Traction Wheel Spacers for B2150hst

[B2150hsd]

Hi, Looking at adding either 2 or 3 inch rear wheel spacers to the B2150hst 4wd. I live in very hilly, steep, terrain and would like to make the tractor more stable. It currently has offset wheels and R1's loaded for ballast providing a total width of 63 inches. The tractor also has a fel and 5 ft rotary cutter. I am not concerned about wheel width being wider then the cutter. The priority is safety and stability.

I understand that spacers add more stress to the axle and bearings. Both the inner and outer rear axle bearings are the same ones used in some much larger tractors. ie L3400, L3500. Not saying it makes the bearings bullet proof but at least it appears they are not undersized. None the less, if a 2 inch spacer adds a noticeable amount of stability then I would prefer that.

Suggestions and recommendations?

 

[art]

Sometimes the bearings might be the strong spot! You might also worry about the housing that supports them. You are correct with the bearing might not be the weak part!

 

[B2150hsd]

The housings are shorter on the b2150 than the lager tractors mentioned with the same wheel bearings. In other words, the axles extend further from the housing as does the wheel. This would put more stress on the bearings, possibly the housing also? One member has 2 b2150's and is running 6 inch spacers. I think on both tractors, not sure. I dont know what tires, wheel offset, or what the original width was before adding spacers. My tractor already has the wheels as wide as possible with an oem setup = R1's and offset wheels = 63" width.

 

[Texasmark]

I made 4" spacers for my 2400 and selected that dimension which put the width of my rears just inside my 5' cutter width. Haven't looked back and you betcha they help the stability.

 

[JWR]

The housings are shorter on the b2150 than the lager tractors mentioned with the same wheel bearings. In other words, the axles extend further from the housing as does the wheel. This would put more stress on the bearings, possibly the housing also? One member has 2 b2150's and is running 6 inch spacers. I think on both tractors, not sure. I dont know what tires, wheel offset, or what the original width was before adding spacers. My tractor already has the wheels as wide as possible with an oem setup = R1's and offset wheels = 63" width.

I'm the TBN participant that has 2 B2150's and has discussed the spacers on here before. I have the Bora brand 6" spacers machined from solid billets of aluminum. Hefty chunks of round aluminum. I have the spacers only on one of my two B2150's. These tractors are located 90 miles apart.

-- The one with spacers is using large fat turf tires and sometimes uses a 5 ft Bush Hog and other times a 60" mid-mount belly mower. Does not have a FEL. It is used at times on rather steep hills. 40% grades. Has 7 or 800 hrs on it if I believed the odometer. Bought it used in Tenn. Very used but good price.
-- The one with AG tires is used on flat ground for light bush hogging in summer and snow blowing/removal in winter. It has a Case FEL adapted to it. Use a 5ft rear mount snow blower on it when needed and/or a 6ft blade if the snow does not justify the blower. Bought it in Maryland with barely 200 hrs on it in pristine condition. Thing of beauty. Had it nearly 30 years now and not near 1000 hrs yet. I swapped tires/wheels between the two tractors, driven mainly by wanting AG tread on the one I use for snow removal.

Both are std transmission non-HSD models. Both have creeper gear 3 range transmissions. They would have been THE BEST small tractors ever built if the transmissions were syncromesh -- which they are not. Separately controlled mid PTO and rear PTO would have been nice too. NEITHER of my B2150's have any way to change the spacing of the rear wheels using dish in/dish out or anything like that. The Japanese still do not comprehend even today how important rear wheel spacing is when you are on steep ground and they still make nothing that competes in that regard with Massey Ferguson and others for adjustable rear wheel spacing. They have improved, I admit.

I have heard these arguments regarding gloom and doom and potential disasters with the rear wheel spacers and do not buy any of it. Never heard of a single ACTUAL problem. Only theoretical ones. Granted I use mine in a non-commercial farm environment where there is no bone-crusher workload and no FEL on that tractor, not that I think that would matter. I've seen no problems of any kind with the spacers (though I did just finish having a new set of gage wheel frames made for the MMM so that the rear gage wheels will now clear the big rear turf tires.) Spacing the rear tires a foot further apart meant the tires would not clear the MMM rear gage wheels in stock configuration. Tested that rig thoroughly Tuesday. All is well.

 

[B2150hsd]

Thanks for the info!

Do you know what your wheel width is on the b2150 with turf tires and spacers. I ask because I "think" the turf tire rims are not as offset and do not make as wide of a stance as the R1 wheels. My B2150 width is 63" with stock rims and R1.

 

[JWR]

Sorry, I do not. I think it can be looked up in the tech data on the tractors however and then computed in the final step based on tire dimensions.
I am 300 miles from the farm and only there once a month so I can't just run out and measure it. I'try to do that next trip.

 

[bildom]

Thanks for the info!

Do you know what your wheel width is on the b2150 with turf tires and spacers. I ask because I "think" the turf tire rims are not as offset and do not make as wide of a stance as the R1 wheels. My B2150 width is 63" with stock rims and R1.

I have a B2150 HST with stock turf tires and rims. I added 3" spacers and the width is now 60" I added them mostly to accommodate chains for blowing snow but they've also added stability. I used Brotek spacers and was very satisfied with the customer support and installation instructions - easy job.

 

[JWR]

An update: I have the 6" spacers on each side of one of my B2150's. It is so comfortable to know that I can turn around and go sideways anytime i want to on a 40% slope and never be the least concerned about it getting tippy. I mentioned in post #5 that I had new gage wheel frames made for the belly mower so that the wheels clear the large rear turf tires. As I said , that modification works very well & I used it a lot more last week. Here is a picture of the two frames fabricated for me by a local welding shop in WV. They are sitting on top of a 5ft Bush Hog I also use with that Kubota -- ignore that.