M rear hubs

Help me out guys, I'm getting crazy ideas again!

So, I have a 72 inch mower deck for my M. Just need to rig up a few mounts, and hook up the PTO. It takes a while to cut the new property's lawn with the old JD 332, so would be nice to take a 6 foot swath with the M. BUT, I'd rather not tour around with the AG tires on, tearing up the lawn. I've found a decent set of turf tires on rims from a newer (90's I think) compact. Front rims will fit up, though a slightly smaller diameter. Rear rims are a touch smaller as well, with a 20" rim. This will not fit on the M cast hub. So, was thinking of building a hub to bolt the rims to for the rear. I've seen around that a 420 hub might fit on the 6 spline stub axle of the M. Any ideas? Other than that, I can't find too much for a bigger size 6 spline hub from driveline products suppliers. Could go to a machine shop, but $$$$$!

The way I look at it, I can't buy a bigger (or faster) lawnmower for what this will cost me. The deck is almost new, and I got it for $400. The full set of turf tires I can probably get for $400. A bit in parts and some scrap steel, I should have a good grass cutter for around $1200. I know for $1200 around here, you'd be lucky to get a complete piece of crap riding mower. Certainly not even nearly as good as my 332 with 4000 hours. And as a bonus, I get to listen to 2 cylinders while cutting the grass!!!

You're right about the "crazy ideas" part.
Tying up $1200 doesn't mean you will have a "good grass cutter".
Would be more of a "piece of crap" masquerading as a lawn mower.
Sorry to be so blunt but I've seen that mistake made too many times
and with more desirable tractors than an M.
Never saw it done satisfactorily.

You might consider checking the HP requirements on your 72 inch mower deck and test it with your M.

We had a BushHog ATH 720 on "Sparky" our 51 M and it was a load on the little tractor.





We later put a BushHog FTH 600 on "Sparky" and it works much better.

Thanks James. Tractor the deck came off of was comparable HP, so I'm not too concerned about that. Turf tires are for more than just cutting grass. I use the tractor for just about everything, so would rather not track up the lawn. Its bumpy enough right now.

But the question still stands about the later Dubuque hubs. Is it the same spline?

Did more looking, but found that hubs from a 40, 420 and 430 won't fit. But, did find something interesting. For a Ford 8N: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/8N1171-Ford-...pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b5e9e057

Will need to do some measuring, but this looks on the right track.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the axle stub (Key 20) AM 1643 T that fits 1951 serial no. 45245 and newer 1952 model M.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the axle shaft (Key 21) AM 1643 T that fits 1953 through 1954 serial no. 68876 Model 40.

If you have a 1951 Model M serial no. 45245 or newer, then the axle stub is identical to the axle shaft up to the 1954 Model 40 serial no. 68876.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the wheel web (Key 8) M 1549 T that fits 1951 serial no. 45245 and newer 1952 model M.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the web (Key 8) AM 1549 T that fits 1953 through 1954 serial no. 68876 Model 40.

If you have a 1951 Model M serial no. 45245 or newer, then the wheel web is identical to the web up to the 1954 Model 40 serial no. 68876.

Take a look at the photo of the wheel web on "Sparky" our 1951 M serial no. 47847.



It will interchange with the web on "Audie" our 1954 Model 40S serial no. 67643.



Hope this helps.

Thanks again James! During my search, I only found hubs for the other style axle shaft for the 40. I see now that they also use common parts with the M.

Unfortunately, what I'm trying to find is a smaller hub (like the style on the 8N) that will fit the splined axle of the M (or 40). This is solely because with the wheels I found, the rear rim is 20" diameter. This relates to about 18" diameter at the smaller part of the rim. That will be too small to fit the M web in to bolt up to mounting holes. So, seeing as the wheels I found have a nice steel web, would be easiest to find smaller hubs that will fit closer to the bolt circle on these rims. I messaged some sellers of the Ford hubs and asked for dimensions. They said ID of splined area is 2". Even if it is close, a little massaging is going to be cheaper than getting a machine shop to build a whole new one.

Will have a look at and measure my M axle shafts, then I'll know exactly what I'm looking for.

You wouldn't believe how many people aren't open to doing anything a little different than what's "normal". The local tractor tire place looked at me like I was talking mandarin to him when I asked if he had any turf tire take offs. That was the owner of the place.

19 HP and a 72 inch mower deck isn't going to be a good combination. Course I've been wrong before.

u can try to find MC crawler rear hubs that have a 6 spline and they have a 6 bolt pattern but u would have to make that pattern in rim.... they are pricey I paid around 325 each

Had a quick look for MC hubs . Only found one picture, and that's it. I might assume they are rare, and made of unobtanium, thus expensive.