Tire Width Opinion/Question?

[cartod]

I put this old tractor I just bought in the shop for a head gasket replacement and need your opinion on the width of the rear tires. The previous owner has the tires set to its widest and was wondering what the down side is to leave them this way. I like the look and the added stability but Im not sure if its doing any harm. THanks.

 

[mikehaugen]

Well I suppose if you are really working/abusing it, yhere is a greater chance of bending axles or breaking castings. I think the odds are slim though. The engineers wouldn't have made it possible to put the tires that wide if the tractor couldn't handle it (assuming the rims are original.) The stability is probably worth the risk as long as you don't need to get into any tight places.

I guess the fenders aren't very effective though.

 

[Henri88]

Nice clean Deere! What model and year? Can't really tell from your pics.

 

[cartod]

Nice clean Deere! What model and year? Can't really tell from your pics.

Its a 1972 820 (german) with 1439 hours. Got everything you see there for 3k. He let the antifreeze sit too long and it ate the head gasket. Back tires and brush hog are 2 years old.

 

[ovrszd]

Only issue I can see is it's set wider than the cutter. If trying to cut up against a fence or some other obstacle, you'll leave some. Otherwise, I'm all about stability. I think that tractor would shock you how steep an incline it would stay on sideways. Looks to have a very low center of gravity. Nice old tractor. Good find!!!

 

[greg_g]

Seller may have used it on significant slopes. It's yours now, set the wheel widths appropriate to your own property. Nice clean machine by the way.

//greg//

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't think it will hurt anything as long as it works for your uses. I had my 820 wheels set inward but I don't think you have any concerns other than how well the width works with your attachments. That was a good price for that tractor imo.

 

[Hank Richardson]

For stability it is primarily mind over matter . IF it's matter then use ROPS as your condom of protection ,not wheel spacing as angle on the hills alters vehicle reaction & is NOT a safety device. Rather, more a potentially FATAL trap for the uninitiated! The wheels are able to be adjusted only to set to the width of your crop or rows. IT will cause maximum wear on bearings and any other affected parts and if you do not NEED the wheels that wide apart you can minimise the loading by simply reversing the rim centres. The offset wont make noticeable difference. That said ,with the low hours and IF you are not a FARMER per se. The factors won't hurt the service it provides in current settings. At 8000 hours you may start to see why narrow offset as possible is best; but, won't that take you twenty years to reach? AND by then just maybe the rust will still be more concern as YOU drive it not your employees(possibly?). ENJOY!

 

[Hank Richardson]

So now you have five years experience what course did you take ? Do you still have the little Deere and what else can you share with the community ?

 

[cartod]

So now you have five years experience what course did you take ? Do you still have the little Deere and what else can you share with the community ?

5 years experience? What course? What do you want me to share?

Did Hank over medicate? You have a total of 3 posts and you are trying to bust my balls already?

 

[greg_g]

No he's not, please note Hank's location. In that brand of the English language, he's asking you what action you've taken - or plan to take - regarding the choice of wheel width for your own purposes.

//greg//

 

[cartod]

No he's not, please note Hank's location. In that brand of the English language, he's asking you what action you've taken - or plan to take - regarding the choice of wheel width for your own purposes.

//greg//

Its still English, right? I am trying to make a decision on weather to leave them spaced as they are (wide), or set them back in to normal. Can I have another day to make up my mind? Please? :laughing:

 

[Tulkas]

US and UK separated by a common language

 

[ovrszd]

Its still English, right? I am trying to make a decision on weather to leave them spaced as they are (wide), or set them back in to normal. Can I have another day to make up my mind? Please? :laughing:

NO, you need to make a decision right now!!! Heheheheheh. :laughing:

 

[mikehaugen]

I am thinking he confused your "join date" with the "post date." He thinks this is a five year old thread.

 

[RoyJackson]

I am trying to make a decision on weather to leave them spaced as they are (wide), or set them back in to normal. Can I have another day to make up my mind?

If that's a factory setting, you're not going to hurt the tractor....however, as ovrsxd wrote (in post #5), that setting is too wide for your cutter...and, quite likely, many other implements. Since you're in northern WV, you might want to add a 3PH snow blower at some time.

West Virginia is a hilly state (the Appalachian Mountains run through the area) so I suspect the previous owner needed that width. If you don't, I suggest you have the width reset to a narrower position for your implement usage.

 

[Zebrafive]

Nice looking John Deere. If side hill stability is not a factor I would narrow the rears until the overall width matched the fronts. That way if the fronts will go through a narrow spot the rears will too. This is the way I set up my JD 2030.

 

[cartod]

Thanks for all of the input. I just got off the phone with the dealer and told him to reset the wheel width to a more narrow stance. Also ordered a front brush guard a new seat and the plastic end to the throttle lever that I broke off,,!!! Why did they ever make the hand throttle accelerate by pulling it toward you?? Up should be faster!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks for all of the input. I just got off the phone with the dealer and told him to reset the wheel width to a more narrow stance. Also ordered a front brush guard a new seat and the plastic end to the throttle lever that I broke off,,!!! Why did they ever make the hand throttle accelerate by pulling it toward you?? Up should be faster!!!

Heheheheheh. Most older tractors accelerated by pulling hand throttle toward you. When that all changed it was confusing to me to push forward to go faster. It's an age thing!!!