Low Cost Way To Duals

Low cost way to duals TIRES/WHEELS Miscellaneous 13-4-6 Faced with soil compaction problems and loss of traction, A.J. Heinrichs, Earlimart, Calif., found a quick and easy way to install duals on his 1978 International 706 tractor by welding a pair of 36-in. rims which act as spacers onto an extra pair of 38-in. rims which he then mounted onto the tractor wheels. "I like the buoyancy of duals but I couldn't fmd any for the 706 tractor," says Heinrichs. "With this system I just leave everything on the tractor as is and bolt on the extra tires. There are no axle extensions, special hubs or clamping mechanisms to bother with. Mounting takes about 10 minutes." Heinrichs fit the flange of the 36-in. rim inside the flange of the 38-in. rim and welded them together. He then cut off the flange on the opposite side of the 36-in. rim so that it fits inside the tractor rim and against the tractor wheel casting. The next step was to weld four metal gussets just inside the inner edge of the 36-in. rim. He then drilled four 7/8-in. holes through the gussets into the wheel casting. He also cut a notch in the 36-in. rim to allow for the valve stem on the 706's wheel rim. To install the duals, Heinrichs jacks up each tractor wheel a little, rolls the extra tire into it, and tight-ens the four bolts. "I leave the weights on the tractor and I don't put fluid in the outside tire which makes it easier to mount the wheels," says Heinrichs. "I use my 90 hp 706 tractor mostly to cultivate and fertilize my cotton land and to pull a landplane. Before I had duals I could hardly turn on the ends of the field while pulling the landplane. The duals reduce slippage so much that my 706 now does an outstanding job of handling my landplane and reduces soil compaction at the same time." Contact FARM SHOWFollowup,AJ. Heinrichs, Rt. 1, Box 222, Earlimart, Calif. 93219 (ph 805 849-2648).

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