Tires JD2320 Tire pressure

[Bfavro]

I am fairly new owner of a JD2320. I have done some modifications (rear spacers) recently to put chains on the rear wheels for the upcoming plow season. I only have 24hrs on the machine and so this is the first time I have checked the tire pressure since receiving the machine.

According to the JD manual my tires have max psi of:

12-16.5 R4 (rears) - 40 psi
8.5-12 R4 (fronts) - 35 psi

When I check them using a good reliable digital gauge that I use for my vehicles I get:

rears - 31.5 psi
fronts - 17.5 psi

I have read a few things (not here) recently about the benefits of underinflating tractor tires by about 8 -14 psi for better fuel economy and terrain disruption. Wondering what the experts here think about this and my situation. Note I use the tractor mostly in open grass fields but some woods as well. Obviously I will be plowing soon too, mostly long gravel driveways. What should I fill these to?

 

[beenthere]

If using a FEL then I go to the higher psi for the fronts. The rears are not at the max, but just pick a number like 30 psi that I can remember (i.e. to keep track of a potential leak over time). Never entered my mind that fuel economy was a variable significant enough to worry about. Tearing up the lawn would be easy to check out by testing two different psi in the front.

One early low-hours item to keep track of is the wheel bolts. I check them and then put a small mark felt tip mark on the bolt head and the rim to easily check if any are backing out. It is not pretty if they get back out and they are not noticed until the wheel wobbles.

 

[Glen Watkins]

Speaking of air pressure. How do you check air pressure in loaded tires when the fluid is above the valve stem at its highest point?

 

[thatguy]

my rears have about 15 psi in them.. I think I have the same in the fronts..

Glen Watkins - put the valve at 12 o'clock - and then jack up the tire (to take the weight off) to keep some of the fluid from being pushed out.. Tire pressure will be the same with or without taking the weight off.

Brian

 

[Tractor Pilot]

Tractor tire gauge for air and water-filled tractor tires. 2 sides, 5 to 50 Lbs PSI in 1 lb. increments and 2 sides, kpa 40 to 360 in 10 kpa increments. U.S.A. Max. PSI: 50
Amazon.com: Milton Tractor Tire Gauge - For Fluid Filled Tires, 5-50 PSI, Model# S-928: Automotive
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I've also seen these at NAPA Auto Parts stores.

 

[Glen Watkins]

:thumbsup:

 

[Gizmo2]

We have R4's front and back and I run
35 in the rear
30 in the front
Ran a JD650 with the same pressures for 20 years.

I would really like to see a picture of your front tires with a bucket load of dirt, I'd guess you would park it and add air. This assumes you have a FEL.