Batwing question - how many tires are enough??

[Blackjackfarm]

Another batwing question, getting ready to pull the trigger on a MX15 John Deere, it comes standard with four tires, two on the main frame cutter and one for each wing. Each axel can have another tire added to it to make them duals, my thought was to add two more tires to the main frame cutter since they are carrying all the weight, but the dealer salesperson said it would be better to add the extras on the wings to help keep them from gouging.

What do you think? Extra tires on the wings or extra tires on the main cutter? Or both? Each extra set of two costs $800...

 

[bigbull338]

like you said theres 3 decks so id say 2 tires a deck/wing for 6 tires.

 

[aczlan]

like you said theres 3 decks so id say 2 tires a deck/wing for 6 tires.

Except that the center deck wheels are handling their weight plus the weight of the wing decks while the wings are up and their weight plus about half the weight of the wing decks while the wings are down.

I would dual the center deck wheels and leave the sides as singles.
Here is a video of one that has duals on both: John Deere MX15 Mower - YouTube
And the Deere site which shows it with duals in the center but singles on the wings: John*Deere MX15 Rotary Cutter Medium-Duty Rotary Cutters & Shredders JohnDeere.com
It looks (from the Deere site) almost like the duals are just a spindle that goes into a pipe on the other side of the existing bracket, so you could switch them from the center to the wings if you don't like them in the center.


Aaron Z

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Except that the center deck wheels are handling their weight plus the weight of the wing decks while the wings are up and their weight plus about half the weight of the wing decks while the wings are down.

I would dual the center deck wheels and leave the sides as singles.
Here is a video of one that has duals on both: John Deere MX15 Mower - YouTube
And the Deere site which shows it with duals in the center but singles on the wings: John*Deere MX15 Rotary Cutter Medium-Duty Rotary Cutters & Shredders JohnDeere.com
It looks (from the Deere site) almost like the duals are just a spindle that goes into a pipe on the other side of the existing bracket, so you could switch them from the center to the wings if you don't like them in the center.


Aaron Z

Aaron, I've seen both those links, been doing a few searches. As you stated so well, the center carries all the weight, thought that should be the one to get the extra tires - but then the dealer said I should put them on the wings so they don't gouge.

Was hoping someone would chime in that had run a batwing. Do the wings gouge, either on a down or upward slope?

 

[aczlan]

Aaron, I've seen both those links, been doing a few searches. As you stated so well, the center carries all the weight, thought that should be the one to get the extra tires - but then the dealer said I should put them on the wings so they don't gouge.

Looking on Tractorhouse and Ebay, I see many (7/10?) with duals in the center and singles on the wings. A few (2/10?) with singles for both and very few (1/10?) with duals on both. I did not find any with duals on the wings but singles in the center.
Thinking, the only scenario I can see where the wings would rut with singles but not with duals would be if that edge was in soft ground while the center was on hard ground. If the whole thing was on soft ground the center would sink worse than the wings.

Was hoping someone would chime in that had run a batwing. Do the wings gouge, either on a down or upward slope?

Cant help you there. We aren't that big of an operation.

Aaron Z

 

[npalen]

A step above duals on any of the sections would be walking tandems to smooth the ride. Does Deere offer this option at least on the center?

 

[Soundguy]

my jd 1517 has 4 on the center and one on each wing... not a problem at all..

http://www.todaystractors.com/iphotos/a191.jpg

 

[RickB]

A step above duals on any of the sections would be walking tandems to smooth the ride. Does Deere offer this option at least on the center?

This is the best option, IMHO and it is available on Bush Hog as well. 1 wheel per wing deck is sufficient.

 

[Ken45101]

my jd 1517 has 4 on the center and one on each wing... not a problem at all..

Likewise my BH 2515. I really don't mow if the ground is so soft that the wheel sink in.

You want all the stability you can get when the wings are upright, you don't want it tilting while going through a gate.

 

[Blackjackfarm]

A step above duals on any of the sections would be walking tandems to smooth the ride. Does Deere offer this option at least on the center?

What is a 'walking tandem'? Did a google search and didn't come up with anything.

Options on that MX 15 - follow the link aczlan had - are just to add an extra wheel to each axel and another hydraulic line.

 

[Blackjackfarm]

my jd 1517 has 4 on the center and one on each wing... not a problem at all..

How do you like your JD 1517? Would you buy another one? How is it on spreading the cut material out the back? Any clumps or spots (wheel tracks?) where it gathers?

 

[aczlan]

What is a 'walking tandem'? Did a google search and didn't come up with anything.

Take a look at page 6 of http://www.woodsequipment.com/uploadedFiles/Products/literature/Batwing Rotary Cutters B04093.pdf for what they look like.

Aaron Z

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Likewise my BH 2515. I really don't mow if the ground is so soft that the wheel sink in.

You want all the stability you can get when the wings are upright, you don't want it tilting while going through a gate.

From the sounds of this I should follow my original instincts and put the extra tires on the center portion.

How do you like your BH 2515? I've also looked at and gotten pricing on one of them too. Its amazing all the 15 foot batwings that I've looked at (John Deere, Woods, Bush Hog, Rhino) are priced pretty close to each other, about $13,500.

Would you buy another one? How is it on spreading the cut material out the back? Any clumps or spots (wheel tracks?) where it gathers?

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Take a look at page 6 of http://www.woodsequipment.com/uploadedFiles/Products/literature/Batwing Rotary Cutters B04093.pdf for what they look like.

Aaron Z

Interesting. I looked at and priced the Woods BW180, more medium duty than that one, which is more comparable to the JD HX15.

 

[weathda]

My brother and I went in halves on the BW180 last year. We also have a DS96 which I primarily use. He cuts mainly with the BW. We got a super good price quote on the JD HX15, but thought it might be a little heavy for some of the hills we have. We wound up going with the woods based on experience with the DS96. We haven't had any regrets on the medium duty cutter. Ours also has the dual centers and single on the wing.

 

[Soundguy]

What is a 'walking tandem'? Did a google search and didn't come up with anything.

Options on that MX 15 - follow the link aczlan had - are just to add an extra wheel to each axel and another hydraulic line.

yep.. if i was buying extra.. i'd get the extra ont he fram.. not the wings..

 

[Soundguy]

How do you like your JD 1517? Would you buy another one? How is it on spreading the cut material out the back? Any clumps or spots (wheel tracks?) where it gathers?

love it.. i'd for sure buy another.

In fact.. when I got it.. they had a well used one parked next to it... needed a lil work.. but was operational.. I could have got it for 1k$ asking.. probably could have got it for 500$ if I pushed.. I didn't. I feel STUPID.. the gear boxes alone would have been worth it.. especially the tri head...

 

[cheoah]

Just got an MX 15, single wheels all around. Not a ton of over the road stuff, just around our farm.

 

[saxambc2]

This may be too late but my opinion is to save the $ on tires and spring for the c.v. joint in the pto shaft and upgrade from a u-joint. I speak from experience on this one.

 

[Ken45101]

This may be too late but my opinion is to save the $ on tires and spring for the c.v. joint in the pto shaft and upgrade from a u-joint. I speak from experience on this one.

No experience with the u-joint, I started out with the CV joint. Glad I did.

Ken