How Wide is Too Wide

[ubelongoutside]

Hi All,

Short time lurker, first time poster.

I have a new to me L2800 and I want to widen the back end. It has R4 tires on it so without new tires, and rims it sounds like the spacers are the way to go.

The Bora spacers look good, and they come in widths up to 6". Other than affecting the overall width of the tractor, is there a downside to going wider?

 

[AllDodge]

Need to look at the manual (can be found online) to see how far the tires can go out. Going further then manufacture list is hard on the steering

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Need to look at the manual (can be found online) to see how far the tires can go out. Going further then manufacture list is hard on the steering

Widening the rear tires does not effect steering.

I would say look at the manual and see what the widest setting on AG tires was and go no where past center of the R4's on that measurement.
So if total width of the AG's were let's say (guess) 42" then go 42" from center to center on the R4's.

 

[ubelongoutside]

Widening the rear tires does not effect steering.

I would say look at the manual and see what the widest setting on AG tires was and go no where past center of the R4's on that measurement.
So if total width of the AG's were let's say (guess) 42" then go 42" from center to center on the R4's.

Thanks, it looks like the manual says my current setup with R4's is 45.1 and the max for ag's is 50.8. So I should be good for 2.5" - 3" spacers.

 

[Henro]

Thanks, it looks like the manual says my current setup with R4's is 45.1 and the max for ag's is 50.8. So I should be good for 2.5" - 3" spacers.

If you are looking for stability, I would probably push the envelop a bit and go for 4 inch spacers. I decided on 4" for my B2910 if I would buy them, as stability is the reason for the purchase. I did not think to follow Wolfman's advice, since this is the first I heard it, and do not know if specs that he mentions is available for my tractor anyway.

The incremental cost for a wider spacer is not that great as compared to a slightly narrower one.

Just my take on it, after thinking about spacers over the last year or so.

 

[AllDodge]

Widening the rear tires does not effect steering.

Don't agree

 

[armylifer]

Don't agree

How does widening the rear tire stance affect steering? The only thing that it might affect is the turning radius but the not the steering effort.

 

[AllDodge]

Think about a Trike motor cycle. The differential only is turning one tire with least resistance yet it sure is hard to make a turn. The farther the tires are out the more the outer tire needs to over run and the inside tire needs to under run.

In 4 wheel tractor, the turning will be more noticed where the front has less distance to travel then the rear. In 4 wheel the front "should" turn faster (not much) then the rear and if they don't they get in a bind

 

[armylifer]

Think about a Trike motor cycle. The differential only is turning one tire with least resistance yet it sure is hard to make a turn. The farther the tires are out the more the outer tire needs to over run and the inside tire needs to under run.

In 4 wheel tractor, the turning will be more noticed where the front has less distance to travel then the rear. In 4 wheel the front "should" turn faster (not much) then the rear and if they don't they get in a bind

I disagree. In practice you cannot equate the turning effort of a trike against a 4 wheel tractor. This bears out both in theory and in practice. I have experience with both. I will therefore rely on my experience, not bad theory.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Think about a Trike motor cycle. The differential only is turning one tire with least resistance yet it sure is hard to make a turn. The farther the tires are out the more the outer tire needs to over run and the inside tire needs to under run.

In 4 wheel tractor, the turning will be more noticed where the front has less distance to travel then the rear. In 4 wheel the front "should" turn faster (not much) then the rear and if they don't they get in a bind

I agree in your thinking, but the ratio is way much further out than you think. you could go 12" wider and never notice a thing.

 

[Henro]

Don't agree

Widening of the rear tires affects steering? Why would that be? I agree with Wolfman. Don't think so.

Now if the diff lock was stuck in lock, that would certainly affect steering.

How about telling us why you believe wider rear tire spacing would affect steering. Always willing to learn something.

 

[thirdroc17]

Think about a Trike motor cycle. The differential only is turning one tire with least resistance yet it sure is hard to make a turn. The farther the tires are out the more the outer tire needs to over run and the inside tire needs to under run.

In 4 wheel tractor, the turning will be more noticed where the front has less distance to travel then the rear. In 4 wheel the front "should" turn faster (not much) then the rear and if they don't they get in a bind

I also disagree, the differential NEVER pushes just one tire, it always pushes both equally, but allows one to spin faster when needed. If one tire loses traction, the exact same amount torque being applied to the spinning tire is also applied to the tire with the traction, but it doesn't spin because it has more traction. Applying the differential lock merely forces both tires to rotate the same speed, regardless of how torque is required to make it spin.