Since I haven't been doing much to the Lincoln besides keeping it running I thought I would post this up. I finally got around to getting a set of tires better suited for winter work. The turf tires worked, but not well at all. I can't really use chains without modifying the fenders as well as spacing the wheels out further well beyond the factory location which would make the wheel track wider than the blower.
The first thing I did last year was add some weight to the rear of the tractor in the form of 125lbs of lead bars hidden in the radiator area. This made it so I could actually steer the tractor. I still couldn't steer it well, but I could point it in the right direction and the rear didn't lift up when I would lift the blower when it is loaded with snow.
The next thing is I wanted to put some better looking wheels on it along with some tires for winter work. The turf tires and rusted wheels just weren't cutting it. The factory wheels on this tractor have a pretty serious offset to set the wheels out a bit. There were plenty of options that were the correct bolt pattern but nothing with the proper offset. I decided to go with some wheels made for a UTV on the drive axle and have some custom spacers made to my design. The spacers are 2.5 inches thick and they also adapt to the unmatched hub and wheel more diameter. They are a perfect fit. For the steering wheels I decided to go with some wheels for a golf cart.
For tires I went with the stock size, but not a tractor tire. For the drive wheels I bought an ATV tire that was very highly rated in the snow. It was the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 in the 23x10x12 size.
For the rear tires (steering) I went with a snow blower tire, the Carlisle Xtrac in nearly the identical stock size, just 1 inch narrower.
All tires were filled with RV antifreeze for weight. I got just under 2 gallons in each steering wheel and about 7 in each of the drive wheels.
Rear steering wheels: 8x7 aluminum wheels, they are a little wide for the tires but they work just fine.
The custom spacers compensate for the incorrect offset of the wheels. The tires are in the exact factory location in reference to the frame and brake components.
The result...looking great and excellent snow traction. I might add some studs to the tire lugs but I'll have to see how it does in the next storm or two. I had a chance to use it with the steering tires mounted in the last storm and the difference was amazing. The spacers weren't in yet so I was still using turfs on the drive wheels.
Another side project for this tractor was fixing the power steering cylinder that blew a seal earlier in the year. The cylinder was so worn it couldn't be rebuilt. Jacobsen no longer supplies these cylinders and I'm sure the price would have been some amazingly high cost. I couldn't find a bolt on solution that didn't require modifying the tractor or the hydraulic lines. I found a cylinder that was in fact the identical one used from the factory. I had the ports put in the proper orientation and a ball joint mounted. Perfect factory fit!
The first thing I did last year was add some weight to the rear of the tractor in the form of 125lbs of lead bars hidden in the radiator area. This made it so I could actually steer the tractor. I still couldn't steer it well, but I could point it in the right direction and the rear didn't lift up when I would lift the blower when it is loaded with snow.
The next thing is I wanted to put some better looking wheels on it along with some tires for winter work. The turf tires and rusted wheels just weren't cutting it. The factory wheels on this tractor have a pretty serious offset to set the wheels out a bit. There were plenty of options that were the correct bolt pattern but nothing with the proper offset. I decided to go with some wheels made for a UTV on the drive axle and have some custom spacers made to my design. The spacers are 2.5 inches thick and they also adapt to the unmatched hub and wheel more diameter. They are a perfect fit. For the steering wheels I decided to go with some wheels for a golf cart.
For tires I went with the stock size, but not a tractor tire. For the drive wheels I bought an ATV tire that was very highly rated in the snow. It was the Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 in the 23x10x12 size.
For the rear tires (steering) I went with a snow blower tire, the Carlisle Xtrac in nearly the identical stock size, just 1 inch narrower.
All tires were filled with RV antifreeze for weight. I got just under 2 gallons in each steering wheel and about 7 in each of the drive wheels.
Rear steering wheels: 8x7 aluminum wheels, they are a little wide for the tires but they work just fine.
The custom spacers compensate for the incorrect offset of the wheels. The tires are in the exact factory location in reference to the frame and brake components.
The result...looking great and excellent snow traction. I might add some studs to the tire lugs but I'll have to see how it does in the next storm or two. I had a chance to use it with the steering tires mounted in the last storm and the difference was amazing. The spacers weren't in yet so I was still using turfs on the drive wheels.
Another side project for this tractor was fixing the power steering cylinder that blew a seal earlier in the year. The cylinder was so worn it couldn't be rebuilt. Jacobsen no longer supplies these cylinders and I'm sure the price would have been some amazingly high cost. I couldn't find a bolt on solution that didn't require modifying the tractor or the hydraulic lines. I found a cylinder that was in fact the identical one used from the factory. I had the ports put in the proper orientation and a ball joint mounted. Perfect factory fit!