M62 TLB wheel spacers

[rScotty]

Kubota can keep their $60 studs. My time is not that valuable that i could not find the same with a tape measure, thread gage and a wi fi Connection.
PS, my weights spacers only add 1" each side and if I had to do it again would make them 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" to increase track 3" total, so 2" spacer is plenty. More stresses axle and bearings.

Back when I had a mechanical shop I hired a parts guy who spent his spare time looking for better deals on standard parts. He was always coming up with good deals, and eventually built up a nice parts dept. for maybe a third the price I had anticipated.
He had figured out that most designers use standard parts, and so he ordered from the standard suppliers.

I thought a lot about wheels spacers when we got the M59, but finally went with no spacers and no tire fill. Our land is pretty steep in places but I don't find the M59 to be tippy. In fact it seems surprisingly stable.
rScotty

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I don't have a lot of time on the M62 yet, but I have finished mowing on about eight acres here with it. The flail mower weighs about 750 lbs., and with the forklift attachment on the front, there's not much more than a couple hundred pounds out there. I've measured slopes here with an inclinometer, and I have one of the Tiltmeters sold here at TBN mounted on the tractor. I regularly see 15ｰ of slope, and it's easy to find spots over 20ｰ. I know the uphill wheels are getting light when they start slipping going uphill across a slope, especially in 2WD. That's common at slopes over 15ｰ, and I try to stay off anything steeper if I can.

I haven't weighted the rear wheels; in fact, Kubota says in the backhoe operator's manual for the BT1400 that the rear wheels should NOT be loaded when the backhoe is in place. Anybody understand why they'd say that?

Just got the L3240 back from the Kubota dealer where the front hubs were replaced due to leaking. Dealer said the castings were warped. They also found cracks radiating from the mounting holes in the rear wheel hubs. Both were caused by moving dirt and gravel across the side hills mentioned above. Which is why I'm interested in hearing about any similar failures in the M62 when used with with spacers or weights.

 

[Smokeydog]

Couldn’t imagine mowing with the M59 without ballast in the rear tires. Needed for traction and stability. 80% of tractor work is 3pt hitch implements. Even with the rears loaded can pick the rear with backhoe boom and scoot the tractor around to reposition.

Had ballast in the rear and foam in the front of the B20 for 23 years without problem. Replaced with B26. First mods were 2” rear wheel extensions and ballast. Greatly improved stability and traction. Helps with grapple work too. Also 80% of work is with 3pt attachments.

Thought about 2” extensions for the M59. It’s a foot narrower than the M5030 it replaced. With ballast the M59 is stabile enough on the hillsides I care to tackle now. Pleasantly surprised the stability with the backhoe attached moving trees on a hillside with a grapple. Always have to be careful with the M59 having a FEL that is so strong.

 

[JWR]

These M59 - M62 class of machines look to be real workhorses for backhoe and FEL people, probably aimed at the large number of construction contractors using them. I doubt that a large % of them are used for mowing. You guys using them for a more nearly universal tractor with 3pt implements, mowers, etc. certainly want the rear wheels out wider if you can get that done. No idea what restrictions you may run into -- conflicts between better wheel spacing and the backhoe functions. I bought an 81 horse tractor in 2011 (for bush hogging and loader work, etc.) and the main thing that precluded Kubota then was rear wheel spacing. My opinion is that Kubota has never realized/accepted/paid attention to a need for tractors that regularly operate on steep ground. So rear wheel spacers are the obvious fix. I have friends using 6" spacers on both sides on an M6040 and on a smaller 3400 series. HUGE difference in safety and comfort on hillsides. The spacers make a bigger difference in that regard than loading the tires. Loading tires only very slightly lowers the center of gravity and mainly improves traction.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Just to follow up, I ended up installing a pair of 6" spacers on the M62 rear wheels. They came from Bora, and are aluminum. Apparently they're a custom made item, and they took 9 months to deliver them. I haven't had to mow yet, so I haven't had much of a chance to see how much stability has improved on side hills. But just knowing there's a wider stance back there is comforting.

 

[JWR]

First: TBN just opened back up 4hrs ago and I see that they reconfigured their forum webpages. If they made improvements I don't see them. The "advanced" option while composing is gone and some share to social media icons were added. The Post Reply button has grown and been moved. Hitting preview shuts off your ability to edit until you hit Preview again. I guess we will learn what else they did.

About your wheel spacers: They look exactly like the ones I bought for my smaller B2150. Of course the bolt pattern and overall size is different for your model, etc. I am shocked it took them 9 months !! My guess is that Covid-19 had them shut down for much of that period !? When I ordered mine 3 or 4 years ago it was about 3 weeks as I recall to get them. Not long and certainly not months.

 

[Smokeydog]

That should make a considerable difference in stability. Interesting what you think of reduced turning radius and clearance around trees.

Not sure why they don’t put adjustable wheels on the TLBs. The TLB wheels don’t look heavier except for guards around the valve stems.

 

[JWR]

FINALLY ! TBN just added a "good post" button similar to "Like" in facebook. Useful and avoids extra posts just to tell someone your concur or like what they said.

Back on topic: RedNeck you will absolutely find a big difference in stability on side slopes. It will be much less tipsy. 6" per side is significant.