Reversing Wheels

[Tomcat]

I'll be taking off the front wheels so I can clean and inspect the hubs, etc. Something I regularly did back in my Jeep days. I noticed that I could gain a couple of inches in my front footprint if I reversed the wheels. Having the valve stem on the inside is not an issue. Bearing in mind that our farm is not steeply sloped, am I gaining anything? What are the pro's and con's of doing this and should I consider the same for the rear wheels? (A major PITA)

 

[ctmike]

I think I read in the Kubota manual not to do that with front wheels of a 4- wheel drive tractor. I'm not sure why, maybe it puts too much stress on the system.

 

[Diydave]

What you gain in footprint, you will lose in parts stress.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Doing it to the front will not gain you anything, not stability and not better traction.
What it will gain you is the risk of broken or worn parts.

Doing it to the rears is the exact opposite, better stablility and foot print.
No noticeable gain in wear or possible damage.

 

[Tomcat]

I was concerned about the stress issue. Main reason I'm tearing into the front end is to find out what "stress" has been caused by 40 plus years of neglect.

 

[2458n]

I reversed the front wheels on a L245DT. Had a trailer with just two ramps and front did not fit. Well I know why they say not to do that. Using the front end loader to pick a stripped ford van up to go to the scrap yard. LOJD pop as bearings crushed. Money from the scrap run did not pay for half the cost of front axle repair. Do not do it with a old kubota as 30 year old stuff costs and is hard to locate. Smart do not need to be told - dumb do not listen.

 

[Tooljunkie]

My green blooded buddy and i had this conversation tonight,same guy that was dead against flipping the rears. Rears only added 4" and made a world of difference- did it when he was away at work. Explained the front issue and he understood immediately. Thank goodness as green blood makes for thick skulls.

 

[Tomcat]

Rear wheels are out to the end of the axle. I didn't want to stress the front but wanted to know what others thought about it. I'm going to put them back on as per original.

 

[nzzshl]

Not being familiar with those wheels specifically, wouldn't reversing the wheel leave you with wheel nut or bolt seats that are not chamfered? If the conically chamfered seat on the wheel wasn't present, how does the fastener hold torque without a lock washer? Sounds like a questionable practice to me.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Not being familiar with those wheels specifically, wouldn't reversing the wheel leave you with wheel nut or bolt seats that are not chamfered? If the conically chamfered seat on the wheel wasn't present, how does the fastener hold torque without a lock washer? Sounds like a questionable practice to me.

Most tractor wheels that use a tapered nut most of the time both sides will be tapered as they are designed to be flipped.
On most newer models they use flat backed nuts, they do not ever use lock washers on wheels.

 

[Tomcat]

On most newer models they use flat backed nuts, they do not ever use lock washers on wheels.

My old B7000 has a flat washer, a lock washer then a flat nut.

 

[Tomcat]

On most newer models they use flat backed nuts, they do not ever use lock washers on wheels.

My old B7000 has a flat washer, a lock washer then a flat nut.

 

[olthumpa]

Reversing wheel direction on mine is easy, just move the left lever at the top down or up.