Kubota Rear Wheels not round

[Fromjim]

I have recently noticed my rear wheels are not round, we had very poor roads in this area until this month and now my tractor feels like it has square wheels, I used a laser to check the wheels and see that the rear wheels are not round, there are several flat spots on the rim, by about 3/8 of an inch at places, I have made videos and sent them via YouTube to the dealer, he promised to send someone to look at the wheels, no luck so far.

I have checked the center hub, cast wheel weights these seem OK, the problem shows us at the rim where the tires are seated, the tires are well seated since the seating mark is the same distance all around the wheel, the distance from the cast centers and rim varies, the rim bolts to the cast with 8 bolts, I tried loosening the bolts to see if there is some adjustment, but there is none. I believe the rims are defective, what do you think?

If you have any ideas let me know.

Jim

 

[MMagis]

I think you're looking for a problem that doesn't exist. It doesn't matter if your rims are triangular, as long as the tires are round.

 

[sweettractors]

All my tractors tend to ride rough on the blacktop. They develop flat spots on them where they are parked. They also tend to wobble in and out 1/2 inch or so. all that is normal. Drive on !! Ken Sweet

 

[Fromjim]

Thanks for your interest, can you give me a reason why you say this and also why my tractor feels like it has square wheels, also one side is worste than the other. I don't know why you would say the problem dosen't exist, It's sure there, the sunvisor won't even stay up the shaking is so bad.

I notice the next post says all tractors ride rough, that's true, but this isn't my first tractor and the others didn't do this, the dealers tractor, same model, M108X Kubota rides OK, My tractor has no flat spots, only 146 hours, and 10 miles should remove and parking flat spots.
Please keep trying, something has to be doing this.

Jim

 

[rjkobbeman]

If the rim (inside where the bead of the tire is seated --- not the outside "edge") has a few flat spots, I wouldn't worry too much. It probably won't matter much over the entire circumference of the tire.

However, I got the impression that your steel rims are not centered on the wheels. This would give a lopsided feel... much more so than a few flat spots.

 

[Fromjim]

If the rim (inside where the bead of the tire is seated --- not the outside "edge") has a few flat spots, I wouldn't worry too much. It probably won't matter much over the entire circumference of the tire.

However, I got the impression that your steel rims are not centered on the wheels. This would give a lopsided feel... much more so than a few flat spots.

I agree, but there dosen't seem to be any way to adjust the rim where it is bolted to the cast weighted center hub, as I said it is bolted with 4 pair of bolts to the cast but when losened there is no movement, but if you measure the space between the cast and the rim you find two at 7/8" and two at less than 3/4" so the rim sure isn't following the circumference of the cast center.

 

[MMagis]

Maybe I worded my response wrong. The rim not being perfectly round is not surprising. The method to make tractor rims is far from precise, and I’d be surprised to find a perfectly round rim. But, as I mentioned, it doesn’t mean anything. My guess is your tires are out of round.

 

[TripleR]

Maybe I worded my response wrong. The rim not being perfectly round is not surprising. The method to make tractor rims is far from precise, and I壇 be surprised to find a perfectly round rim. But, as I mentioned, it doesn稚 mean anything. My guess is your tires are out of round.

That would be my guess as our CX80 rode rough as a cob until we bought new tires.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Tell you what: I will NOT go and check my wheels/rims and I will keep my mind at ease...

 

[blueriver]

Tell you what: I will NOT go and check my wheels/rims and I will keep my mind at ease...

Its just gunna keep to botherin ya ... best check it for a good nights rest!!!

 

[rjkobbeman]

Its just gunna keep to botherin ya ... best check it for a good nights rest!!!

Naw, I'm good. I actually drove my tractor home from the dealer when I took delivery. 12 mph (top speed) didn't reveal anything.... so puttin' in the field isn't going to.

 

[leonz]

UM UH MMMM,

Your wheel assemblys have not been mounted properly (centered) on the axle halves, GULP!!!!

You have already developed on your tractor what is called a severe case of the "HOPSIES" where it will not run an even tread height in either direction due to the sloppy mounting done when the tires were mounted on the axles.

Not easily noticed with loaded tires and wheel wieghts but if the tires are not loaded the axle will bounce more and it will become much more noticable- the poors roads only amplifiies the problem now and it needs to be corrected quickly.


If the rims were not properly centered when they were mounted which is obviously the case they must be removed and reattached and centered- and hope and pray the rims are not damaged.


The tires were mounted properly on the rims with tire lube and a compentant tire installer otherwise they would have blown up and or gotten someone killed.

