Adapter plates for wheels

[PAB_OH]

Anyone ever make a set of adapter plates to put wheels on your tractor that weren't originally designed for it?

I ran across a full set of turf tires w/ Kubota wheels for $113! (Ebay) The lug holes are close to the same size as mine as well as the pilot holes but they don't match up perfectly. Rather than mess the wheels up I've decided to make an adapter plate to mount to my axles then mount the wheels to.

Has anyone done this before? I'm just curious. I don't see any real problems with it but maybe I'm overlooking something.

The tractor is 4WD and the ratio between my current tires and the new ones is almost exact (I have Bridgestone Farm Service Lug M on currently and the new ones are Firestone Turf & Field). I contacted Bridgestone/Firestone when I bought the tractor over a year and a half ago to find out the RC of the rice tires in the hopes I could get a deal on a set of R3's. Well I did but it took me 18+ months!!!

I'll be picking them up in 3 weeks so I should have pictures by the end of September.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have done somethign similar to adapt wheel weights to a Ford tractor rim but I have not seen or heard of it being done for different wheels. Considering they make wheel spacer kits for smaller tractors like this yes you can probably do it, I woudl start by takeing a 1/2" plate and adapting it to fit your current hub, then amake another 1/2" plate to adapt to your off sized rim, then get a piece of pipe as big as you can get without interfering with the bolts and lugs on your hub and weld it between the two pieces of 1/2" plate. But you have to make sure and get everything centered perfectly so nothing is lopsided.

 

[Micg]

Hi Phil,
just my 1c opinion. I would not make any adapters, since your tractor is quite heavy.
make a plate with your machine hub holes & pivot, cut off same diameter from wheels & weld. Be sure to centre & align.
what about front wheels? Do they fit exactly? If not I would do the same .
regards

 

[diyDave]

You might try Gemplers catalog. They used to sell a weldment plate used to repair rims that have gotten "holed out" from loose lugnuts. I don't know if it is the right pattern for your wheels. You might try a salvage yard, also, and cut some centers out of an old set or wheels that do fit your tractor.

 

[PAB_OH]

Thanks guys. I am putting the wheels on, no doubt. I have access to a lathe so I can have the plates turned and I may be able to get on a Radial Drill Press so tolerances won't be hard to hold.

I don't want to alter the wheels in case I don't like them. I have some steep hills and if I don't feel like I'm getting enough grip I'll let the tires go, or sell them to a friend who's Iseki just had it's two rear wheels finally give up. His axle ratio is close to mine based on the tires he has on the machine now. I will have to double check by manually calculating the rotations though.

Keep posted, I may have a set of wheels for cheap soon.

 

[jdmar]

Do a search with my name-I had a string regarding the plates I had made. I had a friend make some adapters several years ago.. They are still going strong.

I know this is a late reply but I found this string while searching for something else!.

 

[PAB_OH]

jdmar,
Thanks for the follow up. I've since sold my little grey "K" and bought a new "K" (Kioti).

I still have the wheels/tires I bought for the Kubota but the rears will bolt right up. I thought the fronts would work but they are off a bit from my Kioti's stud pattern. Front wheels a re pretty inexpensive though so I'm going to just replace then with ones that have the correct hole pattern.

BTW, where in NE Ohio are you? I'm also in the NE.

Thanks again.

 

[jdmar]

Hartville area....muck farms and other fun stuff!

heywheel.com is reasonable (not cheap but decent) regarding any wheel/size/bolt patern needed. I also put front rims on my small yanmar 1500 (17HP). I just used old rear tires/rims from a Craftsman lawn tracter and drill holes where I needed them! They are going strong 5 years later. Not textbook but it works great and no-one has even noticed the strange bolt pattern.

Peter