Rear wheel rim torque

[bradheiter]

I have a 2003 Branson 4520 and from about 40 hours it has made a 'ping' coming from the rear end of the tractor. It only does it under heavy loader work when changing directions. Has anyone ever actually figured out what it is? I now have 140 hours on it and the noise is still there. I recently bought a torque wrench that goes to 250 lbs/ft and want to actually torque the rear rims to spec, from my manual I found the torque specs to be 130~144 front wheel and 124~161 rear wheel but I can't find the spec for the rim to the hub. I have both AG tires and Ind tires if that matters. Anyone know the correct torque specs?
Cheers,
Brad

 

[MicroPilot]

See this thread where this is discussed. I explain how I've eliminated this problem on my tractor and give the torque values for the different wheel nuts.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61720&highlight=torque

 

[bradheiter]

Thanks MicroPilot,
I had found that post when I did a search. I noticed that the retorque fixed yours but didn't seem to do it for DigDug but he didn't have a torque wrench. Also, my outer rim seems to be torqued to more than 180lbs/ft from the factory. I set the torque wrench to 180lbs/ft and none of the outer bolts moved. I had already torqued the inner hub bolts to 100lbs/ft, now with my new torque wrench I'll loosen and retighten to 130lbs/ft and also loosen and retorque the outer bolts to 180lbs/ft. I'll let everyone know how I make out. But first I have to find someone to make some power steering hoses as the ones Branson shipped me don't fit and I'm tired of waiting.
Cheers,
Brad

 

[Jeff M]

I had a ping and poping soung on the rear right of my 4720I. 20 hours on it. I found the rear wheel bolts loose. I tightened them and the noise went away.

Good luck.

 

[bradheiter]

Well this is a good news bad news kinda thing. Good news, my AG wheels rim to hub bolts torque to 180lbs/ft and might have been torqued to more than that from the factory. The bad news is that when I put the industrial wheels back on, the rim to hub bolts won't tighten to 180 lbs/ft of torque. When I was sure I was breaking a bolt I stopped and removed the bolt and it looks like I'm pulling the threads out of the nuts. On the AG wheels the bolts, nuts and washers are gold colored and the nuts are extra deep. On the IND wheels, the bolts, nuts and washers are silver colored and the nuts are less than half the depth on the AG wheels. Good news, the 'ping' is the rim moving on the hub. The 'squares' on the bolts on the IND wheel bolts have BIG dents from moving back and forth, and the threads are smashed flat were the hub keeps hitting them. Bad news, I can't tighten it up enough to stop it. My conclusion, new better quality bolts are needed for my IND wheels. Time to call the dealer.
Brad