Reversing wheels

[Walt H]

What is the reason behind not reversing the front wheels on a 4wheel drive?

 

[RobS]

Do you mean reversing the tread pattern to help with reverse traction, or reversing the wheel offset for stability? Or both?

 

[RickB]

What is the reason behind not reversing the front wheels on a 4wheel drive?

Dishing the front rims out places excessive loads on the axle bearings.

 

[PILOON]

My Mitsubishi has all 4 wheels reversed to widen the track for stability.
I purchased it used in that configuration.
I have owned/operated that way for 12 years and use my FEL to max and so far had no issues related to wide stance.
And all 4 wheels were loaded as well.
(did not reload fronts when I replaced them)

 

[Reg]

Dishing the front rims out places excessive loads on the axle bearings.

Yeah, given a choice between trashing axle bearings and roll-over... Let me think about that.
I'll get back to you - if my tractor doesn't roll over today, or blow out it's front axle bearings.

 

[jinman]

I think Walt may have been referring to taking the left and right front and swapping them so the tread pattern provides traction in reverse instead of going forward. I think in some applications, this could improve loader work if wheel slippage is a problem when the bucket is full. The only problem I see with this is that the front wheels provide a lot of your forward power when using a loader while in 4wd. It appears you would be trading one advantage for a disadvantage and it would probably even out. I prefer to have all my traction available in a forward direction and just lower my FEL load if I'm having a problem going in reverse. I would say that Walt should try it and see if it gives him what he is looking for. If it works for him and he is happy, then all he has to worry about is people kidding him about having his wheels on the wrong sides.

 

[RickB]

Yeah, given a choice between trashing axle bearings and roll-over... Let me think about that.
I'll get back to you - if my tractor doesn't roll over today, or blow out it's front axle bearings.

If you need a wider front tread width to keep from rolling your tractor, you probably will dump it over anyway.
Now if we were talking about rear axle tread width, I'd agree.

The information I posted is correct. Whether you like it or not doesn't matter to me.

 

[carpenter383]

If you need a wider front tread width to keep from rolling your tractor, you probably will dump it over anyway.
Now if we were talking about rear axle tread width, I'd agree.

The information I posted is correct. Whether you like it or not doesn't matter to me.

I agree, the center of gravity is on the center of the front axle because the front axle pivots in the center. So widening the front wheels wouldn't help prevent a rollover unless the axle was pivoted against the stop and by then it's prolly too late.....I would'nt do it if it were me, but to each his own.

 

[Reg]

If you need a wider front tread width to keep from rolling your tractor, you probably will dump it over anyway.
Now if we were talking about rear axle tread width, I'd agree.

The information I posted is correct. Whether you like it or not doesn't matter to me.

I don't (need a wider track than standard), but mine are reversible, Ags and R4s often/usually are.
Turfs are rarely reversible, often/usually they are on single piece rims, so while you COULD flip them backwards (valve in vs valve out) on the same side, you usually can't mess with the dish (spider, whatever you want to call the bit in the middle) and it's attachment to the actual rim.

In case it wasn't obvious, my previous post was somewhat in jest.

 

[RickB]

In case it wasn't obvious, my previous post was somewhat in jest.

Problem is, humor and sarcasm work much better spoken than printed. If you were serious, I would not apologize for jumping down your throat. But as you seemingly were making a humorous comparison of the value of some tractor parts and human well-being, I'll say sorry for taking offense.