Minumum tire spacing for safe operation of bush hog

[sotaylor55]

My bush hog (Bush Hog BH216) manual states that the tractor tires must be spaced at least 60", inside of tire to inside of tire. My tires (of my Kubota L4701) are currently spaced at 36" and I don't see how to make them wider (the rims are already set so the tires sit as wide as possible), let alone 24" wider. Besides, if I set the tires an wider, they would be wider than my mower which I don't want.

What do I do? Is it alright to just ignore that guidance? It seems like anyone with my tractor and a 6" mower (i.e. a lot of people) has the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[#40Fan]

Does the manual specifically state the rear wheels?

Wondering if it isn't talking about the front/rear distance which would be called the wheelbase.

 

[sotaylor55]

Yes

Does the manual specifically state the rear wheels?

Wondering if it isn't talking about the front/rear distance which would be called the wheelbase.

Yes it is very specific about the rear wheels.

 

[ken erickson]

That 60 inch minimum dimension does not make sense to me for your tractor and BH216.


Can you take a screen shot of the manual with the 60" minimum tire spacing and share here? I do not doubt you but wondering what version manual has this information. The manual I pulled up seems to be the latest version that Bush Hog has available as a PDF on their website.

I pulled up Bush Hog's user manual for the BH200's series which covers BH216 and this is the only thing I can find concerning rear wheel width spacing.

Copy and pasted from the operators manual.

"The tire spacing of the tractor must be sufficient to maintain stability on the type of terrain where it is intended to be operated and for the type of implement that is being operated. Always refer to the tractor Operator’s Manual or consult the tractor’s authorized dealer for instructions on sufficient tire spacing or to change tractor tire spacing. Operating without sufficient tire spacing to maintain stability can result in loss of control of the tractor, a rollover accident and death or serious injury."

This manual is published 12/21

 

[PoTreeBoy]

My bush hog (Bush Hog BH216) manual states that the tractor tires must be spaced at least 60", inside of tire to inside of tire. My tires (of my Kubota L4701) are currently spaced at 36" and I don't see how to make them wider (the rims are already set so the tires sit as wide as possible), let alone 24" wider. Besides, if I set the tires an wider, they would be wider than my mower which I don't want.

What do I do? Is it alright to just ignore that guidance? It seems like anyone with my tractor and a 6" mower (i.e. a lot of people) has the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

Sometimes you just gotta use your best judgement. That would be a big tractor to have 60" inside-inside, and it would be wider than the mower. Sounds like corporate CYA.

 

[chim]

"Sounds like corporate CYA"

Sure does. With R4's on a tractor that size it'd be almost 8' wide on outside of tires.

 

[McMXi]

That would be a big tractor to have 60" inside-inside, and it would be wider than the mower.

No kidding! The inside to inside spacing of the tires on my M6060 with the wheels set at the 2nd widest setting is only 45".

 

[sotaylor55]

Here it is. Manual is from 2019.

 

[NCL4701]

Here it is. Manual is from 2019.
View attachment 154583

I’d go with the metric dimension written in the manual rather than the imperial dimension. As long as they’re at least 1.5 millimeter apart you should be fine per the manual. Might have trouble hooking up the PTO but the manual says 1.5mm is sufficient.

As snarky as that may have sounded, that’s what the manual you posted actually says and I think that’s instructive as to the reliability of that specific portion of the manual. 60” inside to inside between the tires with R4’s or turfs is absolutely ridiculous. You’re fine with them as is.

Not saying you can’t roll the tractor. Some people can roll a Timberjack running high flotation duals. If you’re mowing stuff that’s got a good bit of slope, loaded rears will help stability and remember up/down slopes to the degree possible, not sideways on slopes.

 

[McMXi]

I have a Land Pride RCR1884 and there's nothing in the manual about rear wheel spacing, just a hp range. I think that Land Pride assumes that if you tractor has the proper hp then the spacing of the rear wheels is likely to be commensurate with safe operation.

 

[Dustball]

I’d go with the metric dimension written in the manual rather than the imperial dimension. As long as they’re at least 1.5 millimeter apart you should be fine per the manual. Might have trouble hooking up the PTO but the manual says 1.5mm is sufficient.

As snarky as that may have sounded, that’s what the manual you posted actually says and I think that’s instructive as to the reliability of that specific portion of the manual. 60” inside to inside between the tires with R4’s or turfs is absolutely ridiculous. You’re fine with them as is.

Not saying you can’t roll the tractor. Some people can roll a Timberjack running high flotation duals. If you’re mowing stuff that’s got a good bit of slope, loaded rears will help stability and remember up/down slopes to the degree possible, not sideways on slopes.

1.5 mm would be incorrect also.

I'm assuming it means 1.5 meters. 1.5 meters is 59 inches.

 

[ken erickson]

Here it is. Manual is from 2019.
View attachment 154583

I would suspect the newer manual , available on line, was updated just to remove that 60" minimum tire spacing! lol

 

[McMXi]

I would suspect the newer manual , available on line, was updated just to remove that 60" minimum tire spacing! lol

I don't know what Kubota tractor would have a 60" inner tire spacing. Maybe an M7 or M8?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Your manual is flawed, and I think they found this out and redid the manual:

Get the newer manual here:

https://bushhog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/50080168-BH200-SERIES_-OP-MAN_pub-12-21.pdf

Because it's impossible for you to get that spacing:

And your tractor can handle a 72" mower

 

[RCW]

I don't know what Kubota tractor would have a 60" inner tire spacing. Maybe an M7 or M8?

Yeah, this is baffling. I’m not sure that any but the larger ag tractors have an inside width of 5’.

like others surmised, bet it’s a CYA issue.

PS - Or incorrect as Wolfman points out in the previous post.

 

[Grandad4]

I’d go with the metric dimension written in the manual rather than the imperial dimension. As long as they’re at least 1.5 millimeter apart you should be fine per the manual. Might have trouble hooking up the PTO but the manual says 1.5mm is sufficient.

1.5 mm. = about 1/8 inch

1.5 meters, maybe? Which happens to be almost 60 inches!

 

[TheOldHokie]

My bush hog (Bush Hog BH216) manual states that the tractor tires must be spaced at least 60", inside of tire to inside of tire. My tires (of my Kubota L4701) are currently spaced at 36" and I don't see how to make them wider (the rims are already set so the tires sit as wide as possible), let alone 24" wider. Besides, if I set the tires an wider, they would be wider than my mower which I don't want.

What do I do? Is it alright to just ignore that guidance? It seems like anyone with my tractor and a 6" mower (i.e. a lot of people) has the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

Ignore that guidance.

Dan.

 

[ruger1980]

Yes

Yes it is very specific about the rear wheels.

I downloaded the BH216 OM and I did not see any reference to rear wheel track width.

 

[NCL4701]

1.5 mm. = about 1/8 inch

1.5 meters, maybe? Which happens to be almost 60 inches!

Yeah, I suspect that’s what they meant but it ain’t what they typed. 1.5mm or 1.5m inside to inside are both ridiculous.

 

[NCL4701]

1.5 mm would be incorrect also.

I'm assuming it means 1.5 meters. 1.5 meters is 59 inches.

That’s the point. 1.5mm is obviously wrong, but that’s what they put in the manual. 60” is almost as clearly wrong as 1.5mm.