Duals again

Anyway, I like tractors and if they are unusual I like them better. I think a 660 with factory duals would qualify. While the idea of duals from Gempler's sounds interesting, I would really like to use the IH hardware.

So in that light, I am including the parts book illustration of the duals that fit a 660. They do not fit a 560 standard tread nor does the book list any for that tractor. If anyone has a lead on those parts, let me know.

I am also including two pictures of my 660 wheel. I can't be sure how the "drum" attaches to the wheel. Does it replace the existing wheel-to-rim bolts or does it use the other eight holes (with square recesses) not currently being used. Are my existing rims with the riveted lugs no good for this application. Would I have to get four new rims? We are now talking about alot of money over and above the parts in the previous picture.

Assuming the factory set-up is not available new or used, or the total cost of doing it right is "outta sight", would a Gempler's solution work with my wheels and rims. I have an extra set of tires but would have to get 2 rims. Hugh indicated that a spacer would have to be welded to the new rims so I suppose any 34" rim that would work with a 18.4 X 34 would be satisfactory.

What additional hardware would be required over and above the tires and rims? Would the extra eight holes figure into the installation? Can I forget about J-bolts and lever clamps. Would I simply weld new lugs to the new spacers? What should tire wall to adjacent tire wall distance be?

Are my 660 wheels similar to anything that came later starting with the 06 series? In other words, could my dual setup be transferred to another tractor?

I expect you could do the same with that 660, with the exception of the axle shaft coupler. I figured the axle coupler would make it stronger, should outside wheel take all the weight.

With regards to snap on duals. I have seen the snap on duals wear the inside rim if they weren't held tight together. I expect that being loose is how folks broke cast with snap on duals. Loose wheel can be awfully hard on cast hubs, as some of us learned in our younger years.

The reason I say these should be readily available is 30 years ago there were a lot of 34 inch duals on the go, yes even 10 years ago, out here in row crop country, the move lately has been to 42" and 46" tires. Around here you see a half dozen sets of those 34" and 38" duals floating around every auction. I am going scrap yard shopping in a few days, give me a shout, I can check out price, condition and availability. If someone has them, usually quite easy to spot.

Looking at your photos, I'm tempted to say your current wheel is different from that in the parts book.

Your neighbor's tractor must have been fitted with aftermarket duals although I suspect they were 26".

IH 560s didn't run the 34" rims. They were fitted with 26" and 30". There were no dual wheel adaptors for either.

Thanks

A much less expensive, and far more easily procured solution would be "snap-on" type duals. Rings either thread on to the existing lugs, or bolt through those extra holes in the hub. Pretty much any 15-34 rim will work with the spacer ring and four clamps that hold the whole works together.

If the Company did sell these conversions, what group of farmers might have bought them? What area and what crop would have seen duals on a 660? The window for buying the adaptors was probably limited to a few years. Bigger tractors were soon available and the investment would have gone to the bigger tractors instead of retrofitting the 660.

Narrowing down the area of use would make finding a set easier.