Bro-Tek Wheel Spacers on a M/F 1529

[tmajor]

If you are interested, please go to this earlier post, for more information.

 

[deanocraft]

So I guess you have had some time on the tractor since installing them. How do you like them?

 

[tmajor]

So I guess you have had some time on the tractor since installing them. How do you like them?

No, I haven't had any time on the tractor, since installing the spacers ... just put them on yesterday afternoon and had to leave the Loctite set. I'll give it a mild work out today and report back on whatever, I can determine.

 

[tmajor]

I was out doing a little work and evaluating the tractor, after the spacer installation. What I've determined: It's harder to "put yourself" into a marginal situation, than it is, to "find yourself" in the same situation, when working the tractor. Based on physics, it should be more stable, due to changing the height to width ratio. A friend of mine, also pointed out, that on the compact tractors, "your sitting higher or feel like you are" (tires are smaller diameter), while on the old Ford, you were sitting within the tire height, to some extent. Bottom line: I'd say, it's more stable, but hard to quantify. I might have spent more time, but the gnats were nasty!

I re-torqued the lug nuts, gaining a little bit on several of the lugs.

 

[deanocraft]

Thanks for the update, tmajor. Please don't put yourself in any marginal situations on my account! My place is kind of steep, and I may get a pair for the rears...

 

[tmajor]

It's raining, so I'm playing! Did a little computer modification to tractor images, to see what I might conclude, from the addition of the 3" wheel spacers. I arbitrarily, selected the top-link point, as the center. The yellow line, is the vertical reference.
The first 2 pix compare the "non-spacer stance" to the "with spacer stance" at 15 degree tilt. While the last pic is of the tractor at a 25 degree tilt. It doesn't look like, it should fall over. ??

 

[JWR]

The 25 degree tilt is about a 47% slope. Even those who work on steep ground all the time will rarely operate on any steeper slope than 47%, (going around the hill as opposed to up and down.) That's plenty. A couple things to consider however: dynamic versus static is a major factor. Slight bouncing around and angular movement causes momentum and tends to both surprise the operator and creates the worst case "turning it over" circumstance. Any kind of hole or lump or irregular surface gets you in trouble.

I am puzzled as to why you put only 3 inch spacers on the tractor (?) I put a set of 6" spacers (6" each side) on my B2150 Kubota and found the comfort/confidence factor to be a huge improvement. Do you use a belly mower ? I can no longer use the MMM on my B2150 because of the 6" spacers. Do you have any rear wheel spacing options on the 1529 allowing you to set the wheels further apart besides these new spacers?

Maybe the B2150 was worse in vulnerability to turn-over than your MF1529 in the first place? Kubota is bad about having rear wheels too close together for steep ground.

 

[tmajor]

Yes, i understand static vs. dynamic ... that can be "the straw, that broke the camel's back"!

I used 3" because, that made the wheel width about the same an my old Ford NAA, which I always felt comfortable on. Plus, I didn't find any 6" spacers, available. No belly mower. No means to adjust the wheels, either in themselves or from one side to the other.

I think, one of the differences between the Ford NAA and the compacts is the height, at which you are sitting ... on the Ford, you were sitting between the wheels, while on the M/F, you are sitting above the wheels. In the pictures, you can see, from the seat, how much you'd have to lean to be vertical.

 

[JWR]

The height that matters most is not where you sit but the center of gravity. Those old Fords, Ferguson's, etc. had relatively high wheels and very low c.g. with so much of the transmission, chassis and engine sitting very low. Sounds like you may have found a satisfactory situation with the 3" spacers you are using. I'm conservative/cautious/picky when it comes to working on steep ground. Just for gen info I am inserting some pictures.

These are the spacers I Installed on the B2150 Kubota.



This is what the B2150 and 5ft hog look like after installing the 6" spacers.


This is a friend's installation of a different type wheel spacer (also 6 inch.) These are steel welded style versus the machined aluminum ones I used.

 

[tmajor]

The height that matters most is not where you sit but the center of gravity.

That is true, but when you are sitting further away from the C/G, it feels like are at the top of a swaying tree, rather than at the base of the same swaying tree. ... or something like that. On the old fords, you somewhat straddled the C/G, whereas on the compacts you're totally sitting above the C/G. ... not that is makes much difference to the C/G, but you "feel" like you are over further.