Tires Tear Grass in Turns

50 8N tires dig into/tear up grass and dirt when making turns to either right or left. The sharper the turn, the more the tearing up. (Brother's 8N hardly leaves tracks.)

Hands off wheel and tractor runs in a nice straight line.

Jacked up rear end with engine off and gear engaged = one wheel turns forward just a bit and the other turns backward.

Jacked up rear end with engine on and gear engaged = both wheels turn forward (backward when in reverse).

No unusual noise and fluid level is proper.

Tractor also seems to be "working harder" when turning.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

If the toe-in isn't adjusted correctly the front wheels will do that. If the radius rods are bowed the front wheels will do that. If there is excessive backlash between the left and right steering sector gears the front wheels will do that.

The rear end differential is working as it should.
.

Thanks, I'll check the toe.

The "free-wheeling" rear tire in a turn is also digging into the grass or dirt.

This thing is not "plowing" the dirt in turns, but both "outer" wheels sure do dig into the grass more than brother's 8N.

do you have stabilizer bars in the back ?

A perfectly restored utility tractor, and even row crop tractors, will tear the grass in a turn. Try using the brakes while turning. It takes some practice but I can turn any tractor with minimum damage to the grass. Not to say there won't be some. It will be some from the front tires and some from the rear tires, depending how tight the turn. I mow my yard with a Jubilee and a Woods RM600 rear mower. This is not a golf course. It repairs itself.

What are the differences in tires between yours and the other one?

do yours have more agressive tread, or are they loaded?

"No grass tear" tractor had a blade on back with stabilizer.

"Grass tear" tractor had nothing attached.

Tractors are miles apart and on different soil, one wetter than the other.

Both tractors have new (couple of months old) 3 rib front tires.

Rear tires on both tractors are with comparable wear.

Two brothers down country were to use my 50, with my permission, to do some grass mowing. They didn't like the way it was tearing/pushing the grass/dirt in turns, so they stopped and told me.

Today I went down with one of the brothers and drove the tractor. Seemed "normal" to be, but the more I listened, I took it out to a field and drove in all sorts of turns and saw the grass torn/pushed up as I turned. I even began thinking that the rear-end seemed a bit "tight" if that makes any sense. (Brothers may have messed with my head.)

Went back to brother's place and he took his 52 8N thru various turns in his side yard. No really noticeable grass/dirt tears or push outs.

I'm going to take my 49 8N thru the turn exercise tomorrow and see how the 3 compare.

Thanks to all and keep any ideas coming.

Moved "grass tearing tractor" so that valve stems were on bottom and checked for fluid. It came out of both tires, but I don't know just how much fluid was in them.

Brother stated that fluid in his tires.

I find that it makes a difference depending on engine RPMs.

What is a "free wheeling" rear tire???
Willie

My 841 did that until the spindle bushings and bearings were replaced.
Are yours ok?

several things will make a tractor do that, mine started doing it when i put on new front 3 rib tires, but the old ones were worn almost smooth so they didnt do it, having a automotive background, i know that in a turn , to be smooth the tires must have the same degree of turn, if one is cutting sharper than the other one of the tires will cut the ground as its being put in a bind, you need to park the tractor on a level surface like cement, check the front end alignment, since you have the 3 rib tires pick one rib, measure the distance between the rib and the same rib on the other tire with a tape measure halfway down the front of the tires, now measure the same rib, at the same point behind the tire, [ under the tractor] the front ribs need to measure 1/8th inch or so closer then the back measurement, this keeps the front tires from flapping like a bird when driving straight, anything else, you need to adjust the tierods until the measurement is correct, now be advised any wear on the steering anywhere will make this pointless, if you have worn bushings in the spindles, steering box or worn tie rod ends you have to fix them first, then make wide turns, and assist the turn with the inside brake, just a little will help with the cutting, you can also change the front tires to hiway tread like car tires motorcycle tires, ect and solve this problem, i did my alignment aslo replaced the spindle bushings and now the tractor will make smooth turns unless i try to turn so tight it has to cut the grass, like pulling a row, and turning and trying to go down the very next row, dont do that make broad turns

The rear tires on my Jubelee are new goodyears. No fluid. Whe I turn my 3 rib fronts will dig in a little, but that's normal. I have seen turf tires on front and rears before. If it bothers you that much get turf tires.

I also have a 5 ft wide lawn roller that weighs 4640#. Roll the lawn with a big boy and it won't do much damage.

George,

If I put good H chains on my Jube and like you I have UNloaded tires, will I have any success with my rear blade and snow?

No rear wheel weights either.
My rear tires are 13.6 wide and I wonder if or how tire width matters in snow.

Thanks,
T

I just mulched leafs for the last, then put chains
and snow blade on. Let it snow, let it snow. You
will have no problem with chains. You can go
anywhere. I have to use brakes to turn in snow. I
keep my back blade off the ground to stay out of
the gravel. The weight of the blade helps too.

The distance between tie rod ends should be 4 to 6 inches narrower then the distant between the spindles. They are this way on my 656 Farmall. I broke a spindle and when getting the new one it was keyed so that they were the same distant. Front outside tire really digs now when turning. It never did before.

Thanks for all the replies.

Much to check when the weather warms and I feel up to it. Meanwhile, will use as is.