YM1500D Front Wheels

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2002

The wheels on my 1500D are currently reversed which puts them in the wider orientation. I understand from previous threads that this is bad for the front axles. The problem is that the valve stems, which are currently pointing outward, would point inward if I correctly orient the wheels. I have tried this, and the stems hit the front gear hubs when the wheels rotate.

EFC · May 7, 2002

It is bad to have the front wheels turned out. When turned in, the center of the tire is directly over the center of the main hub bearing. If they are turned out it is like putting a cheater bar on a wrench. Valve stem hole should be on the outside of the wheel....Did the previous owner drill a whole on the other side?? I would take them down to the tire shop and have them swapped around. Good time to put in some new tubes..

oldgrizzlybear · May 7, 2002

My 1500D front wheels are not turned and my valve stems are on the outside. Take a good look at the rims. Has a second hole for the valve stem been drilled?

normde2001 · May 8, 2002

Is it possible some enterprising welder/hotrod mechanic has reversed the rims like they used to do on hotrods to get a wider stance? Look for signs of re-welding or rivoting, and if new valve holes were drilled, the old ones would have to be welded up.

Anonymous Poster · May 9, 2002

The stems are from an inner tube. Do these all have inner tubes? I have looked at and carefully felt the rim surfaces for any sign or clue of an old valve stem hole on the opposite side of the rim and cannot detect anything. I am going to pull the tires off and check internally.

To be clear about this, the rims are dished or bowl shaped. I believe that the open dish side, or concave side, should point inward toward the tractor where as they are currently pointing outward. The stems are currently on the concave side and pointing outward.

normde2001 · May 9, 2002

They may or may not have tubes, the valve stem would be oriented the same way. You are correct, if mounted and constructed correctly the concave side is in, the convex side, with the valve stem is out. I just looked at my wheels. The rims are attached to the wheels by 8 spot welds, and could be fairly easily drilled out, reversed, rivoted and re-welded, hotrod style. I'll bet this tractor didn't just come straight from Japan. I doubt there are a lot of rice paddies on steep slopes. Attached are pics. of both sides of wheel.

normde2001 · May 9, 2002

Maybe now.

normde2001 · May 9, 2002

Other side of wheel.

Anonymous Poster · May 13, 2002

Those are definetly the same rims as the ones on my tractor but the valve stems are on the opposite side. My next step is to pull the tire and look inside for any sign of welding on the inside of the rim. Thanks for the pictures, that helped!

Anonymous Poster · May 15, 2002

I pulled the tire off of the rim and it is clear that these rims have not been modified. The valve stem is on the opposite side of the rims shown in the previous email attachments from normde2001. The inside surface, exposed by removing the tire, is the orginal white paint along with rust spots. There is absolutely no sign of any old hole or any signs of any welding of an old hole on the opposite side. Could these rims be from a different model?