cod 120 #1 Posted April 23, 2022 Have any of you tried inserting a spacer plate between the frame and the transmission? I put some larger diameter tires on the rear and with the deck fully retracted (up in travel mode) I find that it rubs on the deck. So I'm wondering if I could move the transmission back. If there's an existing thread, a link would be great. Thanks! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,484 #2 Posted April 23, 2022 It can be done but there's more to it than a simple piece of metal being inserted. The drive belt and all the brake/clutch/hydro linkage will likely need to be modified. I have a 7" spacer in my Colossus tractor but that's hardly a stock build so not worth considering as an example for your own usage. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,855 #3 Posted April 23, 2022 What model tractor are we working with? Possibly there are other alternative fixes to your issue? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cod 120 #4 Posted April 23, 2022 It's a 418A but no pictures at the moment. SWMBO, has my day planned so later this weekend I'll see if I can get more info about the rear tire dimensions. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,484 #5 Posted April 23, 2022 42 minutes ago, cod said: It's a 418A but no pictures at the moment. SWMBO, has my day planned so later this weekend I'll see if I can get more info about the rear tire dimensions. I've got two 417As here. One mostly apart. One mostly together. Should be the same. I can help with measurements and ideas. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cod 120 #6 Posted June 12, 2022 Finally an update. The back story is that ever since I picked up the 418, I've wanted to raise it higher simply because I like mow my lawn at 4+ inches. I believe the WH mower decks are designed to "float" ( although float may not be the right word ) and keeping the deck fully retracted against the frame prevented this. So I started fiddling with ideas and the easiest was to buy 6" deck wheels from Oregon and try those. They helped but I only picked up 1/2" of mow height. My next thought was to extend the height of the front spindles and make a plate to go between the frame and transmission. The goal was to lift the entire frame up by 1.5". To extend the spindles I cut them in half and added a spacer as in the first picture below. I welded them together and the second photo shows the final result. I made a plate and test fit it but I found there were other areas to address ( transmission belt, raising the seat pan and linkages ) so I copped out and bought larger diameter tires as in the third photo. They solved the other mods from the plate problem and I picked up the extra height frame I was looking for. I still was not entirely please with the mow height so I made a set of 7" deck wheels. They worked great BUT I lost a good portion of the clearance between the mower deck and rear tire depending on the ground and if the deck was fully retracted. This led to the original post about adding a spacer to get the clearance back. What I finally decided to do was to cut off part of the mower deck just in front of the rear tires ( see the fourth photo ) and it so far it's working fine. So the moral of the story is, be careful when you start to screw around with your tractor. You may get what you wish for but it could take a while... ;-) 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,484 #7 Posted June 12, 2022 VERY nice work on those spindles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,275 #8 Posted June 12, 2022 On 4/23/2022 at 1:42 PM, cod said: Have any of you tried inserting a spacer plate between the frame and the transmission? I put some larger diameter tires on the rear and with the deck fully retracted (up in travel mode) I find that it rubs on the deck. So I'm wondering if I could move the transmission back. If there's an existing thread, a link would be great. Thanks! I am doing a spacer plate to be able to fit me some big mud tires. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,484 #9 Posted June 12, 2022 Just for kicks here's what I had built for Colossus. This is 7" cubic. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,659 #10 Posted June 12, 2022 I have 25 x 900 x 12 Carlisle tires on the back of my 312-8 I did raise the gas tank, bracket and fender 1 3/4" and bend the out side of the foot rest forward. On the front I have 400 x 8 triribs on 6" spindles. I did reinforce the spindles but didn't change the height. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,024 #11 Posted June 16, 2022 On 6/12/2022 at 10:01 AM, cod said: I still was not entirely please with the mow height so I made a set of 7" deck wheels. I've been looking for 7 inch deck wheels forever without any luck. Very nice job on those wheels! My 523-H custom is the result of the same issue: wanting to cut higher than standard decks will cut. I have the larger tires and the tractor worked out. Still working on the deck when I can. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,625 #12 Posted June 16, 2022 @ebinmaine that heavy angle steel 3/8 " ? reinforcement is the deal . grabbed some of that from a scrap bin before I left work , if i were to build up a horse today thats what the entire frame would be made from. you could build a house off of that , bombproof , @Lee1977 , like the look of that in that darker shade , going to the dark side , Luke skywalker , AKA , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,659 #13 Posted June 16, 2022 1 hour ago, kpinnc said: I've been looking for 7 inch deck wheels forever without any luck. Very nice job on those wheels! My 523-H custom is the result of the same issue: wanting to cut higher than standard decks will cut. I have the larger tires and the tractor worked out. Still working on the deck when I can. Off set the mount 1" lower and use the stock 6" wheels. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
