Adjusting width on 4520 rear wheels

[RedHawkRidge]

I had a 4700 which I traded in for a new 4520 with R4's. The new unit came with rear wheels that have fixed dish shape; so they can only be used in 2 ways: convex (narrow) or concave (wide). This was both a big surprise and big disappointment. My 4700's wheels could be adjusted to 8 different widths because the hubs and the inside dish were separate -- they could be combined 8 ways to change the wheel-to-wheel width in 4" increments.
I work land that is sloped, in some places rather steep. My 4700, with rear wheels set up with combo 5 (per the manual) were 80" from outer edge to outer edge. Tractor was very stable on sidehills. The 4520's wheels, mounted in narrow/convex, measure 68.5" Big difference in stability. If I were to turn the wheels to the concave side out, they would be 111" edge to edge. Most certainly very stable, but ungainly in manuvering and too wide for trailering.
I had no idea that JD had substituted the 2 position wheels for the 8 position type --- every picture in their literature, product brochure, etc showed units with the 8 position wheels. Not sure what I'm going to do. I already have 105# wheel weights, 2 mounted on each side, yet I nearly rolled over on a moderate hillside today. So right now I'm faced with high risk work, or turning the wheels around and having a tractor that I can't trailer and barely fit in my shed doors.

 

[arlen4720]

I believe the R1 rims are the only ones that are 8 pos now. I don't know why JD got rid of them for the R4's. You could go with spacers, or buy a new set of rims, or go to R1's.

 

[Zebrafive]

I had a 4700 which I traded in for a new 4520 with R4's. The new unit came with rear wheels that have fixed dish shape; so they can only be used in 2 ways: convex (narrow) or concave (wide). This was both a big surprise and big disappointment. My 4700's wheels could be adjusted to 8 different widths because the hubs and the inside dish were separate -- they could be combined 8 ways to change the wheel-to-wheel width in 4" increments.
I work land that is sloped, in some places rather steep. My 4700, with rear wheels set up with combo 5 (per the manual) were 80" from outer edge to outer edge. Tractor was very stable on sidehills. The 4520's wheels, mounted in narrow/convex, measure 68.5" Big difference in stability. If I were to turn the wheels to the concave side out, they would be 111" edge to edge. Most certainly very stable, but ungainly in manuvering and too wide for trailering.
I had no idea that JD had substituted the 2 position wheels for the 8 position type --- every picture in their literature, product brochure, etc showed units with the 8 position wheels. Not sure what I'm going to do. I already have 105# wheel weights, 2 mounted on each side, yet I nearly rolled over on a moderate hillside today. So right now I'm faced with high risk work, or turning the wheels around and having a tractor that I can't trailer and barely fit in my shed doors.

I think there must be a typo here. Flipping the wheels should not gain you 42.5" in width 68.5" to 111"

 

[RoyJackson]

I think there must be a typo here. Flipping the wheels should not gain you 42.5" in width 68.5" to 111"

I agree...maybe 5 or 6 inches wider, but not near 42.5 inches!

Once RedHawkRidge determines what the actual width increase is, he may be satisfied or he may want to consider spacers. I'd guess 4" spacers plus whatever increase he gets by swapping side to side should come close to 80" or a bit more.

By the way, as a reminder, R-1's and R-4's are unidirectional. They cannot be reversed and must be swapped side to side to ensure correct tire rotation.

 

[arlen4720]

You gain allot more than you think by flipping them. They are dished out waaaaaaaaaay more than the other JD rims that I have seen. I have not measured them, but for sure you would gain 15 inches or so per side. You gain so much that it's basically useless.

Edit: I just looked in my manual, looks like you go from 68 to 92 so you gain 12 inch per side by flipping.

 

[RoyJackson]

You gain allot more than you think by flipping them. They are dished out waaaaaaaaaay more than the other JD rims that I have seen. I have not measured them, but for sure you would gain 15 inches or so per side. You gain so much that it's basically useless.

I took a look at some pictures of the 4720's.
Those hubs are really dished!! Looks like the hub face is on the same plane as the outer edge of the rim.

 

[jenkinsph]

I was curious enough to go outside and look at my R4s' on the 4520, appears that it would add about six inches per wheel. I will measure in the daytime to be sure. With three weights/wheel it is hard to judge.

 

[Zebrafive]

I took a look at some pictures of the 4720's.
Those hubs are really dished!! Looks like the hub face is on the same plane as the outer edge of the rim.
View attachment 344393

Your picture is a tractor with R1 tires and the removable center wheels (8 adjustments?)

 

[Zebrafive]

I was curious enough to go outside and look at my R4s' on the 4520, appears that it would add about six inches per wheel. I will measure in the daytime to be sure. With three weights/wheel it is hard to judge.

Are those 17.5 24s? I am guessing on a 15" wide wheel. Is the wheel width stamped on the wheel? (might be hard to see with the weights on)
The weights appear to extend out past the wheel (may be the camera angle).

Are yours set narrow or wide? What is the overall width (edge of tread to edge of tread)?

 

[RedHawkRidge]

I posted this subject. Sorry for my error on the tire edge to edge width. As a couple posts pointed out, the flipped width is 92". Must have been a "duhhh" for me, while recovering from my "pucker factor" moment earlier.
Thanks for the comments. As arien4720 said, the flip would move each tire out 12" -- still way too much. Sounds like I have a few options other than flipping the wheels.
Spacers sound very interesting; i have them on my Honda Foreman atv, but never thought they were available for large equipment.
Going to R-1's may be possible, although I'd want to do all 4 wheels. And the cooperation of the dealer would be essential.


Just a side note: JD can be infuriating when trying to understand a problem. My unit's rear tires are 16.9L-24. However, my 4700 had 17.5L-24. The dealer's tech manual (dated 9/18/2013) lists the R4 as 17.5L-24. The photo on the tech's Dimensions page shows the 8 position wheels (same as every photo in 3 pcs of related literature). But the tech manual says the overall max width to be 91.9", which I guess must be for the 2 position wheels.
I'm going to address the problem with the dealer today.
thanx again.
jim