Set Tread Width Wide Machine—Without Hydraulic Tread Adjust Option

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
  • 6,803 kg (15,000 lb) capacity shop stand (John Deere JDG10393 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. 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.

    TS229
    TS229-UN-23AUG88

    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. N84200
    N84200-UN-14APR09

    Front Axle Shown

    N84202
    N84202-UN-14APR09

    Front Axle Shown

    N84201
    N84201-UN-14APR09

    Rear Axle Shown

    N84203
    N84203-UN-14APR09

    Rear Axle Shown

    A - Hardware

    B - Nut and Cap Screw

    Loosen six (6) pieces of axle shim hardware (A), 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.


  7. Remove nut and cap screw (B).

  8. 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.


  9. 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.

  10. 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 hole in the manual tread adjust strap needs to align with the hole in the bracket where the nut and cap screw were removed. Wheel may have to be raised and lowered slightly to “walk” axle inside of frame tube.

  11. Remove forklift.

  12. N84204
    N84204-UN-14APR09

    Front Axle Shown

    N84205
    N84205-UN-14APR09

    Rear Axle Shown

    A - Cap Screw

    B - Hardware

    Install nut and cap screw (A).


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

  14. 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.


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

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

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

  17. 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)


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

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

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. Repeat entire procedure at other wheels.

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