GC1720 wheel spacers

ChadsGC1720 · Jun 26, 2017

Hi guys and gals, new GC1720 owner here. I'm looking at getting a set of bro-tek wheel spacers to help with mowing my hills. I have the 54" mulching deck and according to bro-teks website, it looks like I'm deciding between the 1.25 and 1.5 spacers. The extra half inch probably doesn't matter that much and im just over thinking it, but I don't want to buy the 1.5" spacers and have them not fit. Just was curious who else out there runs wheel spacers and what size MMM you have and the spacers you chose.

Thanks

Chad

mile9c1 · Jun 26, 2017

I don't know anything about spacers but it seems like people who want more stability like to fill their rear wheels with a heavy liquid. If you don't mind an extra 150 pounds or so this seems like a great solution to stability issues.

ChadsGC1720 · Jun 27, 2017

I'm not against adding rim guard. My yard is a little wet at times, but hopefully it will dry out after I dig some drainage.

But which would be better for mowing sideways on a slope, fluid in my tires or wheel spacers?

Fiziksgeek · Jun 27, 2017

I didn't fill the rear wheels on my previous GC2400, but did get them filled with Rimguard when I upgraded to my GC1720 and I've noticed no difference in wear on the lawn.

Put the deck on and measure the distance between the rear wheel and the rear anti-scalp wheels on the deck. Should be pretty straight forward to figure out the max size spacer you could use.

ChadsGC1720 · Jun 27, 2017

Would it be harmful to the axle to do both spacers and rim guard? Or is that kind of thing frowned upon?

Did you just load your rear tires? Should I load the fronts too?

For mowing I'll be taking the backhoe and loader off the tractor

mile9c1 · Jun 27, 2017

I would go rim guard first. It puts the weight at the bottom of your tires, which is the best place for it. And it should help a lot with the loader work too.

ChadsGC1720 · Jun 27, 2017

Would you load front and rears? Or just the rear tires?

mile9c1 · Jun 27, 2017

I don't think you'd get much weight into the front tires.

AxleHub · Jun 28, 2017

ChadsGC1720

I have the GC1715 and the same 2315 deck and I have considerable sidehill and slope issues. I also will be adding spacers - I've just had more things on the list first LOL.

1. Loading the rears is a benefit for fel use etc. - however it doesn't effect your left to right stability (like on sidehills etc.).

2. On the other hand - spacers are used to improve your left-to-right stability. Spacers alter your "width platform" and changing that width by 3 or 4 total inches should be a noticeable greater sense of stability on sidehills.

3. Having more weight in your rears does not increase the weight on your frame or suspension because the weight is on the ground - not on the axle.

4. I'd like to have 2 inch spacers - but because I haven't been ready to order them yet I haven't actually measured to verify the size I can get by with. Now if I had the standard 54 inch Massey deck, I'd tend to take Bro Tek's recommendation automatically - because I can assume the 54 inch Massey and 54 inch Kubota decks are similar sized and roller wheels positioned. However the Massey 2315 deck is unique to Massey - and it is likely Bro Tek may never have seen one - that may mean it's ability to take a bit larger spacer is possible. The rear guide wheels are fixed in direction but can be set higher or lower - so if you use a 1 x 4 board you should be able to physically measure when your rears would hit the rollers or roller brackets with the deck up and with it down. Obviously you want some clearance. If 2 inch spacers give you clearance - then I'd go with 2 inch. If not then I'd go with 1.5 inch spacers. At no point do you want any part of your deck to be hitting the rears during operation - but big gaps doesn't help you very much. Also - you've probably noticed that there isn't much difference in price between sizes.

One of the advantages a scut like a Yanmar sc2400 had - was the wheels were reversable - so you could gain spacer effect just by spinning the wheels around. But I don't believe Massey GC1700 can do that.

Let me know what you find out.

AxleHub

ChadsGC1720 · Jun 28, 2017

AxleHub said:
ChadsGC1720

I have the GC1715 and the same 2315 deck and I have considerable sidehill and slope issues. I also will be adding spacers - I've just had more things on the list first LOL.

1. Loading the rears is a benefit for fel use etc. - however it doesn't effect your left to right stability (like on sidehills etc.).

2. On the other hand - spacers are used to improve your left-to-right stability. Spacers alter your "width platform" and changing that width by 3 or 4 total inches should be a noticeable greater sense of stability on sidehills.

3. Having more weight in your rears does not increase the weight on your frame or suspension because the weight is on the ground - not on the axle.

4. I'd like to have 2 inch spacers - but because I haven't been ready to order them yet I haven't actually measured to verify the size I can get by with. Now if I had the standard 54 inch Massey deck, I'd tend to take Bro Tek's recommendation automatically - because I can assume the 54 inch Massey and 54 inch Kubota decks are similar sized and roller wheels positioned. However the Massey 2315 deck is unique to Massey - and it is likely Bro Tek may never have seen one - that may mean it's ability to take a bit larger spacer is possible. The rear guide wheels are fixed in direction but can be set higher or lower - so if you use a 1 x 4 board you should be able to physically measure when your rears would hit the rollers or roller brackets with the deck up and with it down. Obviously you want some clearance. If 2 inch spacers give you clearance - then I'd go with 2 inch. If not then I'd go with 1.5 inch spacers. At no point do you want any part of your deck to be hitting the rears during operation - but big gaps doesn't help you very much. Also - you've probably noticed that there isn't much difference in price between sizes.

One of the advantages a scut like a Yanmar sc2400 had - was the wheels were reversable - so you could gain spacer effect just by spinning the wheels around. But I don't believe Massey GC1700 can do that.

Let me know what you find out.

AxleHub