Tires Replacing the front hubs on YM1900

[Gary Sweat]

Has anyone replaced or attempted to replace the front hubs with a 5 lug trailer hub? I don't know if this is possible due to axle size but it would be nice to update to timken style roller bearings for the FEL I am building for it. Would also make it easier to go to a wider tire and wheel.

 

[California]

I wonder if you would gain anything. These things break spindles occasionally.

Simpler might be an axle from larger tractor if you can find one with the same mount.

 

[Gary Sweat]

I figure I am going to have to beef up the front axle a tad bit with a larger pivot pin and steel so I was thinking that if I could adapt 3500 lb rated hubs to the axles, it would make finding wider rims and tires a little easier. I'm afraid the 4x12 wheels and tires are not going to hold up for long. I'm not building an overly large FEL but I would rather overbuild a little and get more miles between repairs.

 

[clemsonfor]

We understand your wishes gary but California was pointing out that the spindles are the weak link in these yanmars. Most of what you hear is broken spindles, not worn bearing or busted bearing or flat tires or warped rims. So by going to a heavier hub/bearing tire you are doing nothing to address your weak link. Spindles are your weak link not the hubs. And some of these spindles are not readily availible unless off a parts tractor and the replacements are worse than the originals on some of these models. This is at least what i remember from a guy who busted something like 3 spindles and Hoye had no other source for the guy.

 

[Gary Sweat]

Thanks. I was hoping the spindles were not what breaks the most. I will just have to start hitting the tractor salvage yards and see if I can find a larger axle to replace the existing one. I have a lathe and milling machine but I think it would be easier to just replace the whole front end rather than making larger spindles as these are an angled "L" shape and I am assuming would have to be cut from a large block or forged. I don't intend to do heavy lifting with this tractor as it is too small but I do want to know that it is not going to break if I under estimate the load.

Thanks again for the advice. I've got questions about the hydraulic pump but I guess I should start a new thread on that one.

 

[California]

I'm afraid the 4x12 wheels and tires are not going to hold up for long.

I *think* a YM1900 is just a prehistoric YM2000. (to oversimplify a little!)

5.00 x 15 tires on 3 x 15 rims were an option on YM2000 2wd. That is what I have. (My YM240 is just the US-sold version of YM2000).

I have a real heavy loader and the tractor was apparently ordered loader-ready since it has the optional HD, adjustable width front axle. I'll bet this is simply the axle made for a larger Yanmar.

My wheels are all cracked and welded so I bought a spare pair of unblemished used wheels. I never have gotten around to installing them. I can't imagine what the first owner did to the tractor to rip the centers out of both wheels. And these aren't even the first set of wheels! One has $25.00 written on it. In 6.5 years I've never damaged a wheel.

 

[Gary Sweat]

I've done some searching after your suggestion to replace the axle and have found some really interesting modifications. I also came across a post on here back in Oct last year of a YM1700 with a front loader. The 1900 is pretty much the same tractor. Hopefully I can find that person to see how his has held up.
My dad had this tractor and used it for mowing. After a few years he fell ill and gave it to me. I thought about trading it in on a newer model but I doubt I would get much for it so I decided to keep it. I've not had any problems with it other than the alternator that I am going to replace this winter. I've used it to pull stumps, bush hog, grade my driveway and haul stuff on a trailer that I built for it. It runs for a long time on 5 gal of diesel. I think I will just go ahead and put the loader on it and see what happens. Whatever breaks will give me a clue as to what I need to beef up. My idea for the post was to hopefully find a way to have more wheels and tires to choose from for the front. All of the tractor places I have talked to either don't know of anything that would replace them or don't want to take the time to look. It seems to be the 4 hole lugs that are the problem to get around.

 

[Eddie]

I had a FEL on a YM1700 for a couple of years. I put 6ply trailer tires on the front. I had no problems with it. I took the loader off after a couple of years and put it on a YM 2020 and sold the 1700. Its still running strong.

 

[California]

I agree 4 lug wheels are hard to find. it took me a couple of year to find my spare 15" wheels.

But I've seen Yanmars on Craigslist with automotive wheels on the front. 4 lug Honda etc wheels would be similar but I don't know about the dimensions. There is a US 4 lug standard for boat trailers and early Vegas used this pattern.

If it were me I would live with the little wheels or look for the similar 15" Yanmar wheels.

Oh - YM1700 and YM2000 are essentially identical. 1700 just used the smaller options where there was a choice - tires etc. It used smaller diameter pistons and sleeves in the same block. If your 1900 is similar to a 1700, it is similar to a 2000.

