Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track

   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #1  

Bluest

Silver Member
Joined
May 3, 2014
Messages
235
Location
Whitworth, Lancashire, UK
Tractor
Yanmar F14D, DR Wheeled Trimmer
I'm going to switch the rear wheels, left to right to give me little wider track for slope work (every little helps!). Question is, do I swith the fronts too? Instinct says yes, but thought I'd check.
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #2  
Oh boy, you've might be opening a can of worms with this question.
Does it help? The answer is sort of like my facebook relationship status: "It's complicated"
That is, given that the front axle pivots, a wider front stance has a limited effect, but I widened mine when I widened the back tires.
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I thought as much! I suppose what I should have asked is; would switching the front wheels around have any negatives? It isn't going to throw the steering ackerman out by miles or anything like that is it?
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #4  
I wouldn't even consider it with my 4 wheel drive with a loader. Having said that, the strain on your front might not be to bad without a loader. And having said that, I don't think it is going to help your stabilization that much. Just and opinion, no facts. :D
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #5  
I HAVE A 336d AND THE REAR WHEELS AR MADE TO BE MOVED INAND OUT. I CAN GO FROM ABOUT 48" TRACK T 60". DEFINATELY HELPS STABILITY . AS TO THE FRONT TIRES DON'T EVENTHINK IT IF YOU HAV A FRONT END LOADER.
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track
  • Thread Starter
#6  
What's the concern with the fronts then? Is it that the extra width will increase the wheels leverage on the stub axle or bearing?
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #7  
Look at this this way - the front wheels have the correct offset, dish, to center the weight over the inner and outer wheel bearings. Reverse the front wheels to increase track width and you have a much greater load on the outer wheel bearing than what it was designed for. Even the 2wd Yanmars occasionally break a spindle. I assume the 4wd's could too. You don't want that spindle to snap on the downhill side of a slope, or while driving with an unbalanced load in the loader bucket raised up a little too high. Don't do it.

And an unrelated consideration re geometry: Since there are no front springs, there is no resistance to rollover until the chassis comes down to meet the front axle. I think by that time you are tilted so steep you have a rear wheel far off the ground, meaning you no longer have engine compression to slow you down - so you are out of control rolling forward as well as tipping over, and will be lucky if it doesn't kill you. Widening the front track won't reduce how far the tractor tips. The only solution to this risk is to operate cautiously so you never get in such a desperate situation.
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #8  
Due to the pivoting front axle the front end has no bearing on stability until/unless the pivot bottoms out, then it is going over anyway. The load extending out past the ends of the lightweight spindles has caused lots of broken spindles and prematurly worn bearings.
 
   / Swapping Wheels for a Wider Track #10  
Here we go.
IMO, unless you actually widen the front axle, like you can on some 2WD tractors, you're not changing the span or therefore the stress on the bearings. That is, IMO, if there's torque on the bearings because of the rim' s offset, there's still the same torque when you flip the rim just in the opposite direction.
I'm sure many disagree.
 

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