Installing wheel spacers on Kubota B2150

[bildom]

I have a B2150 with turf tires and a 3pt snow blower mounted. I ordered a set of rear ladder chains but didn't realize that I didn't have enough clearance between the tires and fenders to use them. There's only about 1" of clearance, as is. Bro-Tek sells 2" spacers for this tractor. A couple of questions: 1. Will 3" of clearance be enough to use chains, and 2. How difficult is it to install the spacers?
Thanks for any help!

 

[Byrdnyrd]

I have no idea about the 3” spacers, but installation is a breeze, just like changing a tire.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would try a 2" spacer on one wheel, install a chain on that side and see what happens while jacked up. If it is enough, finish with the other side.

If more room is still needed, which I doubt, put both spacers on that wheel, then buy another set for the other wheel. 4: on both sides will help with the tippy feeling while using the FEL..

A little tip; use Locktite 242 on all hardware. Not much worse than having wheel nuts or spacer nuts come loose and elongating wheel holes.

 

[bird1968]

I have a B2150 with turf tires and a 3pt snow blower mounted. I ordered a set of rear ladder chains but didn't realize that I didn't have enough clearance between the tires and fenders to use them. There's only about 1" of clearance, as is. Bro-Tek sells 2" spacers for this tractor. A couple of questions: 1. Will 3" of clearance be enough to use chains, and 2. How difficult is it to install the spacers?
Thanks for any help!

If you Check with Bro-Tek, they also
sell 3” spacers for your machine

 

[dnw64]

Bora makes them in 1/2" increments from 1-1/2" to 6". I put 2-1/2" on my B3030 with R4s for chain clearance.

Wheel Adapters, Wheel Spacers, Hub Rings for your car! | Motorsport Tech

 

[bildom]

Thanks for the feedback. Followup... I ordered 2" spacers from Bro Tek and installed them. They fit perfectly, were very easy to install, and gave me plenty of clearance for chains. Richard at Bro Tek was very helpful, responded quickly, and shipped them immediately.

 

[TractorNH]

Bora makes them in 1/2" increments from 1-1/2" to 6". I put 2-1/2" on my B3030 with R4s for chain clearance.

Wheel Adapters, Wheel Spacers, Hub Rings for your car! | Motorsport Tech

I wouldn't give Motorsport Tech the time of day. I had ordered a set of their steel spacers in March of 2018, got the run around for over 2 months before the spacers arrived in May only to have the wrong ones arrive because of an error on their website. Got the run-around on the replacements until August when I finally got fed up and had him refund my money.

 

[dnw64]

I wouldn't give Motorsport Tech the time of day. I had ordered a set of their steel spacers in March of 2018, got the run around for over 2 months before the spacers arrived in May only to have the wrong ones arrive because of an error on their website. Got the run-around on the replacements until August when I finally got fed up and had him refund my money.

Wow. I can understand your frustration.

I received mine in the time frame advertised. I did have a few complaints though:

1. The nuts and bolts are SAE, not Metric.
2. The nuts and bolts have different head sizes unlike the Kubota ones.
3. The holes where the nuts/bolts go are too small for an impact socket.

But, they seem very well made. I got the aluminum ones - that's all that I saw. Maybe he had problems with the steel ones (based on your experience) and discontinued them. I ordered mine in early November I believe it was.

 

[Henro]

Wow. I can understand your frustration.

I received mine in the time frame advertised. I did have a few complaints though:

1. The nuts and bolts are SAE, not Metric.

I have a B2910 that is essentially the same as your B3030. If I remember right, there are two studs and four bolts for the rear wheels. Could be wrong, this is my memory speaking. Do you mean the hardware that is uses to mount the wheel to the spacer is SAE, but the original nuts and bolts are used to mount the spacer to the axle?

2. The nuts and bolts have different head sizes unlike the Kubota ones.


I assume you mean the SAE bolts that are used to mount the wheel to the spacer, are different than the Kubota nuts and bolts that are used to mount the spacer to the axle?

3. The holes where the nuts/bolts go are too small for an impact socket.


Oh well...I wonder if that is due to your spacers being aluminum, or if it is the same with steel as well?

