Anvil 9 #1 Posted April 27, 2024 Looking for suggestions on wheel offsets for '91 520 H with 23 x 10.5 x 12. Without thinking about it I purchased a 42" side discharge deck in almost new condition as my 48" has seen better days. Has anyone determined through experience if I can fit a different offset rim on the 520, and possibly a narrower tire (as they are cracking quite badly) without going too narrow? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gasaholic 292 #2 Posted April 27, 2024 If you can find 23 x 9.50-12 or 23 x 8.50-12 Tire rims off most any tractor (deere, Craftsman, old Roper, Simplicity, etc) they should mount right up - same bolt pattern and then you can put on new tires of a chosen size (8.5 and 9.5 tires both should work fine on 8.5 or 9.5 rims - 10.50 rims might do also but they'd tend to get smaller O.D. since narrower aspect ratio would have to expand sideways to fit bigger rims, so their outside diameter would have to shrink..) But rim sizes were pretty much "universal" across brands - I believe Martin Wheel Co. was one of the primary OPE OEM suppliers - but this is all from memory from back in the 1990's so YMMV on that info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,644 #3 Posted April 27, 2024 Most other tractor manufactures used rims with 2-3/8" back set. Most WH rims are 1-3/8" backset.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,396 #4 Posted April 27, 2024 Or, consider using a pair of short wheel spacers - as @ebinmaine has done...... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anvil 9 #5 Posted April 27, 2024 56 minutes ago, pfrederi said: Most other tractor manufactures used rims with 2-3/8" back set. Most WH rims are 1-3/8" backset.... If I was to find 12" rims with a 2-3/8 backspace might that interfere with the seat pan, oil filter, or anything else up underneath? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 14,054 #6 Posted April 27, 2024 39 minutes ago, Anvil said: If I was to find 12" rims with a 2-3/8 backspace might that interfere with the seat pan, oil filter, or anything else up underneath? Possibly, yes. But I believe the deeper backset can be offset (pun intended) with one inch spacers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,575 #7 Posted April 27, 2024 1 hour ago, Anvil said: If I was to find 12" rims with a 2-3/8 backspace might that interfere with the seat pan, oil filter, or anything else up underneath? 2 hours ago, ri702bill said: Or, consider using a pair of short wheel spacers - as @ebinmaine has done...... 54 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Possibly, yes. But I believe the deeper backset can be offset (pun intended) with one inch spacers. Definitely can be done, as noted. The cost of getting spacers might outweigh the cost of getting correct Wheelhorse rims though. Just get a pair of rear wheels off an older Wheelhorse. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 8,331 #8 Posted April 27, 2024 If you are handy with a tape measure a few simple checks will help with your quest. First you have to determine what backset is on the current rims on your 520 I have seen two different ones used. Shallow and deep. This rim is shallow. measures about 3/4" where the red mark is. The deeper ones are about an inch more. You can then measure the space between the tire and seat pan supports on both sides. Measure the width of outside of your tires and compare that to the inside measurement of the gauge wheels on the 42. I know on some machines they put the deep rims so smaller decks can clear. A friend of mind had a 418-c with shallow rims and tried to put a 42" rear discharged deck and the gauge wheels rubbed the tires. In the past he swapped the original deeper rims to another machine and did not realize they had a different offset. The deeper rims are plenty-full if you are looking to narrow up the tire size get the 7 inch wide rims it will let the side wall of the tires set right. I figure your 520 has 8 1/2" rims now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anvil 9 #9 Posted April 27, 2024 Hey Supporter, you are right on target. The wheels currently on my 520 has the roughly 3/4" measurement where you indicated and the wheel contact area of the flange to the back of the rim lip is roughly 1.5". I'm currently reaching out to a guy on Marketplace who is selling 2 rear rims which are stamped 12 x 7 in almost new condition for $50. He hasn't gotten back to me all day. If I stuck with the 23 x 10.5 x 12 tires I think I will still be in trouble. I like the way those big boys look on my machine but if I must downsize I must. Thank you for your assistance and all the rest of the responding members. It's great to have a knowledgeable group to depend on. Thanks again. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
