Narrow Front Tractor Wheel Spacing

One of the most frequent questions I have got since buying my Farmall 350 is how wide the front wheels are spaced - it was that way when I bought it. I had a flat tire on the front and with that fix, I decided to move the front wheels inward.

Basically what I did was take the otherwise dished out wheels and move them from one side of the tractor to the other such that they are now dished in. Previously the center to center spacing was 16.75 per the manual and they are now set at 11.5 inches. If I move the rims to the inside of the hub disc, I can bring the wheels to 8.5 inches center to center. I was in a hurry and that setting looked like more effort than I had time for today, so I just dished the wheels in.

As I have them now, inside sidewall to sidewall is about 5 inches of space between.

Question is - how close are your narrow front tractors front wheels inside sidewall to sidewall? Would you advise I move mine to the minimum setting?

I have read that some like space between the front wheels to prevent mud, manure and all things that would otherwise plug the two wheels and cause them to slide vs roll to pass through. Perhaps what I have may be a good compromise between fully spaced out and fully spaced in? I think I like the look at the narrowest setting - not sure it is really necessary.

How are your front wheels set on your narrow front tractor?

Thanks!
Bill

ps - the oil spot in the pic of the widest spacing was at the sellers place. This Farmall does not leak that much oil - LOL!

They turn easier with them as close as possible. There is less stress on the sector gear with them close as hitting a stone with one wheel can put a lot of force on the gear and worm ball bearing. They are nasty wide if the tractor has no Power steering. Mud issues are to be avoided in all cases. The same tire foot print is on the ground, only their common pushing of mud and possible balling up is problematic. But when too wet to drive, it is too wet to work or harvest. Jim

Dished in and bolted on the inside looks the best by way of a side view, in my opinion.

A little more width than that (like what you changed them to, and are now) makes them a little less apt to ball up in the mud, or sink in softer ground/dirt.

What yours was before you changed them, is to wide for my liking also. I wouldn't run em that wide unless I had a specific reason or need to do so. And I would probably narrow em back up after that job was done.

There are 4 ways to bolt these up. A couple to many wider settings if you ask me. But that's just how the wheels were made. I guess an adjustable wheel with only 2 width settings aren't really very adjustable, are they? But, I guess the guy that needs them in that widest setting, is probably pretty glad that they were made that way.

My 2 cents.

We had a Farmall M purchased second hand that came with front wheels spaced like your first photo. My Dad asked me to disc a fall plowed field that was still pretty rough in the spring. I made two rounds and came back and changed those wheels to the narrowest setting. I think every clod in that field jerked the steering wheel out of my hands and whacked my forearm with the spinner knob on the steering wheel. Don't try this at home, it's not worth it. If mud clogs the front wheels at the narrowest setting, GET OUT OF THE FIELD before you get REALLY stuck!

We would always run narrow front tires in the narrowest spacing for easiest steering except during winter. We moved tires to the widest spacing during freezing weather to try to prevent mud and snow from balling up between the front wheels and freezing into a solid block. Sometimes that still happened and you had to scrape out the mud and ice before it could freeze solid overnight.

Not a good idea to set them out on one here in Michigan with all of our stones. Hit a stone with one tire and you're likely to break your thumb or even an arm.

Narrower is better I think. You can get scrapers to help keep the mud out.
Dave

I do not believe you are doing row crop farming on ridges, That is what the wide setting was made for to help stay on the ridge. Our Farmal H did not have adjustable wheels at all and neiter the earliest John tractors. The later Deeres the rims were reversable and we did turn them around when muddy conditions when picking corn or trying to push thru snow for hauling manure in winter. But done with those jobs moved back to narrow position. They do turn easier the narrower they are but make sure over size tires have not been installed that side walls rub together. Just making hay you will not notice the width like if working over first time over rough plowed ground.

Scrapers just make the mud ball up worse.

I have my NF tractors with the front wheels close together and run the WF in the mud and snow

Ours must be in the narrowest setting since the tires just about rub. Maybe an inch between them. Steers easier too.

Thanks for the replies everyone - much appreciated!