L4330 rear wheel spacing

[JonBarleycorn]

I am considering repositioning my rear wheels with R1 tires, and am interested to hear from those who have done it on their's. One reason is to accomodate chains which seemingly will be very close to the fender, but that remains to be seen until they have arrived and I have installed them.
Another is that I live on a mountain and operate on the hillsides from time to time. It seems the wider stance would make the tractor more stable.
At this point it is positioned to the 50 1/2" tread center to center. To go to the next widest stance I would need to swap the wheels from left to right and vice versa, placing the wheel on the INSIDE of "ears".
Does all this sound correct?
Any considerations I need to be aware of when doing this?
I will apparently lose some fender coverage, but that is not an issue.
Thanks for your help.

JB

 

[john_bud]

I have done it with my L3410 with R4's (420-70x24) that are filled. Weight is about 750 pound each for the tire and wheel. At a guess, your tires won't be much different in weight.

The easiest thing to do is keep the tire on the current side and either flip the center from dish in to dish out. To do it, you need to jack the tractor up so the weight is just off. Put safety jacks under the axle, but I don't lower the tractor. Loosen the bolts that hold the tire to the center (should be 4 large carrige bolts) an impact really helps! With the outer bolts off, you can rotate the center so the flanges won't hit the rim loops. Take off the wheel center to axle nuts/bolts. Flip the center and rebolt it. Then the heavy work starts. You have to walk the rim out the couple inches to match up with the center. When it's moved out, bolt it back together and repeat for the other side. This should give about 6-8 inches IIRC.

Some people like to unbolt the center from the tractor, then the center from the rim --> flip the center and reattach to the rim. Then get the center back on the axle. I did it that way and found it harder, your milage may vary.

jb

No matter what you do, do it on a hard level smooth surface.


OH, if the wheels are filled with fluid, they are heavy and can hurt you, so be careful.

 

[JLoaf]

My 3830 w/ R-1's was delivered with the rear wheels set at the most narrow position. About a year later, I broke a valve stem of one of the rear tires. When the tire guy came out to fix it, I asked him to set the wheels at the mid spacing position.
What an immediate difference I could tell - much more stable.
A few months later I decided to position the rear wheels at the max spacing - another great improvement!
When I first got the tractor, it was spooky going down the gravel drive over 7-8 mph, and if one tire hit a pothole or rolled over a small stump, I'd leave a crease in the seat!
Not an issue now. I can't see why I'd ever decrease the wheel spacing. My tire aren't filled either. I hope to fill them soon as I'm convinced this will increase the stability also.

 

[JonBarleycorn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My 3830 w/ R-1's was delivered with the rear wheels set at the most narrow position. )</font>

I believe that is where mine are, also.
It appears I have three choices as to width.
If I want to go to any wider I need to switch sides with the wheels. That WOULD place the valve stems on the outside, perhaps making them more susceptible to being torn off.
However, I may not have a choice as I have @ 1.5" clearance with the wheel well as it is now, tight for the chains I received today, maybe too tight.

Thanks for the ideas!