advise on wheel spacing

[kmm]

Looking for opinions/advise on wheel spacing distances. The tractor is an IH 464 D, and I'm looking for a good "catch all" on spacing , or most commonly used spacing. A general purpose use and the implents being used are a 16" ford 101 bottom plow, 5'rotary bush hog, 7' straight scrape blade, and 8' IH disc harrow. The wheels are now 60" center to center on rear and 56" centers on front. Does this sound somewhat correct? Better close in or further out and any experiences?

Thank you,

 

[RobMD]

Got hills?

If yes, you're going to want them out at least 6 or 7 feet. With weight in the tires.

Front tires always look the best when their outermost edges are inline with the outermost edges of the back tires.

If you have flat land, 5 feet sounds good enough

 

[Janicholson]

The primary effort should go to setting it up for the mold board plow. The spacing of the wheel should be such that the right wheel is snug to the land side of the furrow when the first mold board is cutting full width. Static setting could be set by putting the plow in the ground and stopping. then with a chalk line or string, pull a straight line touching the inside of the right rear tire, parallel to the tractor. Dig down at the right edge of the front moldboard share right corner and see where it is in relation to the line. They should pretty well match up (the line directly above the edge of the share).
if they do not, adjust the wheels to make it so, symmetrically on both sides. It may be necessary to do this again when actually plowing to get it so that the first moldboard share right edge is just at the edge of the furrow at the bottom of the furrow. Setting a plow correctly and using it with finesse is modestly difficult, and consumes time, but it is worth all the effort in reduced fuel consumption, and well tilled soil.
The other equipment will not be affected much by the spacing of the wheels. Let us know what your outcomes are. JimN

 

[Janicholson]

I agree unless you are plowing (as described below). The inside edge of the fronts should line up with the inside edge of the rears. This keeps the tractor straight when in the furrow.

 

[Anonymous-0]

your going to want them to fit in less than your blade but just barely. Set at that width if it don't work right for your 16" plow you can move plow hitch to take full 16" cut. Always best to have as wide of stance as possible for stability and ride comfort. If your going to do any row crop work with it than you have no choice. Need to adjust to fit row width(30 or 36 etc)

 

[Don-Wi]

I like that look too, but on the Ollies if the front wheels still fit inside the rears when I move them (like my ollie 1600 when I rebuilt it) I'll be happy. I actually moved the rear tires in on my 1600 7" both sides and the fronts still fit inside the rear wheels. Got lucky on that one because there was no way the front axel was gonna move in for me. Tried and it just wasn't going.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Hugh MacKay]

KMM: You really didn't indicate whether the moldboard plow is 1, 2 or 3 bottom. Of the implements you listed the plow pretty much governs where the wheels must be set. Tire size is another factor as mounted plows are also based on width from center of tractor to inner side wall of right rear tire.

If your plow is 2x16, I expect your wheel spacing is very close to ideal. I'd try it before changing wheels, if you find the right furrow too large you may have to go 56" centers on rear. If your plow is 3x16, you may have to go 64" centers. All wheel settings as it applies to a plow do have a bit of leeway, as you can probably adjust the plow close to 4" to match the wheel setting. I never gave a thought to 1x16, that would probably require 52" tire centers.

Jim suggested keeping inside of front and rear wheels the same. I expect you are very close to that right now with fronts on 56" and rears on 60". Personally, I like my front and rear tires same on centers for plowing. That is a personal preference item, and you'll find about the same number of folks like it either way. Only one way to settle that one, try each and you decide which you like.

 

[buickanddeere]

How easily adjustable? The 435 slides in or out in 5 minutes. So the left is kept full width and the right narrowed 4" just for ploughing.