Rear Wheel spread

Doc_Bob · Apr 15, 2006

Rear Wheel spread

Looks like with NH boomer you can adjust the spread between the rear wheels in 6 different stages or positions. Varies from 47.1 inches to a maximum of 67.4 inches.

Question:

How do you know what the spread should be? 47? 67??? Is their any logic to picking the spread? Wider is better for stability of course, but is there to much spread?

Bob

Soundguy · Apr 16, 2006

You want to fit ramps on a trailer? you have row crops to straddle? you want a mower to cover your foot print?

Etc..

Soundguy

Doc_Bob · Apr 16, 2006

( You want to fit ramps on a trailer? you have row crops to straddle? you want a mower to cover your foot print?

Etc..

Soundguy )

Yes (trailer, but dealer trailer only, I am not trailering this thing, no truck and no trailer big enough to safely move it), yes, I want to use it to do a big garden, but how do I choose the wheel spacing? Mowing, it will never do a lawn, just a bush hog. Is foot print important?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Bob

jinman · Apr 16, 2006

( Yes (trailer, but dealer trailer only, I am not trailering this thing, no truck and no trailer big enough to safely move it), yes, I want to use it to do a big garden, but how do I choose the wheel spacing? Mowing, it will never do a lawn, just a bush hog. Is foot print important? )

Bob, if you plan on row crops, the best alignment of the rear wheels is the same or slightly wider than your front wheels. That way when you place your front wheel in a furrow, you know the rear will follow. I think that's the way the tractor normally comes from the factory. Only if you are working on hillsides or have a specific reason, would you need to change the spacing. My tractor has the same spacing as the day I picked it up. The rear wheel outside-to-outside on my tractor is about 68" I believe (if I remember my last measurement correctly). Also, that way, any 6' mower or implement can cover the rear wheel width and you can get it into any trailer as Soundguy mentioned.

Doc_Bob · Apr 16, 2006

( ( Yes (trailer, but dealer trailer only, I am not trailering this thing, no truck and no trailer big enough to safely move it), yes, I want to use it to do a big garden, but how do I choose the wheel spacing? Mowing, it will never do a lawn, just a bush hog. Is foot print important? )

Bob, if you plan on row crops, the best alignment of the rear wheels is the same or slightly wider than your front wheels. That way when you place your front wheel in a furrow, you know the rear will follow. I think that's the way the tractor normally comes from the factory. Only if you are working on hillsides or have a specific reason, would you need to change the spacing. My tractor has the same spacing as the day I picked it up. The rear wheel outside-to-outside on my tractor is about 68" I believe (if I remember my last measurement correctly). Also, that way, any 6' mower or implement can cover the rear wheel width and you can get it into any trailer as Soundguy mentioned. )

Good to know. So yours is about 68", which appears to be as wide as they can be set. Thanks for measuring yours. I am going to guess that they set them as wide as they can at the factory. I wonder if the narrow (less than 68") settings are the exception to the rule?

LRH · Apr 16, 2006

You may not need the widest setting, but I think You will find one of the wider settings will be best. Unlike Kubota's which are shipped caged/crated, the NH compacts are shipped with the ordered wheels/tires installed, so a trip to the dealer beforehand to pick out Your settings would be a good idea. The dealer should adjust them at no charge during set-up. The rears tend to be a little heavy and even more difficult if the rims have to be moved on the centers versus just switched side to side.

Doc_Bob · Apr 16, 2006

( You may not need the widest setting, but I think You will find one of the wider settings will be best. Unlike Kubota's which are shipped caged/crated, the NH compacts are shipped with the ordered wheels/tires installed, so a trip to the dealer beforehand to pick out Your settings would be a good idea. The dealer should adjust them at no charge during set-up. The rears tend to be a little heavy and even more difficult if the rims have to be moved on the centers versus just switched side to side. )

Excellent suggestion. I will do exactly that before I take delivery. I do not want my first hours spent manhandling heavy tires and an even heavier tractor. Sounds like work! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Bob

jinman · Apr 17, 2006

Bob, you are comparing "apples to oranges" on the wheel widths. At the beginning of this thread, you said inside wheel widths.
( ...you can adjust the spread between the rear wheels in 6 different stages or positions. Varies from 47.1 inches to a maximum of 67.4 inches. )

The dimensions I gave you are outside wheel widths.

( The rear wheel outside-to-outside on my tractor is about 68" I believe )

I checked my Operators Manual and it said R4s (which I have) are 68.3" dished outward on the wheel hubs and 84.2" wide with the wheel hub dished inward. Each type of tire varies, and Ag tires are shown as 66.6" and 82.8" respectively. The front wheels are unadjustable on a 4WD tractor. I guess you could flip the rims, but I've never seen that. A 2wd front end is normally adjustable in width.

Doc_Bob · Apr 17, 2006

Sorry for my confusion and thanks for your clarification. So it appears, if I understand what you have told me, that your setup is at the narrow end of the spectrum?
Bob

Soundguy · Apr 17, 2006

( Mowing, it will never do a lawn, just a bush hog. Is foot print important?
)

As I and Jinman stated.. it's generally staus quo to get a mower that covers your tire tracks.

Soundguy