Larger Rear Tires for 48" Fastrak?

[71gearhead]

I bought a new 48" Fastrack, leveled the deck, and ran it. It cuts great wet or dry, no problems with the deck plugging when it's set to a 1/4 inch rake front to rear.

One thing I do have a problem with is a soft yard. The smallish tires on the Fastrack have gotten me stuck now several times in some spots, that have to be mown down before the next bout of rain starts - must be done.

My question is, are the larger rear wheels and tires on the SuperDuty Fastrack bolt-on items for the Fastrack? I need a tire with a larger footprint and / or more traction because my existing tires in the wet slick up and sink. Not the equipments fault, it is just a soft yard that must be mowed!

[mowerconsultant]

The larger tires on the rear will mess with our deck pitch.
It can be done.
The SD FasTrak has larger tires in the front also.

Pj

[71gearhead]

Thank you. I suppose the best way to do this is to swap out both front and rear, and then re-level and set heights on the deck?

[mowerconsultant]

Thank you. I suppose the best way to do this is to swap out both front and rear, and then re-level and set heights on the deck?

Yes.
By the time you buy the tires and rims for front and rear your going to wish you bought the SD to start with.
You will also need the new caster forks for the front for the larger tires.

Pj

[71gearhead]

Yes.
By the time you buy the tires and rims for front and rear your going to wish you bought the SD to start with.
Pj

No... I purchased the machine with about 1 hour on the meter for $4300 which for me represented a $1300 savings over the dealer retail. SD was completely out of my price range at the dealer level.

[mowerconsultant]

No... I purchased the machine with about 1 hour on the meter for $4300 which for me represented a $1300 savings over the dealer retail. SD was completely out of my price range at the dealer level.

Ahhh....
I didn't realize you had such a deal on the mower, very nice!! :clapping: :cool2:

[71gearhead]

Yes I am pleased with the deal on such a fine machine. Love how my Hustler is built, being in the fab and machine business. The overall construction is real pleasing to the eye and it drives really nice, much nicer than all of the Ferris machines I rode which came across as loose and jerky on the sticks.

So... I thought I might post as I go along so you can either find out how it's done or find out why not...

Took a look at the parts diagrams for both mowers and found another difference. The SD appears to comp for the taller tires with four (4) tabs installed at the mounting points on the deck to lower the deck about 1.5 inches.

The wheels, tires, front forks are different, no mystery there.

I cannot tell for sure but it also seems the drive axle on the SD is longer. Both axles appear to mount in the center of the tire to eliminate a bending moment on the outer bearing and axle. Extensions might be required on the Fastrack axle to get it to mount a Superduty wheel / tire combination.

Like I said, as I peck at this I will post with the results good or bad.

[71gearhead]

Well... tried to get started this Spring and could not. So, went back on the larger bar tires idea.

I am real glad I did this. I was able to mow my "field" back into a yard despite the soft ground. The neighbors actually came over to see how / what I was driving on the yard.

It took a lot to spin one of these tires and even when you did there is a chance to get out, if you reduce the tire speed.

I started the tire purchase process by seeing how much space I had. I removed a tire, measured 4.75 inches from spindle face to frame. Ordered a set of Carisle R-1 lug tires in 20x10x8 size, on a rim that produced a 4.50 inch offset from the inside of the rim to the bulge on the tire. These tires were from an awesome Ebay seller "Jed" out of TN and cost me around $180 shipped.

The tires arrived yesterday, I installed them today and was happy to find this offset left the intended 1/4 inch clearance between tire sidewall and frame.

There was a rim offset choice that left a bigger gap between the frame, but I wanted the tires tight to the frame to keep the tire's center of pressure as close to the plane of the spindle hub face as possible.

Installed the rear tires, left the front tires alone (for now) and re-leveled the deck. Started mowing my mushy yard.

Here is the new 20" by 10 inch wide lug tire compared to the old 18" by 8 inch wide turf tire

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4485399682_6fb7347ec4_m.jpg

The gas tank support clears the tire... almost as if it was intended for an upsized lug tire.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4485399052_7440f28c35_m.jpg

Heres the rear view with both tires mounted

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4485399248_cfa3e464fc_m.jpg

And the side view of the tire, it clears the tank just fine

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4484749243_8a6df59b7b_m.jpg

On the straight and flat it seems to cut with less disturbance than a turf tire. Half the grass blades it ran over were still standing after the pass

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4484750459_2daefa4f2f_m.jpg

On soft stuff in the ditches, the tire left it's mark but not a skid mark. The mower would still be in this ditch with the turf tires on.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4484750891_16e94a2ed4_m.jpg

Got a slight cut on the soft ditch circling the mailbox. The turf tire would not have been able to pull the tire around this turn.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4484751287_72e8ab79d8_m.jpg

Circled the tree, and strangely got a better result than with the turf tire. It didn't dig or lift the turf at all. The turf tires always left a ring in this situation

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4484751657_664909caa0_m.jpg

And here is what it took to get this tire stuck. One area of the yard with a temporary spring was real soft. It was in there pretty good.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4484749757_96a51d6a83_m.jpg

So, out with the Rubicon, the teen, and the winch

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4484750183_4ed5655672_m.jpg

And what the tire looked like after some passes around the yard. It partially loads between the bars with mud and makes it a bit less agressive

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4485398880_044415a1e4_m.jpg

Next up, front tires. I located a set of factory Super Duty front forks, brand new for $32. Looking for front tires at the moment.

[mowerconsultant]

Wow... your really dealing with a soaking wet muddy yard there.

[71gearhead]

It is one heck of a wet muddy yard, yes. But in Mississippi they just call it a 'yard' similar to how in China they call Chinese food, just "food". The wet and mud is a given here. It will mostly dry out by August.

What I figured out as a rule of thumb is, any piece of the yard you can stand on, you can mow with the bar and tread tires no matter how wet it was. They always found traction. The shots that were taken in the real soft spring area, you could not stand on - would sink up to your ankle or better.

[mowerconsultant]

I would like to come down and play in the mud on my wheelers.. lol....:laugh:

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m171/paulmdufault/4-wheeling/DSC00150.jpg