He Modified The Axle Frame On His Deere 7700 Combine

He Modified The Axle Frame On His Deere 7700 Combine COMBINES Modifications 23-1-40 Roger Wessels, Fairbury, Ill.: Roger is hard-pressed to explain why the axle frame on his Deere 7700 combine, as well as those on the 6600, 6620 and 7720 series, are 2 in. farther to the left of center on the right side than on the left side. "I can tell the difference in the way they steer, which isn't as straight," he says. "Deere's approach to the problem was to sell the customer a 2-in. spacer to install on the right wheel rim. Why they did so is beyond my understanding. "I modified the axle frame on my combine by making two heavy-duty face plates that install on each side of the axle to spread out wheels equidistantly to exactly 120 in. I had them cut out of 1-in. thick plate at The Farm Shop (P.O. Box 36, Congerville, Ill. 61729; ph 309 448-2338). I drilled out the spacer blocks between the two plates. They're heavier built and cost less than comparable Deere extension brackets, and they work great to improve handling." Roger also retrofitted the drive wheels on his 7700 with a pair of Alliance 12-ply knobby tires from Harry's Farm Tire Service (Jackson St. Place, Wheatland, Iowa 52777; ph 319 374-1253). "The reason for doing so was to reduce lug tracks from the combine and, thus, cut down on vibration in the cab of my 4640 when V-ripping bean ground after I combine," he says.

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