2520 Wide Position Rear Wheels

[TNTractor1]

I have searched, but can't find the exact answer I need. I have read about "reversing" the rear wheels to give the tractor a wider stance. Is this simply am matter of taking a rear wheel off, flipping it (valve stems now in) and putting it back on the same side. And then doing the same to the other tire? How much torque is needed when putting the rims back on? Thanks.

 

[BethesdaEC]

You want to keep the direction of rotate the same, so swap the left to right and right to left and techically you will not flip the tire since this motion will automatically do it for you. This adds about 2 inches to the overall width of the tractor.

 

[TNTractor1]

Makes sense... Thanks!

 

[RoyJackson]

Makes sense... Thanks!

To add a bit more...

FIRST, if your tires are filled, be prepared for the weight. Best thing, have a buddy to help.

If your tires are turfs, reversing is OK as turfs are bidirectional.

Ags (R-1s) or Industrials (R-4s) do need to to be swapped side to side.

As far as torque, this will be in your Operators Manual...get familar with that manual.

 

[pdp11]

If you do it yourself, make sure to use two jacks on the rear. You need to have both wheels off, and the tractor can easily tip by pivoting on the front axle. You can also use the FEL to steady the tractor from tipping to either side. If the tires are loaded, then use some help to handle them and get them lined up to the wheel flanges.

 

[BethesdaEC]

If you do it yourself, make sure to use two jacks on the rear. You need to have both wheels off, and the tractor can easily tip by pivoting on the front axle. You can also use the FEL to steady the tractor from tipping to either side. If the tires are loaded, then use some help to handle them and get them lined up to the wheel flanges.

Or you can use the outriggers on the backhoe if you have one.

 

[TNTractor1]

Got them filled this afternoon! I had local ag tire place do it. They came out to my place, filled the tires, put them in the wide position. They use water and methanol... 10 to 1 ratio. Each tire got approx. 34 gallons. At 8 lbs/gallon that's 272 lbs per tire.

 

[OzGrasshopper]

i did it on my 3120 when i first got it, unless u have some limitation such as shed space i recon the extra width makes soooo much difference balance wise its well worth the hastle - enjoy that new machine TNT.
cheers OzG

 

[TNTractor1]

Guess I could have gotten the front wheels reversed too. I can probably just do that myself... Raising the front tires with the loader and swapping them... Is that ok to do?

 

[BethesdaEC]

Guess I could have gotten the front wheels reversed too. I can probably just do that myself... Raising the front tires with the loader and swapping them... Is that ok to do?

The front rims are not dished, so you will get the same width either way. Also increasing the front track really doesn't increase stability since the front axle freely pivots effectively making it a tricycle setup until the stops are hit which is probably too late to do much.

 

[RoyJackson]

Guess I could have gotten the front wheels reversed too. I can probably just do that myself... Raising the front tires with the loader and swapping them... Is that ok to do?

Don't depend on the loader other then raising the machine...use jackstands under the weigh bracket.

And BethesdaEC is right about the pivoting axle...don't know about the offset though.

 

[TNTractor1]

Thanks everyone... I am such a newbie, I know!

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks everyone... I am such a newbie, I know!

We were all newbies at one time...

 

[Ryan2520]

I would like to see a before and after picture

 

[dsmau]

The front rims are not dished, so you will get the same width either way. Also increasing the front track really doesn't increase stability since the front axle freely pivots effectively making it a tricycle setup until the stops are hit which is probably too late to do much.

I read this reasoning a few times on the forum that it does not help to have a wider stance on the front but something does not make sense in my head still.
If you think about it, in extreme cases where the 2 wheels would be close together or extremely wide spread, the stability won't be the same. Especially when riding sideways on a slope.
Any other input on that? I am not thinking of moving my wheels but I think this might be somekind of myth that it does not change anything...

 

[teg]

I read this reasoning a few times on the forum that it does not help to have a wider stance on the front but something does not make sense in my head still...

When I first got my tractor (L2800) I felt that I was a little tippy... I reversed the front wheels and gained 2 to 3 inches in spread... it was a more stable feeling for me and I ran them for a year like that. I then bought a grapple and worried that the extra weight would damage the axle seal, I put them back to how it was and I don't like it. It feels tippy again. I'll replace the seals early if I have too but I'm going to reverse them again.

As to the front axle pivot and that it would not help with stability... I (personally) don't believe that. :2cents: I'm not sure how the 2520 wheels are setup... but I would check it out.

 

[RoyJackson]

As to the front axle pivot and that it would not help with stability... I (personally) don't believe that. :2cents: I'm not sure how the 2520 wheels are setup... but I would check it out.

It might help to a degree. I did reverse the fronts on my old 790 and it did feel more stable, but that might have been more psychological then anything else.
I think we all agree that a wide stance front axle is more stable then the tricycle front ends. So, it follows that widening the front (by reversing the wheels) helps...not much, perhaps....just a little.

 

[teg]

...might have been more psychological then anything else...

That's all I care about... seriously.

 

[BethesdaEC]

I read this reasoning a few times on the forum that it does not help to have a wider stance on the front but something does not make sense in my head still.
If you think about it, in extreme cases where the 2 wheels would be close together or extremely wide spread, the stability won't be the same. Especially when riding sideways on a slope.
Any other input on that? I am not thinking of moving my wheels but I think this might be somekind of myth that it does not change anything...

If you are on a side slope and you start to tip, the front axle is going to pivot without resistance for a good 10 or 15 degrees until it hits the stop. At this point you are so far gone that the wider stance will do nothing. This axle setup can also do weird things with the FEL if you do not have proper ballast in the back. If your load is heavy enough to raise the back wheels the free pivoting axles is going to go over to one side and give you one **** of a ride.

That said, I have put the front wheel spacers on my tractor, but I did this so I could mount front snow chains. I don't really notice any improvement in handling, if anything the steering geometry is off.

 

[Thames Jones]

You want to keep the direction of rotate the same, so swap the left to right and right to left and techically you will not flip the tire since this motion will automatically do it for you. This adds about 2 inches to the overall width of the tractor.

Absolutely true, swaping of wheel increases overall width of a tractor. Swapping tires would give you more traction for backing up when loaded.

Swapping of tires is technically not recommended, as it's having disadvantage also.