slide it on the hub because the chain would be in the way.

 

[Xfaxman]

How do you attach the sling to the tires? I was looking at pictures of the wheels and they have no holes in them other than for the lug nuts and center hub. You could put the chain through the middle and pick it up but you can't hold it up this way and slide it on the hub because the chain would be in the way.

Are there any bolt holes for wheel weights? You could bolt a chain over the tire to the other side of the wheel.

Or use some tongs.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I could remove the 18.4x38" tires on our 9000 FORD when I was 17 years old by my self aided only by a hydraulic jack. Putting them on required a second person to direct the hole alignment via raising or lowering a 10ton jack. Just have to keep them balanced and not let them fall down. We did have a pole boom that we used to lift the tire IF it got away and fell over but we found that it was easier to just hand handle them and maneuver them close to the tractor and align one bolt hole then the rest were easy.

 

[Verticaltrx]

How do you attach the sling to the tires? I was looking at pictures of the wheels and they have no holes in them other than for the lug nuts and center hub. You could put the chain through the middle and pick it up but you can't hold it up this way and slide it on the hub because the chain would be in the way.

The ones I have dealt with had a couple of 3" dia holes in the center disc on the edges of the wheel. I just assumed they were for that purpose, but I realize that Deere doesn't have them on some of their factory duals. You could make a hole like this with hole saw without compromising the wheel. Or just make some kind of clamp or tongs like Xfaxman mentioned.

 

[kf4uda]

I wouldn't worry about that small of width difference. I would mount that plow up behind those duals and let it roll. You will be discing anyway so that will cover up any tracks. I pull a 7 shank with a 75hp so your tractor and those duals should be a cakewalk with the 9 shank. Nothing like the smell of fresh plowed dirt

 

[flusher]

I just bought a tractor that has duals on it. I don't really need them but I hear they help a lot with traction and reducing compaction. Problem is with the duals the tractor will be 126" wide to outside edge of rear tires. My disc and drill are wider than this but my chisel is only 9'. Basically would be 9" on each side not covered. This shouldn't be a problem I don't think or would it?

I know you can take the duals off and on but they weigh 1500 lbs a piece and I don't want to fool with that. I either want to leave them on all the time or sell them.

So your tractor tire track is 10.5 ft wide measured to the outside of the rears and your chisel is 9 ft wide. So assuming the chisel is centered on the 3pt hitch, your concern seems to be the 9 inches on each side that's not covered by the chisel. I suppose there's a small compaction problem that results from this situation, but it doesn't appear to me to be a show stopper.

If you're concerned about leaving tire tracks in your newly chisled field, maybe you could rig up a simple drag to rub out the tracks and hitch it to your chisel.

Good luck

 

[Big Barn]

Removing and reinstalling duals is easier than a single. Your machine is always stable. Run your inner tire up on 4" plank to accommodate "lift". Have your impact and pry bars handy. The most important thing is to take your time and think it out. Don't try to fight it. I've done this regularly all my life and I'm just a "little" guy. LOL. Better to do it yourself than have a helper that doesn't know what he's doing. Remember to always have an 'exit 'in mind.....if for some reason you lose control while maneuvering it, get out of the way and LET it fall. Be careful.

Terry