 

[Gary Sweat]

Thanks Eddie, I think I have found a 4 wheel drive axle assy to put on the front end if needed. It won't have 4 wheel drive but the axle unit should beef up the front end. Just not sure how easy it will be to steer without power steering. I will see how it holds up with the stock front end first.

 

[normde2001]

Sure seems to me that you are going to an awful lot of trouble to get a loader on a 2wd, gear drive tractor, which you probably won't be real happy with anyway.

 

[California]

Mine came with a heavy dealer-installed loader. This tank I just took off the trailer has a tag on it saying 650 lbs.

Power steering and 4x4 would be nice to have but I'm getting by without them. (Also note the cracked/welded front wheel I described above!)

The forks in the second picture are hung on the bucket with chain and load binders, so just a moment to put on/off.

I couldn't possibly handle objects like this without the loader.

 

[Gary Sweat]

I just want something that I can use to haul some dirt around and also a lot of stumps that have to be dug up (about 90 last count). Currently I dig up the stumps and load them on a trailer that I built a crane on. Time consuming loading and unloading. I don't intend to do heavy work with it, just a lot of little work. The ground around my place is pretty hard. Last I checked it is cheaper than a 10,000 dollar tractor just to haul stumps. I just picked up the brackets and brace plates from the fab shop today and will start welding this weekend.

 

[Gary Sweat]

California, I don't intend to do anything like you are doing with the tanks. I'm probably over building the tractor for the FEL but I have learned that it's better to go a little bigger and have it last a long time than do just the minimum and have to repair it often. I checked the level on my tractor with the 12" wheels and it sits level. Not sure how I could get the 15" wheels to work without replacing the rear tires and then I'm getting higher off the ground. This tractor is rather narrow as it is.

 

[deepNdirt]

I'm glade this subject come up, it reminded me that I need to take off the wheels/hubs and see how things are looking on the spindle and bearings,
I have a YM 1700 that I added a FEL on back last Fall, I was warned not to use a FEL with my tractor because of the smaller spindles although I had already purchase a FEL for my previous tractor and fount itto be to large for it.. Thus reason foy buying the larger 1700, so I went on through with my plans of installing it, I did however beef up the tractors frame by bracing the front to the middle and on to the rear, connecting all 3 sections sos not to have too much weight in the mid section where the mid mount of the FEL would be, so far so good as that goes, one other thing I did was to adjust the control to only lift no more than 400 lbs. this helps to keep from over loading the front, I always keep Ballast weight on the rear as I found that this helps to transfer some of the tractors weight to the rear instead of the tractors weight transfer to the front when loading the FEL,
If your purpose is to dig up stumps than you will find out that having a FEL adjusted to only 400 lb lift will not get much digging done, In fact I tried to dig up a stump I had to go into it with the corners of the bucket and could not get good bite, Ha! I wound up hooking a chain around the stump and pulling it up ... took 3 good Tugs with the Diff locked in and the sump was out roots and all, But when pulling you must be sure to have the chain low on the tractor and I use my box scrap lowered a few inches from the ground, this will keep the front end of the tractor coming up,

 

[Gary Sweat]

Thanks DeepNDirt. I actually came across your post on google from last year about adding the loader. I had hoped to find out how your tractor is doing. I don't intend to dig up stumps, just haul them off to a place I can burn them later. I too use my tractor to pull them out after I have cut a few roots loose. If the FEL build goes well, my next project is the backhoe. I won't be putting that on the tractor. Intend to build a tow behind rig that is large and a backhoe capable of digging them up.

 

[shawnjvl]

http://www.youtube.com/user/hobblebobble1

Check out this video for ym2000 powersteering. Regards Shawn:thumbsup:

 

[Gary Sweat]

You're a lifesaver Shawn!!!! That is exactly the info I was looking for. Now that I know it can be done and how to do it, it's just a matter of finding the parts. I am pretty sure the power steering unit is going to cost a bunch but the guy in the video seems to know what he is talking about including beefing up the front end and it solves the problem of the narrow tires. Thanks again!!

 

[shawnjvl]

Gary your welcome. I'm still looking for JD 850 frt spindles, 750 spindles may work?. I live in Mississippi, no tractor salvage yards around me. The power steering cylinder is $450.00 plus a flow control valve around $80.00 and having the hoses made up. Sign up for youtube you can email him for more info.

 

[Neat 1500]

i had chewed up a set of front bearings in under 50 hrs but it was unknown as to how old or long they were on it prior to having the FEL fitted. i now have fitted new sealed bearings so i will now see how long they last. i had been lifting a fair bit of weight with the FEL for most of that time so that may have been a contributing factor and came very close to completely stuffing one of the stub axles and hub.the other side one has been repaired at one stage so it has obviously eaten wheel bearings before.