John Deere 50 wide front axle conversion

TMU58

Member
How feasible in terms of parts availabilty, money and time would it be to convert a model 50 row crop tractor to a wide stance front end? Just curious if parts for this are easy or hard to find...
 
Paid $1200 for this round tube WFE on my 60 ten years ago.
Harder to steer and wide turning radius. I grew up in an area
with no WFE’s on Two Bangers. Wanted to be different and I
have been happy with it. I really like my old “A” fenders too! I
am reasonably sure the same WFE will fit and be correct for
your 50? Don
 

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(quoted from post at 16:53:24 07/12/20) How feasible in terms of parts availabilty, money and time would it be to convert a model 50 row crop tractor to a wide stance front end? Just curious if parts for this are easy or hard to find...

Are you looking to make it original or functional? An aftermarket Schwartz wide front is functional, and would probably be a lot more affordable versus a factory Deere wide front. I see them for around $250 from time to time on sales. If you are looking to make it factory original, it will be a fair bit more expensive. The Deere wide fronts can be found, but you will look a long time unless you are willing to pay 1000+.
 
I have a Schwartz on my 60, and get along just fine. I've never had a JD wide front, but I'm told that the Schwartz turns shorter.
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Im looking for functionality more than originality, more of a safety issue on some hilly pastures Ive got. Could always keep the original with the tractor for collector value.
 
My 50 has a John Deere wide front as most of my tractors since they were not present in the area
where I grew up. My collection is predominantly wide front tractors. Greater stability on hills is
debatable but a shorter turning radius is a fact.
 
I got my square tube at New Paris Parts in Northern Indiana, about 40 miles from my Dad's farm. I paid about 10% under his list, about $1,100. Worked with Rich Brown. I looked on their page and don't have one in stock. I think it comes and goes. When i got mine in January 2019 he had 3.
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My 50 has a John Deere wide front as most of my tractors since they were not present in the area
where I grew up. My collection is predominantly wide front tractors. Greater stability on hills is
debatable but a shorter turning radius is a fact.
 
Something not mentioned... does your 50 have a convertible front end? Not all did. Some of the early ones had a solid pedistal that is not convertible. First step is to look at the current narrow front.
IS the Narrow front held on by 4 large bolts? Or is it a solid casting that is one piece with the tractor front end?

IF it is convertible (the likely scenario), your job is easy. If not, it will be changing the whole front of the tractor.

Hope this helps.
 
One of my JD's came with a square wide front end that got a complete restoration. It now sits on blocks in the back of my shop.
 
I had four different wide front ends under the 630 when it was a loader tractor. Tricycle, Schwartz, round tube and now a square tube. The tricycle front wheels plugged with mud, the Schwartz was the most nimble but broke off spindles under the weight of the loader. The round tube took forty acres to turn, well maybe not quite that much and the tie rod ends broke from the hard steering with the weight of a loader. The square front never broke and was the straightest driving. If you dont care about originality you will like the Schwartz because it is more nimble than the other wide fronts. The Schwartz will hold up just fine if you do not have a loader on the tractor. If you need to drive perfectly straight all day long planting corn you might like the square tube wide front better. I wouldnt even consider a round front.
 

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