Set Tread Width Narrow Machine

IMPORTANT: Manual setting of tread width requires use of special tools and/or handling equipment. (See your John Deere dealer if your operation does not have the proper equipment to perform this procedure safely, as described here.)

Required tools are:

  • Overhead hoist or lift bracket and floor jack
  • 3,856 kg (8500 lb) capacity shop stand (John Deere JDGXXX or equivalent)
  • Forklift or tractor with loader attachment
  • Pull chain

NOTE: If sticking occurs, remove debris from axle knees and spray with TY25733 teflon based lubricant.

CAUTION: To avoid injury or machine damage, manual tread setting is done one wheel at a time. By resetting one wheel at a time, while having the other three (3) wheels on the ground and blocked, the machine is kept stationary.

  1. N83229
    N83229-UN-20FEB09

    N83233
    N83233-UN-20FEB09

    A - Jack Bracket

    B - Shop Stand

    Verify solution tank empty.


  2. Place wheel chocks in front and behind the tires that will not be reset at this time.

  3. NOTE: If an overhead hoist is not available to raise machine, use lift bracket (A), attached with M16 x 50 cap screws, and a floor jack.

    Using an overhead hoist (or jack bracket and floor jack) raise one corner of the machine until wheel clears the ground by approximately 152 mm (6 in.).

  4. Position 6,804 kg (15,000 lb) capacity shop stand (B) under frame and lower machine onto support with bottom of tire 76—127 mm (3—5 in.) off the ground.

  5. Remove floor jack (if used).

  6. TS229
    TS229-UN-23AUG88

    N83234
    N83234-UN-14APR09

    Front Axle Shown

    N83235
    N83235-UN-13APR09

    Rear Axle Shown

    A - Cap Screw

    B - Hardware

    Remove cap screw (A) and spacer.


  7. CAUTION: To help prevent personal injury caused by unexpected movement of the machine, be sure machine is stable before going under the frame. Do not support machine on cinder blocks, hollow tiles or props that may crumble under continuous load. Do not work on a machine that is supported solely by a jack.

    Loosen six (6) pieces of axle shim hardware (B), three on front side of each axle and three on rear of each, two or three turns. Shim hardware should only be loosened, not removed. Shims need to stay in contact with axle during reset.

  8. N84199
    N84199-UN-19JUN09

    A - Cap Screws

    Front Axle Only: Remove cap screws (A) from tie rod for 72 in. and 76 in. settings. If going to larger dimensions (80, 84 and 88 in. settings), the entire tie rod will have to be replaced.


  9. IMPORTANT: Be careful not to raise machine off shop stand. Forklift forks only need to be in contact with the bottom of the tire, not lifting it.

    N83236
    N83236-UN-20FEB09

    Extending Axle

    N76727
    N76727-UN-14JUN07

    Retracting Axle

    A - Forklift Forks

    B - Chain

    EXTENDING AXLE: Position forklift forks (A) against bottom of tire, making sure fork ends do not contact shop stand. Place a pull chain (B) around the top of the tire and attach to forklift mast.

    IMPORTANT: Forklift forks can contact shop stand, pushing it out from under the frame causing machine damage. Do not allow fork to extend past tire when retracting axle.

    RETRACTING AXLE: Position forklift forks against bottom of tire, making sure fork ends do not extend past the inside sidewall.


  10. Lift the wheel slightly, only until the axle is free to move inside the frame tube; but not so high as to raise the frame from the shop stand.

  11. CAUTION: Exercise extreme caution when extending axle out to widest setting. There is no stop in the frame to prevent the axle from being pulled clear from the frame tube. No more than 406 mm (16 in.) of axle should ever be exposed past the end of the frame tube.

    Move the forklift in or out until the wheel nears the desired position. A threaded hole in the axle needs to align with the opening in the frame tube where the cap screw and spacer were removed. Wheel may have to be raised and lowered slightly to “walk” axle inside of frame tube.

  12. Remove forklift.

  13. TS229
    TS229-UN-23AUG88

    N83234
    N83234-UN-14APR09

    Front Axle Shown

    N83235
    N83235-UN-13APR09

    Rear Axle Shown

    A - Cap Screw

    B - Hardware

    Apply anti-seize compound to cap screw (A). Install cap screw and spacer.


  14. Remove axle shim hardware (B) and apply anti-seize compound.

  15. N83248
    N83248-UN-02MAR09

    Left-Hand Front

    A - Dimension, 15 mm (0.59 in.)

    B - Adjusting Bolt, (3 Used)

    C - Jam Nut, (3 Used)

    If not already loose, loosen all jam nuts on adjusting bolts.


  16. Set three adjusting bolts (B) on shock absorber side of axle to dimension (A) of 15 mm (0.59 in.).

  17. Lock adjusting bolts by tightening jam nuts (C) to specification.

    ItemMeasurementSpecification
    Jam NutTorque250 N˙m (180 lb-ft)

  18. N83249
    N83249-UN-02MAR09

    A - Adjusting Bolts, (3 Used)

    B - Jam Nut, (3 Used)

    Tighten adjusting bolts (A) on tie rod side of axle to specification. Repeat tightening sequence till all three adjusting bolts maintain torque.

    ItemMeasurementSpecification
    Adjusting BoltsTorque100 N˙m (75 lb-ft)


  19. Tighten all jam nuts on tie-rod side of axle to specification.

    ItemMeasurementSpecification
    Jam NutTorque250 N˙m (180 lb-ft)

  20. Verify knee is not contacting inside wall of axle tube. Knee should be approximately centered in the axle tube. If knee is contacting axle tube repeat procedure with altered dimension (shorter or longer) for the shock side adjusting bolts.

  21. Tighten axle shim hardware (A).

  22. N84199
    N84199-UN-19JUN09

    Front Axle Shown

    A - Cap Screws

    B - Cap Screw

    C - Castle Nut

    Front Axle Only: Install and tighten cap screws (A) in tie rod for 72 in. and 76 in. settings or install tie rod for larger dimensions (80, 84 and 88 in. settings).

    To install replacement tie rod:

    1. Loosen cap screw (B) and unscrew tie rod pipe from threaded stub.

    2. Remove cotter pin, castle nut (C), and tie rod stud from steering arm.

    3. Install replacement tie rod pipe to threaded stub.

    4. Slide replacement tie rod stud into pipe.

    5. Install cap screws (A) for tread setting .

    6. Install tie rod stud on steering arm using castle nut and cotter pin. Tighten to specification, then continue to tighten until slot in castle nut aligns with hole in stud.

      ItemMeasurementSpecification
      Castle Nut (Dry Taper)Torque407 N˙m (300 lb-ft)

    7. Install cotter pin.


  23. Lift machine, remove shop stand, and lower machine to the ground. If jacking plate was used, remove and relocate to next wheel to be reset. Move wheel chocks from next wheel to be reset-to-last wheel reset.

  24. N84881
    N84881-UN-10JUN09

    A - Cap Screws (3 Used)

    B - Pivot Bracket Assembly

    Front Axle Only: Remove and retain cap screws (A) and nuts. Move pivot bracket assembly (B) to set of holes that matches the spacing the axle was set. Install pivot bracket assembly using previously removed hardware.

    NOTE: The inner set of holes is for 72 in. tread width the outermost being for 88 in. setting.


  25. Repeat entire procedure at other wheels.

  26. Verify front axle toe-in. See Check Front Axle Toe-In procedure in Wheels and Tires section of this book.

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