If the clamps were not properly centered and spaced to maintain the proper distance in the rim bore when the wheel assembly was mounted ............................




lots of damage can be done unfortunately; who ever installed the wheels on the axles was not paying attention to the center lines of the axle and tires when setting the wheel clamps and simply ran them in with an impact wrench without checking for proper spacing around the wheel and clamps


If the tractor was delivered like this from the factory shame on them as the person(s) responsible were not properly instructed on tire installation procedures for this type of rim and who ever inspected it prior to the sale should have caught this to begin with-if it was inspected at all.

 

[rjkobbeman]

UM UH MMMM,

Your wheel assemblys have not been mounted properly (centered) on the axle halves, GULP!!!!

You have already developed on your tractor what is called a sevewr case of the "HOPSIES" where it will not run an even tread height in either direction due to the sloppy mounting done when the tires were mounted on the axles.

Not easily noticed with loaded tires and wheel wieghts but if the tiress are not loaded the axle will bounce more and it will become much more noticable- the poors roads only amplifiies the problem now and it needs to be corrected quickly.


If the rims were not properly centered when they were mounted which is obviously the case they must be removed and reattached and centered- and hope and pray the rims are not damaged.


The tires were mounted properly on the rims with tire lube and a compentant tire installer otherwise they would have blown up and or gotten someone killed.

If the clamps were not properly centered and spaced to maintain the proper distance in the rim bore when the wheel assembly was mounted ............................




lots of damage can be done unfortunately; who ever installed the wheels on the axles was not paying attention to the center lines of the axle and tires when setting the wheel clamps and simply ran them in with an impact wrench without checking for proper spacing around the wheel and clamps


If the tractor was delivered like this from the factory shame on them as the person(s) responsible were not properly instructed on tire installation procedures for this type of rim and who ever inspected it prior to the sale should have caught this to begin with-if it was inspected at all.

For my own knowledge:

Here is what I see on my tractor:

Axle
Center "wheel" that bolts to the axle with eight nuts attaching to studs in the axle
The "rim" that bolts to the center wheel with like six carriage bolts/nuts
Tire that mounts on the rim

Are you saying that the wheel is not centered on the axle? Does not wheel not "auto center"?

When the rim attaches to the wheel, is there play in that or does everything center up when all the bolts are in place?

I have wheel weights as well, so that is more things to center.

I was under the assumption that everything would center themselves... as long as you didn't do anything careless.

 

[leonz]

Nope, they will not behave and center themselves unfortunately and smacking them with a ruler or threatening to withhold fuel rations does not work either:

If you have a dished rim with bolt holes or an open rim the rules are still the same; start at the top and then work your way down to the bottom for the proper distance and to ensure the lug nuts are centered in the dished rims stud depressions for example.

if the tire after setting it was not pushed up from underneath with a block of wood to help center or mounted with a web strap and a crane thats a problem......


and if they are not centered when mounted you can and will lose a dished rim mount for the same reasons.

If they are the wheels which are adjustable with the slides this will cause major weakening eventually and failure

 

[teg]

...I have made videos and sent them via YouTube to the dealer... Jim

Can you post the youtube link here???

 

[beenthere]

I too would like to see the YouTube vid.

And would like leonz to post some pics regards what he is referring to in his posts.
Some confusing id's by the OP of different parts regards rim, tire, wheel, axle, hub, clamp, etc.

And I've yet to see a tractor tire run true without some wobble, but under 40 mph, not a bother. At this point, my sympathy is with the dealer. But with some evidence, I could be pursuaded to change.

 

[leonz]

I no longer have any material, but its on the web too.

It would be faster to look at the either the goodyear or firestone home pages and search for tire safety pages example rims and parts and proper ag tire mounting.

an even better site is the national safety council and tire/rim accidents/histories.


Firestone - Choose Language

Tire Review - The Tire Industry's #1 Source for News & Analysis

Titan | America's Best Since 1898


I just down loaded the Goodyear ag tire and tire rim safety handbook and if anyone would like me to have it e mailed to them I will gladly do it .

I will try to upload it here and now, ok that worked

 

[Fromjim]

Can you post the youtube link here???

You can take a look here, there are around seven little videos

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

[sweettractors]

I am not seeing anything unusual for a farm tractor. All mine are worse than that. Ken Sweet

 

[blueriver]

Okay ... nows your chance to dunk the Blueriver ... to the OP. Have you not anything more important in your life ?

I was going to stay out of this and then I went and studied the video's ... just what excatly is the problem? This is a tractor and not a NASCAR?

I see nothing different than any other tractor ...