Wheel Spacer for JD 4300 HST

[Bob_G]

Have a yr 2000, 4300 HST, 430 FEL, R4 tires. Moved and now have to work on steeper ground. Reversing R4 only add 1.25 inches to tread width. A set of R1's, 11.2 x 24 with wheels is $2900. Manual says should be 6 position and go up to 54 inches center tread, 16 inches from min of 38. I am designing a 3 inch spacer. Located a source for lug bolts to fit the 14 mm x 1.50 threads in the axle flange, will use existing lug bolts to attach wheel to spacer. Analysis of axle bending stress says the added stress with spacer is no worse than with the same offset from a beveled wheel/rim. Dealer looked up spacers in JD parts book, but all are for larger tractors.
Anyone have any experience spacers for this tractor? JD should offer something besides a $2900 option since their FEL manual says 59 inch min is required for safe FEL operation, a rediculous requirement when they sold me a tractor with 42 inch tread width. Thanks for any input.
Bob_G

 

[JerryG]

Bob,
That price must have come from the parts department. Have your dealer look up the whole goods price for you. It should be much cheaper.

 

[jdmar]

Here is a post of some adapters I designed and had a friend make for my Yanmar 1500.

This guy can also make them and seems tobe a pro...its is all he does I believe.

Here is his email:
Fred@wheeladapter.com

Here is his websight:
Wheel adapters

 

[jdmar]

Here is a photo with them installed...before the painting that is!

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Another option is trading. There has been at least one poster with r1s looking for R4s. Some of the brands don't allow any changes in wheel width. Deere is a little better, there, and definately r1s are able to go out wide. I thought the R4s were pretty wide anyway, have you tried,considered loading them?

 

[jdmar]

Here is a photo from the outside with the adapters installed. Hopefully this info helps rather than being too much..or maybe you already got the job finished!

Peter