'74 C160 Tecumseh engine tractor. Let's put it to use!

[sqrlgtr 1,600]

7 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Two cautions: not every 520H has the “swept” front axle and not every swept axle 520-H has the reduction steering.

One encouragement: Look also at 520-HCs. Some of those had both the swept and reduction. 

The swept axle has heavier spindles (1”), better wheel bearings, and stronger tie rods. It runs wider front tires, too. It adds 2” to the wheelbase and has a 40 inch front track.

 

 

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I'm much more knowledgeable on the older rigs. 

 

I  > believe <   the 520H breakdown is as follows. 

1988, 89. No swept axle or gear reduction. 

1990 swept axle started but no gear reduction. 

Either 1991 or 92  both became standard equipment

 

great info. I was aware that some 520's had sweep axle but thought all swept axles had reduction steering. Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

[ebinmaine 76,182]

11 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

. Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

 

 

Not sure on the year spread there. 

 

@Bill D or @Handy Don  ?

[Handy Don 15,407]

2 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

Ah, the big “IF”! “Previous Owners” are a mysterious and mischievous lot. 

Lots of front wheel sizes but, my experience is that the 16x7.50-8 tires were only on swept-axle tractors. The wheels had taper bearings in a different hub. The next largest (from memory here) was 16x6.50-8 on 418’s and the earlier 520s. Depending on the tire, they can be hard to distinguish. 

[sqrlgtr 1,600]

3 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Ah, the big “IF”! “Previous Owners” are a mysterious and mischievous lot. 

Lots of front wheel sizes but, my experience is that the 16x7.50-8 tires were only on swept-axle tractors. The wheels had taper bearings in a different hub. The next largest (from memory here) was 16x6.50-8 on 418’s and the earlier 520s. Depending on the tire, they can be hard to distinguish. 

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

[ebinmaine 76,182]

5 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

 

 

I believe so... not positive.  

 

 

[kpinnc 16,352]

28 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

 

As Don said the PO may have changed some things. 

 

I've only ever seen the 7.50 front tires on the swept axle 520 models, but have seen them with 6.50 as well. 

 

I put both on my modified 14hp tractor. The difference is minimal. The pics below are 6.50 and then 7.50. Same exact tread pattern, so it's quite hard to see the difference. Tiny bit more bulge in the sidewall is about all that is visibly different. The third pic is a close up of the 7.50 with weights. 

 

 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by kpinnc

[sqrlgtr 1,600]

17 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

As Don said the PO may have changed some things. 

 

I've only ever seen the 7.50 front tires on the swept axle 520 models, but have seen them with 6.50 as well. 

 

I put both on my modified 14hp tractor. The difference is minimal. The pics below are 6.50 and then 7.50. Same exact tread pattern, so it's quite hard to see the difference. Tiny bit more bulge in the sidewall is about all that is visibly different. The third pic is a close up of the 7.50 with weights. 

You're not kidding, is the 7.5 on the left side in top pic? It looks slightly flatter across the tread to me. 

[Handy Don 15,407]

20 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

Pretty sure only the later 520’s (which would have been the swept models) had the 23-10.50x12 rears from the factory. 9.50 was next largest.

As @kpinnc notes, that front inch may or may not matter a lot. Same on the rears--the tires you mount are the biggie. I had 10.5 wheels with turf tires on our 520 but we realized that for camp use on rough terrain and in tight quarters, they were not ideal. Swapped on 9.5s with lugged ag tires and we’re satisfied. The turfs went onto a tractor that only sees grass and pavement. 

[sqrlgtr 1,600]

@Handy Don @kpinnc and @ebinmaine  thanks for all this info. Will be handy if I get to look at this 520 in person. 

[kpinnc 16,352]

16 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

You're not kidding, is the 7.5 on the left side in top pic? It looks slightly flatter across the tread to me. 

 

Nope. Both 6.50 in first pic and both 7.50 in the second. I think the narrower width just pulls the tread a little flatter on the smaller tire. 

 

I think older tires had significantly more difference between the two sizes. I purchased the 7.50 size because of a set of old Carlisles I had seen on a 520-H. 

Edited 10 hours ago by kpinnc

[sqrlgtr 1,600]

2 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Nope. Both 6.50 in first pic and both 7.50 in the second. I think the narrower width just pulls the tread a little flatter on the smaller tire. 

 

I think older tires had significantly more difference between the two sizes. I purchased the 7.50 size because of a set of old Carlisles I had seen on a 520-H. 

Oh I misunderstood I thought you had two different sizes on at one time. I cant tell difference.

[kpinnc 16,352]

2 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

I cant tell difference.

 

If I had known how little difference the 7.50 was, I would have left those brand new 6.50s right where they were. 

 

Of course different brands may be closer to the "actual" size. I have a couple sets of 520 front wheels with older 6.50 tires that are as wide the 7.50 size that I bought. 

[Bill D 2,473]

10 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

@Handy Don  or whomever...

 

the bearings at the ends of the steering shaft. 

3/4" bore. 2 bolt holes.  

 

How do I buy those? 

I think those are still available thru Toro.  Don't know the part number though.