How far is too far?

[cvpuser]

Jinman, I'm curious about your comment: "You should be able to set your tires out to maximum width and mow your slope. " Whatever do you mean? I'm not aware that there's an adjustment.

Incidentally, looking at your bio, it looks like we have related professional interests. Can you get me into one of those high-tech simulators of yours? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just kidding about that, but it would be interesting to hook up with you sometime.

Best.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Incidentally, looking at your bio, it looks like we have related professional interests. )</font>

Yep! I noticed you are at Lockheed Marting in Ft. Worth. I used to work there when it was General Dynamics. I was in Tech Training up on Mezz. 11 & 12 in the main factory. I was really excited about moving from the F-16 to the A-12, but then realized that no one was telling anybody the truth and a lot of people were unwilling to share information even within our company. Too bad! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif That would have been a fun airplane to build.

Anyway, I'm not much of a simulator jockey. My expertise is multi-media and ground school training. I've crashed more times in a simulator than I care to admit. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I think all of us around here should get together. There are lots of TBNers in this area. I had lunch with Bird one day and Red Rocker has a beautiful place on Amon Carter lake and lives in Lewisville. Maybe we could all get together and tell a bunch of lies and eat barbecue or somethin'. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now to business...
The Class III Boomers have adjustable wheel widths. I believe my manual says they can be set out to 86" wide (maybe 84"). You do it by taking the center hub out and dish it in or probably an easier way is just to reverse sides with your rear wheels. Keep the cleats going in the same direction as they are now and you will have your hubs dished-in. You can gain another 3" on each side by repositioning the hubs, but all the work it takes is not really worth it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think your Operator's Manual has some instructions for changing wheel widths. I'll check mine tonight and see what it says.

 

[jinman]

Well, after checking my Operator's Manual and getting two stories (depending on what page I looked at) I went out and did some measurements. With R4s, if you swap sides, you will only gain about 3" width total. That's not worth the effort in my book.

However, if you take the six bolts that hold the center hub to the wheel ring loose and reverse the hub, you will be able to gain the full amount and give you 84.5" outside-to-outside of the rear wheels.

The manual says you cannot dish the R4s in in one place and in another place (in the specifications table in the back of the manual) it says you can. Maybe they say you can't do it because you can't use wheel weights if you dish the hub in. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Anyhow, I'm pretty darn sure you can do it by just reversing the center hub on each side. With old rusty bolts, that's a big job, but with our new tractors, it should be an easy job. If your rear tires are loaded, it will be a little harder. That's also another thing you might do to get your CG lower for your pond slope. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MikePA]

My personal opinion is that the rear wheels couldn't be dished out far enough for me to feel comfortable using a rear mower to cut around a pond with steep banks. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Why? Even if the tractor is stable, what happens if you encounter any kind of soft spot/hole on the downhill side, with either your front or rear wheels? You are risking dumping an expensive tractor in the pond as well as risking your life. The ROPS might keep the tractor from crushing you, but it's kinda hard to breathe pond water! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Even if the tractor doesn't roll over, what happens if it starts sliding toward the pond in the soft/muddy soil?

I'd either;

1. Buy whatever attachment allowed me, and the tractor, to stay on firm ground.
2. Replant the banks with vegetation that didn't need cut. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif