roll-a-matic vs. wide front

[Bob Bancroft]

I just acquired a 2510 with a roll-a-matic. I would prefer a wide front. It appears as though demand for them is such that they are available new aftermarket- $1700 plus freight.
I also see a used, complete roll-a-matic priced at well over $1000!
Any one have experience with these new aftermarket wide fronts?
Any ideas if anyone might trade with me here in the northeast?

 

[Mike Aylward]

Used Roll-O-Matics for $1000? How many truck loads do you want? I have never seen them bring anywhere near that here. Mike

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Sorry- looks like it might be roll-o-matic.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Maybe we should be buying them there, hauling in and selling here. That's usually how it works- but that does seem ridiculous doesn't it?

 

[Mike Aylward]

Bob, I'm sorry if I appeared rude to you. All I know is in the midwest a good, heavy duty Roll-O-Matic MIGHT bring $500. Most of the common lighter duty ones usually bring $300 and down. But I am sure in other areas that price may vary. Mike

 

[thurlow]

I suppose it would matter who made the front end; we put an after-market front end (coulda been a Swartz, but I'm not sure) under a 4020......way back when; it didn't make it through the first year.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

No apology necessary. The ridiculous part I was referring to was the price I found on a used roll-o-matic.
Ironically this tractor was delivered with a wide front in the spring of 1966 (when I was 11) the buyer(my father) insisted on the narrow front he had wanted! They came out later and changed it. I can still remember driving it(and I couldn't have been very old) when I noticed something wrong in the steering. I discovered the four capscrews that go up in loose. I got out the biggest wrenches I could find and tightened them. To my knowledge, they haven't been touched since.

 

[BushogPapa]

The Roll-a-Matic turns much sharper turns than a wide-front..
If you get a flat, just take the flat wheel/tire off, send it to get it fixed, while you keep working with one front wheel...!!
Also, the Roll-a-Matic helps reduce front-end jump in rough fields..and (my favorite) takes up far less room when put in the tool shed..!

Ron.

 

[msb]

Rollamatic is much easier to turn over especially if it has a loader on it.

 

[Dave in SV]

Pardon me for butting in with an off-topic question... but you mentioned heavy duty and lighter duty roll-o-matics. I didn't know there were options on heft, or size/strength...? How does a green Green-lover like me recognize the difference? Thanks in advance, Mike.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dad bought a 620 with a roll-a-matic in about 1960. He got a wide front from central tractor as it was called back then for 2 reasons, he hated running down the center of the hay row,packing it down, it took to long to dry before we could bale. Later he got a JD crimper, that really shortened drying time. Second we live in a very hilly region, any thing less then a 40 degree slope we consider flat, lol, he hoped I and my brothers would not tip the tractor over on these flat surfaces.We never did, but my cousin rolled a 720, he had to chase it down to stop it,landed right side up and keep going. Their are advantages and disadvantages to both.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I didn't know about it either until I just did some research. Apparently the stub shafts where the little pivoting axles ride are different sizes. I think- 1 7/8" regular, 2 1/8" heavy duty. I have no idea if there is some kind of exterior evidence.

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 15:32:07 06/18/11) I just acquired a 2510 with a roll-a-matic. I would prefer a wide front. It appears as though demand for them is such that they are available new aftermarket- $1700 plus freight.
I also see a used, complete roll-a-matic priced at well over $1000!
Any one have experience with these new aftermarket wide fronts?
Any ideas if anyone might trade with me here in the northeast?

Schwartz is the only company that still makes aftermarket wide front axles. I'm guessing the $1,700 price tag includes shipping? Seems rather high otherwise.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The covers for the pivoting axles are different. The heavy duty covers have 4 bolts and the light duty has three bolts. hope this helps. chris

 

[CLW]

If you are doing it thinking it is safer then you are waisting your money. Once a wide front starts over it will keep going just like a narrow front. Someone on here posted that they use to work at an IH dealer. They had a safety film in which they drove a wide and narrow front M on an ever increasing slope. Both went over at the same spot. This has been discussed here many times. If it's not safety you are after, then go for it.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Interesting. In researching used parts I didn't see that difference. Just now looking up roll-o-matic at JD parts for a 2510 it only shows the four bolt cover. So must be the regular duty predates the "new generation" ?

 

[Tx Jim]

Sorry Bob you didn't read far enough as this was copied and pasted out of the 2510 parts cat. # 957. My previous boss(JD dealer) taught me yrs ago while I was standing behind parts counter to read "ALL footnotes and part # substitutions".

AR27316 KNUCKLE 1 R.H. (MARKED R30389)
AR27314 KNUCKLE 1 (A) R.H. (MARKED R30387)
AR27317 KNUCKLE 1 L.H. (MARKED R30390)
AR27315 KNUCKLE 1 (A) L.H. (MARKED R30388)

(A) PARTS FOR HEAVY-DUTY ROLL-O-MATIC FRONT END ONLY.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I wondered why there appeared to be so many duplicates!
Can I blame it on the computer?
I would much rather read from a book.
Seems to me that very last line should come first!

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree on the parts books are easier verses micro fiche or computer. But as I pointed out one still needs to read the footnotes and part substitutions.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Part of my problem is that I learned on AC, New Holland, New Idea- NO John Deere.
Every company seems to have a different way and order of changes. With my background the way JD does it never made much sense to me.

 

[Charllie in MO]

Agreed. If you use a roll-a-matic or any narrow on a loader you need to be generous with the rear wheel wieghts and still be very careful.

 

[larryanderson]

If you are going to get a wide front stick with an original one.They are available used at around $1000.The rollamatic seem to go for about $250 if you can find a buyer.There are still some decent aftermarket ones such as A&I.Personally Schartz front ends dont look right and arent heavy enough for a loader but the deere one also can be broken if misused.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Good used OEM is certainly my preference. I just won't buy somebody elses junk.
I have never liked the looks of a Schwartz.
Have you looked at the new aftermarket complete wide front on this site? It looks pretty close to original. But I'd still like to see it in person.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

A&I products of Rock Valley IA sells a wide front that is an exact copy of the original JD. All parts interchange. The only difference is the center casting uses one clamp bolt instead of two. We have sold 10-15 of these front ends and have had no problems even under loaders. Do not buy a used swartz or speedco they were built light and look terrible under a JD

 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

A&I products of Rock Valley IA sells a wide front that is an exact copy of the original JD. All parts interchange. The only difference is the center casting uses one clamp bolt instead of two. We have sold 10-15 of these front ends and have had no problems even under loaders. Do not buy a used swartz or speedco they were built light and look terrible under a JD

 

[gtx1967jewison]

As stated above they are one just as stable as the other. The wide front pivots too. I have used both &I there's no difference in safety whatsoever with tipping.