Sarah needs advice on setting up a wider wheel base for my JD 3320

[dirtworksequip]

Sarah, have some one that is in the know about how to set up your R-1 wheels to the needed width. It's probably something you won't want to do yourself. With the R-1 wheels you should be able to get the needed width to make your tractor more stable,safer and you more comfortable operating it. There really shouldn't be any need to go to a wheel extension with the R-1 wheels as there are 8 different width configurations. If you have any more questions feel free to email me at dirtworksequip@aol.com

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[EddieWalker]

Sarah,

Lots of good advice on the tires if that's the route you want to go, but I don't think it will solve your problem. The feeling of being unstable and that you are going to roll the tractor is very common on side hills. Do you have any offroading experience? The reason I ask is that when I first got into jeeps, I was always afraid of tipping over. It took allot of hours to realize that I was perfectly safe on an angle that felt very steep.

Obviously I don't know what your land is like, or how steep the angle is, but I think it's probably perfectly safe. If it's safe enough to drive with wider tires, it's safe enough as it is. The difference isn't all that great and if it is, your' pushing it and shouldn't be there anyway.

I would do two things. First, I'd drive across the slope that is bothering you as slowly as you can. Lowest gear, idle speed. Drive it a few times, then park it on the slope and get out. Take a look at it and see how steep it really is. One thing that everyone will admit is that a slope feels allot steeper from the seat then when standing on the ground looking at it.

The second thing, and maybe it should be the first, is to buy a tilt meter. They sell for under $20 on ebay with several differenty types to chose from. Just type in "clinometer" one ebay in the search window.

I think you'll find that the angle isn't as bad as you think it is.

Eddie

 

[Tig]

Welcome to TBN Sarah

 

[dirtworksequip]

Wheel extensions are a great way to gain extra wheel stance with R-4 wheels,but really shouldn't be needed with the R-1 wheels,since they have 8 different width configurations. In positon 4 the rear wheel width would be 40.6 inches vs. postion 8 with a width of 56.6 inches. So you can gain a total of 16 inches between 4 and 8 which would make a huge difference in the stability and feel of the tractor.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Horse Chick with Tractor]

Hey Guys, it's Sarah,
First of all.... thanks to you all! You've been cool enough to get back to me many times, and your advice seems extra-solid. This is what I've learned: (a) Set tires to widest position - although the diagrams in the manual are a bit confusing for me and my daughter ... she's just turned 1, I will head out to the barn in the morning to have a look at the setup. (b) Fill the tires with liquid ballast - make sure it's about 90% or so as to cover the top of the rims so we don't rust out. (c) Get front weights since I don't own .... and can't afford a bucket just yet. Thanks, Bleed Green (d) Consider wheel extensions, although Dirt suggests they would be more pro-active on the R4's than the 8-position R1s which I have. Dirt has been awesome, and I trust him. (e) Eddie says, practice and get yourself a clinometer or tilt meter, .... because Eddie's smart and apparently on the level, ... forgive me. (f) Killer seconds much of the above and is also into spacers. (g) Green Mtn digs what Bleed Green says ... and has a really great Australian Sheppard Dog, awesome dog, I used to have an Aussie, he lived to be 17 years old! (h) Nuru turned me on to Unverferth Mfg, because he's into spacers too ... thanks Nuru, I will check them out, but at $600+ a set, they may be a bit tough to harvest until spring or summer time. (i) 3rrl Rob, got back to me as well, he reminded me to not forget about the front, get those out there as well, at little to no loss of steering performance. (j) I also dig what Orlo says, he reminded me to change the bushing positions also, he's got 6" extensions on his 3720, so he's feelin' 'fine'. (k) And finally, a lot of you cool guys sent along kind encouragement, and maybe that's as important as anything else. You said at first, it feels a bit weirder than it really is, just take it easy. Isn't that how life itself is?

So guys I have one last thing to ask. Will someone hook me up with a clearer diagram showing how to get the wheels in their widest position, front and rear? The JD catalog has only the most generic pictures, 'stick' drawings of the 8 wheel positions. Without a 'how-to'. It's really hard to make heads or tails of them. I think I would understand more if they just wrote out the procedure with words. I live in Ithaca, NY. ... Dirt wanted to know, because if I was near by him, he'd help me out. Thanks Dirt. Just know that all of you already did help me out, ... this is such a cool forum, and if I can just get a handle on how to space out the rims and bushings I'll be cool. I've got all the other suggestions in my pocket, and I can take them to the bank myself. As soon as I get some photos snapped, I'll post them so you can check out the 'improvements'. You're awesome Guys ... I'm very grateful ......... Sarah

 

[Horse Chick with Tractor]

Am I still too new at this to not have remembered to wish you all a very Merry, and Happy Holiday Season, be good, stay warm, take care, and stay in touch! Sarah

 

[dirtworksequip]

Sarah, the diagram of the different wheel positions is going to be confussing. What it is showing is the different configurations possible with the R-1 wheels. If you look at your rear wheels you will see that the inside of the hub will unbolt from the part of the wheel that the tire is mounted on. If you mount the inside of the wheel in the dished out position and on the most outward position on the other part of the wheel you will have the widest wheel stance for your tractor. It's not something I would recomend trying yourself. Tractors are sort of "different" to jack up than your car. If you don't know what you are getting into it would be easy to get injured or worse. Also the tires and wheels are heavy. Try and find someone to help you out with setting the wheels to the wide position.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Kahuna]

If you don't want to fool with it I will give you $18,000 for the works. You got a really good deal.

 

[teg]

It is true, if after you swap the tires around and it still feels like it's going to tip over... you could trade down and have some spare $$$ to get extra attachments (do you want to start a bidding war )

 

[dirtworksequip]

Sarah, I did find a pic of my old JD 870 w/R-1 wheels. If you look at the pic you will see the wheel is made in two parts. The inner part bolts to the outer part with the 4 bolts that I marked with the black arrows. By unbolting this center piece from the outer piece you can come up with the 8 different widths. The center piece is shown in the dished out position on the 870. Plus by moving the center piece to the outer most block you will have it at the widest position. I don't know what setting your tractor rear wheels are now but,one simple way to gain width without going thru the whole deal is to remove both wheels from the tractor and put the right on the left and the left on the right in the dished out position. That is IF they are not already in the dished out position. That alone may give you the needed extra width for more stability. If they are already in the dished out position then your only option is to move the center piece to a wider setting. Hope this helps you understand what needs to be done.

Sincerely, Dirt

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