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4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover

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Jon (IN)

04-15-2005 11:56:14

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Does widening the rear wheels really stabilize the tractor that much? Here is my scenario and I would like to hear your guys thoughts. I recently bought a 4020 Diesel to replace my Oliver 1850. The tractor is mostly used to brushhog about 40 acres. On my Oliver the rear wheels were set out pretty far, about 9' 6" to be exact. The 4020 has the wheels in as far as they will go. Most of my ground is not too bad, but there are 2 spots that always made me queessy when going over them. They really don't look that steep, but setting in the tractor seat, you really feel like it. The JD sets lower than the Oliver, but the wheels are in closer. I know you don't want to push a machine to it's limits cause you never know about that rock or stump that may throw you over, but will the tractor roll just running down the field or would the front wheels slip and slide down the hill first? I am a pretty safety conscious fellow, and I feel I drive that tractor mare safely than 90% of the guys out there. You see these road crews mowing on stuff that I wouldn't hardly get on with my crawler, much less a tractor.

Jon

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rboulware

03-12-2006 13:46:55

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

I was just surfing through this sight and ran accros this post. I tell you this is MY NUMBER ONE ISSUE in getting a tractor!!!! I did not even know how to ask this question. I am SO GLAD this was brought up!! Because this scares me to DEATH!!! I wish I could find spec on center of gravity vs width for these various machines....It is truely my number one spec. to look at

The first tractor I bought was a 5020. After about 3 days on it something struck me and I relised after my wife and kids drove by. How dangerous this thing was. Ever little bump on the ground had me in fear and asking little question. I finally was even afraid to run the thing. I felt like I was up way to high. I was not getting any work done.. I soon sold the machine, the buyer had a john deere machanic out there to check it out. He said it was in Perfect condition..... boy was I ever sick for saling that machine..... ....Like I said this VERY issue here is my NUMBER ONE ISSUE for buying a Machine!!! Bar NONE!!

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Todd in TN

04-28-2005 21:39:56

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

Nobody mentioned this yet but there is one way you can increase hillside stability while keeping the tread width the same. Mount the rim to the cast iron center using the outer rim bevel and put the clamps on the inside. This way you're getting the heavy cast iron center farther out to help counter balance. Now adjust your tread width at the axle to obtain your desired width. It's a good chance your rims are already mounted this way as most 4020's are. Wheel weights will help also. Even though the weights are mounted on the uphill and downhill sides, through laws of gravity it helps. Get a ROPS, great insurance without the monthly payment...
Todd in TN

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Gerald J.

04-16-2005 09:35:43

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

Every tractor rolls when the line between its center of gravity and the center of the earth gets outside the limits of the supports, e.g. tires. You can't do much about the center of gravity which is somwhere above the crankshaft height, but depends on your weight and how full the fuel tank is. You can widen the wheels to make it harder to tip.

At the extreme of not tipping, the tractor is balanced on the downhill rear tire (the wide front raises the tilt point but won't stop a roll over yet). Then it takes only the least little influence to roll it over. A pebble under the uphill rear tire, a soft spot under the down hill tire, you sliding to the down hill side of the seat, a change of engine speed... Then you wish you had a good ROPS (and 4020 vintage cabs were not ROPS) unless your neck is strong enough to hold up 8000 pounds or so. My neck isn't so strong so I don't cut on such side slopes and I have a JD ROPS mounted.

Gerald J.

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Paul in WI

04-16-2005 03:21:32

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

The JD wheels are easy to adjust (unless rusted frozen), I suggest you widen them out as far as your equipment will allow. My son read this last night as suggested you also widen the front end. And yes, a tractor can rollover without provocation like a rock or stump.

I also suggest a roll guard.

Paul

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LJL

04-15-2005 19:31:51

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

i was always taught to drive up and down on the hills not to try driving on side hills if your chpping weeds go around that area then dive up an down the hill this will lower your chances of roll over by a very high percentage and it might take alittle longer to get job done but what is the value of ones life????? ????? ??

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MGTPa

04-15-2005 18:39:28

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

Like the others are saying...If you're getting that funny feeling in your stomach about the terrain you are on...trust your stomach and get off that hillside. I was called to a "hillside tractor accident" and it isn't pretty. Lots of heartache and questions of "why" for the loved ones who are left behind. If the hillside is really steep, that's what sheep are for!

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Jason Z in MO

04-15-2005 13:39:03

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

Jon,

About the road crews... I am with you, no way would I get on some of the slopes they run parallel on! Around here the work was contracted out and the contractor has a bunch of 4020/4320/4620 etc. I saw a 4020 that was on a steep slope and the down hill wheel was under the tractor. The final drive housing broke off at the differential housing. The tractor landed on top of the wheel, otherwise it would have went over. The only way I could imagine that happening is from severe abuse.

Wider is better on hills. Fluid in the tires help too by lowering the center of gravity and by having ballast on the up hill side.

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TBSCOTT

04-15-2005 12:13:10

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 11:56:14

Well, your subject says it all...widen the wheels vs rollover. What would you rather have? Adjust the wheels out as far as possible under your conditions. If you have a roll bar use a seat belt...If you do not have a roll bar DO NOT use a seat belt. good luck and be careful.

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Jon (IN)

04-15-2005 12:20:51

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to TBSCOTT, 04-15-2005 12:13:10

I understand that widening the wheels will provide more balance, but there has to be a happy medium. I know it may be a hard thing to answer, just looking for different opinions So, with my wheels in all the way, should I not put the tractor on any hillsides? Do tractors just rollover without provocation from a rock or stump?

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TBSCOTT

04-15-2005 12:56:36

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 12:20:51

To answer your question would I put my tractor on a hill with the wheels in as far as they would go...NO. But depending on the hill and operation meaning you can go up and down the hill safer than along side of it. But going up and down make sure you have front weights if possible, your tire store can load your front tires with chloride also for more stability. If it feels uncomfortable to you driving on the hillside you should not be on it.

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Jon (IN)

04-15-2005 13:03:25

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to TBSCOTT, 04-15-2005 12:56:36

Thanks for your reply.

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TBSCOTT

04-15-2005 13:18:55

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Re: 4020 - Widen wheels vs rollover in reply to Jon (IN), 04-15-2005 13:03:25

Be careful. Like I say, if you feel uncomfortable on a hillside you probably should not be on it. good luck and be safe.

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