Help with spacers

Manvito · Nov 5, 2017

I ordered a set of 2***8221; rear wheel spacers from bro-tek for my B2601 and I want to be prepared when they show up. How do I handle the heavy liquid filled tires? I was thinking of chocking the front tires, putting the tractor in 4wheel drive, putting the parking break on and jacking up one side. Then I wanted to use my motorcycle jack to cradle the tire and wheel it off of the studs while I have a friend steady the tire. I would install the spacer, replace the tire and repeat. Does this plan sound good, am I missing anything? I***8217;ve never handled a tired heavier than my pickup tires. I***8217;m guessing these tires are at least 300 pounds.

Kennyd4110 · Nov 5, 2017

You don't need to lift the filled tires, just jack up the tractor one side at a time, remove the studs or nuts, then slowwwwly lower the tractor till you can rock the wheel off the hub and roll to the side. Lean them on something solid and never let them fall over. A good helper is helpful, but you can do it alone if needed.

You jack idea sounds like more of a balancing act, and you'd have to raise the whole tractor up higher to use it.

Manvito · Nov 5, 2017

Kennyd4110 said:
You don't need to lift the filled tires, just jack up the tractor one side at a time, remove the studs or nuts, then slowwwwly lower the tractor till you can rock the wheel off the hub and roll to the side. Lean them on something solid and never let them fall over. A good helper is helpful, but you can do it alone if needed.

You jack idea sounds like more of a balancing act, and you'd have to raise the whole tractor up higher to use it.

I like it. I’m a big dude so I should have trouble doing it like you say. I was also worried about lifting the tractor so high but couldn’t think of what else to do. Thanks!

85Hokie · Nov 5, 2017

Manvito said:
I like it. I’m a big dude so I should have trouble doing it like you say. I was also worried about lifting the tractor so high but couldn’t think of what else to do. Thanks!

Do what Kenny said,

I would loosen the nuts, rather break free with it in contact of the ground, then raise the wheel just enough that it can be pulled straight to you, remove the nuts - so the entire wheel is only 1/4" or less off the ground - place spacers on - and roll back tire, you might have to rotate the tire or the spacer to line back up - but this way you need not lift the tire up much at all.

Can be done by yourself - but someone else makes it easier!

thebicman · Nov 5, 2017

Had my tires filled and trust me there not that bad to handle. Even if you lay them down one person can handle it. As mentioned loosen nuts, jack until just off the ground and wiggle tire off. Can I ask why your adding spacers?

Manvito · Nov 5, 2017

thebicman said:
Had my tires filled and trust me there not that bad to handle. Even if you lay them down one person can handle it. As mentioned loosen nuts, jack until just off the ground and wiggle tire off. Can I ask why your adding spacers?

My property is all hill, some of it very steep. I plan on doing a little bit of logging on fresh skidder trails that are very ruted. I’m just hoping for some extra stibility so I don’t tip my favorite toy. It would be nice if I didn’t kill myself too.

skeets · Nov 6, 2017

They will work well for you, though you said you want to skid out on rough cut skidder trails,,, Before you do, you might want to get some skid pans for the beasty! There re lots of things underneath that can get poked and pulled and ,,well you get the idea, just a thought

Grouse Feathers · Nov 6, 2017

When I put spacers on my BX with loaded tires, I used a two wheel hand truck. The hand truck made it easier to move the wheel away and back up to the axle, and provided the capability to lift the wheel to match the axle height. With your heavier tires you would probably need a helper on the hand truck while you steadied and maneuvered the wheel into place.

Manvito · Nov 6, 2017

skeets said:
They will work well for you, though you said you want to skid out on rough cut skidder trails,,, Before you do, you might want to get some skid pans for the beasty! There re lots of things underneath that can get poked and pulled and ,,well you get the idea, just a thought

I’ve looked for a skid plate for my B2601 but haven’t been able to find one. Do you have any ideas of who sells one for my tractor?

Lil Foot · Nov 6, 2017

I always thought these would make changing large/loaded tires easy:

Kennyd4110 · Nov 6, 2017

Lil Foot said:
I always thought these would make changing large/loaded tires easy:

Those look like a recipe for disaster IMHO. I could easily see the wheel getting away from you on those four castor wheels.

Lil Foot · Nov 6, 2017

Maybe. But so's a chain saw, wood splitter, or tractor for that matter, if used carelessly. But I see your point, could be bad if used on a slope, or ice, or a greased floor.

