Tires on 953 sickle

[cafoose 3,675]

Been having problems with traction on my 953 I got from @Ed Kennellwith the SMS-50. I first put chains on it and that improved it a lot but it was very bumpy. I found four used 14 inch side by side tires on FB for $20 Put the 27-9-14s on it and it pulls like a dozer  I still have the 27-11-14s I'm thinking of trying but I need wider wheels. What size wheels for the 27-11-14?

[oliver2-44 11,329]

FWIW if you go wider you will lose some of your traction, or you will need to add more weight. 

Edited March 31 by oliver2-44

[Treepep 1,095]

Ya mean add more weight?

[Ed Kennell 45,457]

3 hours ago, cafoose said:

  27-9-14s on it and it pulls like a dozer  I still have the 27-11-14s I'm thinking of trying   Why, Ya want it to pull like a tank?  Don't break my tractor Chuck.   

                                                                     

[Pullstart 69,404]

It looks like the right side tire has more traction?  I’d flip flop that to the left, and add left side weight however you can.  I stacked two weights on the left and have none on the right of my 753 sickle machine.

[Ed Kennell 45,457]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

It looks like the right side tire has more traction?

Definitely has more traction than the right wheel I had on it.

[cafoose 3,675]

10 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

                                                                     

Don't worry Ed, I don't pull anything with it. Only run the sickle  

 

10 hours ago, Pullstart said:

It looks like the right side tire has more traction?  I’d flip flop that to the left, and add left side weight however you can.  I stacked two weights on the left and have none on the right of my 753 sickle machine.

Noticed the sickle side was much heavier when I jacked it up to change the tires  I may have to add more weight to the opposite side  Maybe I'll put an 8 speed in it so I can go slower and cut more efficiently sometimes even first gear seems too fast for the sickle  Does your 753 have high/low range Kevin?

[Pullstart 69,404]

5 hours ago, cafoose said:

Does your 753 have high/low range Kevin?

yes, an 8 speed was swapped in.  I use low range often.  

[953 nut 64,749]

8 hours ago, cafoose said:

Maybe I'll put an 8 speed in it

            A six speed would be an easy swap because the brake linkage is the same. If you have an extra GT-14 axle and differential around they could go into the six speed for the limited slip feature.

 

[cafoose 3,675]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

If you have an extra GT-14 axle and differential around they could go into the six speed for the limited slip feature.

GT-14 all have limited slip? Is there room for the high/low lever in the 953 without modification? What all  have the six speed?

Edited April 1 by cafoose

[Handy Don 16,082]

7 minutes ago, cafoose said:

GT-14 all have limited slip?

News to me. Perhaps the reference was to the longer axles in the GT-14 which could be paired with an LSD from elsewhere?

 

5060 and 5071 Unidrives are "6-speed with limited slip differentials". 5060 with aluminum endplates and 5071 with steel. 

 

[cafoose 3,675]

3 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

5060 and 5071 Unidrives are "6-speed with limited slip differentials". 5060 with aluminum endplates and 5071 with steel. 

Is there a casting number or tag that identifies the different unidrives?

[953 nut 64,749]

1 hour ago, cafoose said:

GT-14 all have limited slip? Is there room for the high/low lever in the 953 without modification? What all  have the six speed?

My 1970 GT-14 has a limited slip transaxle.

I installed a six speed in a 953 many years ago, at the time I didn't know about the GT-14 axle swap. I did have to drill and tap a new hole in the case for the mounting point and elongated a hole in the mounting plate.     No Pictures but it was no big deal.

This thread will give you all the answers about six and eight speeds.

 

[Handy Don 16,082]

The external characteristics for “6-speeds” are:

- 1-2-3-R shifter

- Hi-lo shifter

- No top-side hole for a dipstick

- A 1” pipe extension on the oil fill at the lower left rear of the transaxle (allows filling oil to a higher level)

- 5/8” (0.625) input drive shaft but it’s shorter than later 8-speeds’ (corrected 6Apr26 -- thanks @kpinnc)

- A brake drum that brings the brake band to within an inch of the rear axle housing casting

- A brake drum that turns clockwise when the tractor is moving forward

 

There was at least one “8-speed” that also had a LSD--I think it was the 5073. This had a topside dipstick port and the brake drum was farther from the rear axle and turned counter-clockwise and had a ⅝” input shaft making it externally indistinguishable from an open-differential 8-speed.

 

As for the rest, the link to the thread in @953 nut’s post (above) has the relevant information. 

Edited 21 hours ago by Handy Don

[cafoose 3,675]

9 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

The external characteristics for “6-speeds” are:

- 1-2-3-R shifter

- Hi-lo shifter

- No top-side hole for a dipstick

- A 1” pipe extension on the oil fill at the lower left rear of the transaxle (allows filling oil to a higher level)

- ¾” input drive shaft (that’s also shorter than later 8-speeds’ ⅝” shaft)

- A brake drum that brings the brake band to within an inch of the rear axle housing casting

- A brake drum that turns clockwise when the tractor is moving forward

 

There was at least one “8-speed” that also had a LSD--I think it was the 5073. This had a topside dipstick port and the brake drum was farther from the rear axle and turned counter-clockwise and had a ⅝” input shaft making it externally indistinguishable from an open-differential 8-speed.

 

As for the rest, the link to the thread in @953 nut’s post (above) has the relevant information. 

@stevasaurus Thoughts?

[stevasaurus 23,652]

@cafoose what exactly are you looking to do ?? 

[cafoose 3,675]

8 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

@cafoose what exactly are you looking to do ?? 

Swap a six speed into a 953 possibly with limited slip 

[Lee1977 7,629]

My 1971 Raider has 5073 six speed. No dip stick, it has a pipe and cap. It's also a little slower then an 8 speed in second gear and I'am runnig 25" rear tires.

[kpinnc 17,560]

On 4/1/2026 at 1:12 PM, Handy Don said:

¾” input drive shaft (that’s also shorter than later 8-speeds’ ⅝” shaft)

 

I thought all transmissions with the high/low shifter (6 or 8 speed) have 5/8 input shaft. The theory being it was a requirement for making room for the high/low gearset. Is this incorrect? 

[Handy Don 16,082]

On 4/2/2026 at 2:47 PM, kpinnc said:

 

I thought all transmissions with the high/low shifter (6 or 8 speed) have 5/8 input shaft. The theory being it was a requirement for making room for the high/low gearset. Is this incorrect? 

Well that’s a good question. I was trusting my memory but now I’ll have to go out and measure it!

Edit:  Went out and measured. ⅝ (0.625 it is). 

I clearly recall the shortness of the shaft because I needed an input pulley with the setscrew set in the valley of the sheave--not enough room for a longer hub to the “outside” and the sheave had to hug the transaxle case to be in line with the engine drive pulley and fit under the belt guard

Edited 21 hours ago by Handy Don