But, they seem very well made. I got the aluminum ones - that's all that I saw. Maybe he had problems with the steel ones (based on your experience) and discontinued them. I ordered mine in early November I believe it was.

I might order a set but only if they are making the steel ones now. The web site seems to offer the steel ones...

Hope inserting colored text into the quote works! Seemed like the easiest thing to do...

Bill

 

[HillStreet]

Don’t you get new studs when you buy the spacers? I installed 1.5 inch spacers on my B2320 and had plenty of clearance. The only trouble I had was the weight of the loaded tires—-heavy.

 

[dnw64]

Hope inserting colored text into the quote works! Seemed like the easiest thing to do...

Bill

1) The spacers are attached to the hub with new hardware. I guess they must have the Original Metric threads, as they did meet up with the studs/holes. However, the nut/bolt socket sizes were SAE (3/4 and 13/16 IIRC). The original hardware was then used to attach the wheels to the spacers.

2) See above. The bolts were one SAE size and the nuts were a different SAE size.

3) Couldn't say - I didn't have a Steel set to compare with...

 

[dnw64]

Don稚 you get new studs when you buy the spacers? I installed 1.5 inch spacers on my B2320 and had plenty of clearance. The only trouble I had was the weight of the loaded tires?heavy.

Original studs are used to connect the spacers to the spacers. Spacers have new studs included.

I found my ~500# tires remarkably easy to move. I did use a 1x3 piece of oak to help move the tire into position to reinstall it. Not too big of a deal.

 

[TractorNH]

Wow. I can understand your frustration.

But, they seem very well made. I got the aluminum ones - that's all that I saw. Maybe he had problems with the steel ones (based on your experience) and discontinued them. I ordered mine in early November I believe it was.

The only ones they had listed for mine were the steel ones and at the time they were the only company I could find that made spacers for my tractor. I searched for other companies that make them and ended up emailing Richard at Bro-Tek in Canada to ask if they could make them. They didn't currently make them for my tractor but he said they could. He was very pleasant to deal with and although I had a slight delay due to them needing to confirm dimensions on an identical tractor before making them, Richard was up front about it all and didn't ask for any payment until they were ready to ship. The Bro-Tek ones are aluminum.

 

[bildom]

Here's what the Bro Tek spacer that I used looks like...

 

[dnw64]

Here's the Bora. I like that they mimic the OE pattern of just two studs - makes getting a 500# tire/wheel assembly back on...

 

[Henro]

Thanks to both of you for posting the pictures. I am leaning towards buying the Bora. I too like the way they mimic the original Kubota layout.

I have had the steel to make 1" spacers for my B2910 myself, but in 8 years I have not done it so I am thinking I may buy the 3" spacers and be done with it. I took my chains off this summer for the first time after about twelve years. It is so nice not have to deal with a twisted chain that strikes the fenders! Spacers will solve that issue.

My chains don't work that well with my R4 tires. Most of the chain falls into the space between the lugs. With extra clearance I could run the chains loose like my neighbor used to. They would fall out of the groves and self clean so to speak. Might try that...

For a couple bucks extra the added width might also give some needed stability...

Bill

 

[dnw64]

My chains don't work that well with my R4 tires. Most of the chain falls into the space between the lugs. With extra clearance I could run the chains loose like my neighbor used to. They would fall out of the groves and self clean so to speak. Might try that...

I haven't installed them yet, but I bought Euro style chains that seem to avoid the "falling in between lugs" issue.

Eko | Tractor and Snow chains | Products | OFA

 

[Henro]

I have simple ladder type chains. The ones you have should work MUCH better than what I have.

No doubt you will be happy with them.

 

[bird1968]

Press in Studs, which Bro-Tek is using, is a superior design for any Aluminum Spacers.

Kubota Bro-Tek Wheel Spacer Install - YouTube

 

[TractorNH]

Press in Studs, which Bro-Tek is using, is a superior design for any Aluminum Spacers.

Kubota Bro-Tek Wheel Spacer Install - YouTube

I agree and the studs in the Bro-Tek spacers are grade 8. You won't get the same strength with the threads in the aluminum.