Duel, wheels

[Danny@]

What I need to put dual wheels on a Massey Ferguson GC 1723

 

[tacticalturnip]

Are you looking for stability or traction? For these size machines, any DRW kit is going to be for stability of width alone.

 

[redman135]

See www.clicdualwheels.co.nz/ I think you will like these. Changing is quick and easy. I watched the demo at the Ag feildays when they were there. No jack needed, just drop a piece of 6x2 on the ground and drive on, and add or remove the dual wheels.
I was impressed with the speed of wheel adding or removal. Important if you only have a small shed or narrrow trailer.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Traction is generally a function of contact pressure. A small tractor has very little to start with because of its low weight. Duals would only make it worse.

If stability is the goal, spacers are likely a better option.

 

[LouNY]

Traction is generally a function of contact pressure. A small tractor has very little to start with because of its low weight. Duals would only make it worse.

If stability is the goal, spacers are likely a better option.

Not necessarily, the ground condition is more of a factor.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Not necessarily, the ground condition is more of a factor.

Okay, if driving through a swamp, the duals could be helpful. Not for traction, but flotation.
Not that it would matter much as the front tires would sink in.

 

[oosik]

Another concern. Your tractor may not be designed to handle dual rear wheels. The rear axles on my Kubota M6040 are almost 4" in diameter. The Owners Manual says "NO" to duals - "OK" for spacers.

Instead of duals or spacers - I have my Ag rims set to their widest spacing. This could be a very inexpensive solution - if you have adjustable Ag rims.

 

[LouNY]

Okay, if driving through a swamp, the duals could be helpful. Not for traction, but flotation.
Not that it would matter much as the front tires would sink in.

Traction is generally a function of contact pressure. A small tractor has very little to start with because of its low weight. Duals would only make it worse.

If stability is the goal, spacers are likely a better option.

Traction has a lot more to do with the ground condition and the tread pattern then the "contact pressure". If contact pressure was the major factor in traction smaller tires would provide more traction then larger tires. In tractors that is very seldom the case

 

[SPYDERLK]

Traction has a lot more to do with the ground condition and the tread pattern then the "contact pressure". If contact pressure was the major factor in traction smaller tires would provide more traction then larger tires. In tractors that is very seldom the case

Well, mostly/maybe, but a bunch of truths form different relationship in different situations. In cohesive consolidated earth the pressure to bite in is important. AGs generally have this but dual setups will diminish it somewhat -- likely enough on firm ground to sabotage the extra weight and surface interaction advantage of the added tires. Likewise on loose but cohesive earth the duals may lose all apparent advantage because they dont offer enough pressure to fully consolidate the rolling path.

 

[oldnslo]

What I need to put dual wheels on a Massey Ferguson GC 1723

Depends on the style of rims you currently have. Suspect easiest would be band type similar to what redman posted.

Another option if available in your tire size is the extended hub like used on front wheel assist for larger farm tractors.

You should consider axle stress based on your intended use. Just extra floatation with minimal 3 point or draw bar weight probably not much concern. Hundreds of pounds of rear weight I would be a little concerned. With back hoe definitely concerned.

Run the duals soft or low air pressure maybe half the pressure in the mains. This allows duals to flex and absorb some of the ground imperfections while putting less stress on the axle.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

After doing tire testing for several years, and with emphasis on off pavement usage, I got a decent idea about what worked where, and why. Many knowledge gaps were filled in at Yuma Proving Grounds, where very sophisticated instruments eliminated the use of tape measures and other crude (in comparison) test methods.

Granted, this wasn't with tractor tires, but I'd like to think that tread patterns, conformability of the carcass, contact pressure, tread compounds, etc. would largely have the same effects, regardless of a certain tire's intended usage.

Anyway, I realize that truly large tractors sometimes need duals to perform their jobs, but find it interesting that it seems to be those with really small tractors that want to run duals. Why that is I can't understand, but I'm always willing to learn.

 

[oldnslo]

Three reasons I can think of for duals on small tractors

- side hill stability since much wider foot print

- floatation for mowing or driving on soft ground

- ride comfort to lesser degree since duals add width you get less side to side movement in uneven terrain.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

- floatation for mowing or driving on soft ground

Okay, far better flotation in the rear, but what about the even smaller and narrower front tires?

 

[oldnslo]

Okay, far better flotation in the rear, but what about the even smaller and narrower front tires?

Can usually put wider tires on front if they require additional floatation. Without loader what is weight ratio front to rear on a small tractor? 70/30 , 60/40, I do not know but typically rears leave more ruts than fronts on my Branson with loader on.

Comes down to what is required for conditions being used under.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Comes down to what is required for conditions being used under.

It sure does.

I've been thinking about when flotation is the most useful, using my Jeep as an example. It's built very light and with wide bias ply tires it works quite well in sand, on at least partially frozen snow, and also in mud (if it's somewhat firm).

It works because it can usually stay on top, without having to depend on high wheel speed to keep going. Or even any tire slip.

In comparison, another Jeep I have is quite heavy and has narrow, aggressive tires. That one is dismal when it comes to flotation, for obvious reasons. But when it comes to pulling something it puts my light trail Jeep to shame, not surprisingly.

With high contact pressure it gets great traction on most kinds of dirt, mud (if there's a bottom), and is pretty good in snow, as long as it isn't too deep. Much like a tractor.

Basically, in my mind a tractor needs traction more so than flotation. But if the goal is to not disturb turf instead of pulling some weight, then duals could work. Then again, so would (most likely) a golf cart.