Jettech · Nov 16, 2017

i also have a B2601 and want 2 inch rear spacers but have a 60 inch mower deck and it looks like their is no clearance.

Manvito · Nov 17, 2017

Well, I got the spacer on and it wasn’t too bad. The wheels were heavy but manageable. I had to remove the old studs and install new longer ones that came with the kit. The old studs were lock tighted in so a little heat from a propane torch made it possible to get them out. I rolled the wheel away, put the spacers on and rolled the wheel back. It would have been nice to have a helper though.

Bjones · Dec 5, 2017

Curious, did the spacers help with stability? Thinking about doing the same. Thanks

msmcknight · Apr 3, 2018

Manvito said:
I ordered a set of 2" rear wheel spacers from bro-tek for my B2601 and I want to be prepared when they show up. How do I handle the heavy liquid filled tires? I was thinking of chocking the front tires, putting the tractor in 4wheel drive, putting the parking break on and jacking up one side. Then I wanted to use my motorcycle jack to cradle the tire and wheel it off of the studs while I have a friend steady the tire. I would install the spacer, replace the tire and repeat. Does this plan sound good, am I missing anything? I've never handled a tired heavier than my pickup tires. I'm guessing these tires are at least 300 pounds.

Hi Manvito,

Which bro-tek spacers did you get? Do you have the specific part number by any chance? When I ordered my 2" spacers, the B2601 wasn't on their website and they told me the B2320 versions would fit. I just tried to install them and found that the outer flange on the spacers was bigger than the inside diameter of the wheel hub opening. This prevented the wheel from seating on the spacer.

From my rough measurements, I'm finding these dimensions:
Outside diameter of flange on spacer = 4.75" (4-3/4")
Inside diameter of rear wheel hub opening = 4.625 (4-5/8")

That's about a 1/8" difference.

I can't tell if they had me order the wrong ones, or if they sent the wrong ones. But there is no way these will fit my B2601 R4 wheels.

Manvito · Apr 3, 2018

msmcknight said:
Hi Manvito,

Which bro-tek spacers did you get? Do you have the specific part number by any chance? When I ordered my 2" spacers, the B2601 wasn't on their website and they told me the B2320 versions would fit. I just tried to install them and found that the outer flange on the spacers was bigger than the inside diameter of the wheel hub opening. This prevented the wheel from seating on the spacer.

From my rough measurements, I'm finding these dimensions:
Outside diameter of flange on spacer = 4.75" (4-3/4")
Inside diameter of rear wheel hub opening = 4.625 (4-5/8")

That's about a 1/8" difference.

I can't tell if they had me order the wrong ones, or if they sent the wrong ones. But there is no way these will fit my B2601 R4 wheels.

I got the B2320 spacers for my B2601 and they did fit. Maybe they did send you the wrong ones. The part number I could find is 0010003009. I hope this helps, let me know how you make out?

msmcknight · Apr 4, 2018

Yep... 0010003009 is the SKU that I ordered as well. I've reached out to them to see how they want to handle it. Fingers-crossed.

Thanks for a quick reply on an old thread!

msmcknight · Apr 14, 2018

Hi Manvito,

Bro-Tek sent another set and they don't fit either... they look almost exactly like the first set they sent, but it's the same part number that you mentioned worked for you.

If you have a few minutes, would you mind measuring the inside diameter of your wheel hub? Bro-Tek says their spacers have a flange on them that should fit inside the hub opening and allow the weight of the wheel to be bore by the spacer, not just the lug bolts. But, in both sets they've sent me, the flange on the spacer wont fit through the opening on the hub.

Thank you,
-Michael

Manvito · Apr 14, 2018

msmcknight said:
Hi Manvito,

Bro-Tek sent another set and they don't fit either... they look almost exactly like the first set they sent, but it's the same part number that you mentioned worked for you.

If you have a few minutes, would you mind measuring the inside diameter of your wheel hub? Bro-Tek says their spacers have a flange on them that should fit inside the hub opening and allow the weight of the wheel to be bore by the spacer, not just the lug bolts. But, in both sets they've sent me, the flange on the spacer wont fit through the opening on the hub.

Thank you,
-Michael

I’ll check them out when I get home. Here is a picture of my spacer and my hub, I’m going to assume that they look the same as yours.

Help with spacers

New member

Well-known member

New member

Moderator

Active member

New member

Well-known member

New member

New member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Attachments

New member

Member

Member

New member

Member

Member

New member