Tires "Wide" tire setting in 3038E - Good or Bad

DKCDKC · Mar 9, 2012

The fellow who delivered my new JD 3038E with ag tires indicated I could flip the front tires side-for-side to gain width and stability. He said he had done it easily on his 32E. The manual seems to call this the "wide setting" and allows if for uses other than FEL. Since I frequently use my FEL for moving dirt and rock for yard use, the manual's admonition gives me a bit of concern. I don't lift heavy loads with the FEL, but don't want to over-tax the front axle.

I'd appreciate input from those with more experience.

beenthere · Mar 9, 2012

It's your call, but I flipped my front wheels and got used to how they looked. Maybe some risk but I also don't get reckless when carrying a heavy load in the bucket or on the forks (across rough ground with wheels turned very far). Both attachments have max'd out the lifting cap of the 4300. No problem in first 1000 hours.

Johndeere3720 · Mar 9, 2012

I wouldn't do it, it will put excessive stress on your front axle along with it's internal components. The gears, seals, and bearings will have a shortened life span.

BRBurns · Mar 9, 2012

I flipped the rear tires but not the front on my 4300. Fliping front tires really won't to much for stability since the axle pivots. And it will add more stress.

glc24 · Mar 10, 2012

I don't lift heavy loads with the FEL, but don't want to over-tax the front axle.

Well,if you don't want to add undo stress to the front axle,then you need ballast hanging from your 3PT.:thumbsup:
Widening the front adds stress to the components. Maybe not much,but more than what should be there. But there again,IMO,the 3PT ballast would offset that stress. So the wide front would give more stability and axle stress would be at an acceptable minimum.:thumbsup: Have at it!

Greg

greg_g · Mar 10, 2012

I'm an "all of the above" example. I have a front loader which is occasionally required to lift/carry a 61" bucket of sand/grave/rock. But for stability, I want the front track to equal the rear track, so the front rims are reversed. Tires and pivot are more than adequate to compensate for empty bucket or light loads (like a 200# tree limb or equivalent). But when I know I'm going to pick up a serious load, I first mount a ballast box on the three point hitch. It's not used very often, but - considering the $ amount it may save in front end repairs - it was money well spent. Without extensions, the box + cast iron + sand gives me about half a ton of counterweight to help offset whatever I'm lifting up front. If I need more, I add the 9" ballast box extensions.

//greg//

JohnDeere4300 · Mar 12, 2012

beenthere said:
It's your call, but I flipped my front wheels and got used to how they looked. Maybe some risk but I also don't get reckless when carrying a heavy load in the bucket or on the forks (across rough ground with wheels turned very far). Both attachments have max'd out the lifting cap of the 4300. No problem in first 1000 hours.

I flipped my rears several years ago!... Last year I went ahead and flipped my fronts.. I seen in my manual where it said the fronts can be switched to the wide position, So I did it and don't think I'll go back... I wish I would have done it a long time ago!

IF something should break, Then I'll just fix it... But I don't try to overload the front and I take care of my equipment the best I can!

Most of the time I keep my Backhoe on for Ballast, and last year I built a Ballast Box that's 2'x2'x2' and weighs 1,446 lbs!

Here's some pictures on the fronts before & after the switch... I raised my FEL up so the tires can be seen better.

Pic 1 ''before'' the switch.

Pic 2 ''after'' the switch.

The other two pictures you can see on the tape measure how much I gained... I measured from the frame of the tractor to the outside of the tire.

Bill

DKCDKC · Mar 12, 2012

Thanks for the input. I have messed around with moving some dirt experimentally the last few days, and found weight on the back was essential anyway. I hung my old box blade there and it made all the difference. I'd like the wider setting for the front tires and will probably go that way after some more messing around. I only use the FEL for anything heavy occasionally, so it probably will make no difference to the axle.