MTD wheel weights

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for your input on wheel weights. I have found what I think is a solution but would appreciate comments on the below: I visited http://www.innernet.net/mclog24/ and they do have an interesting concept. If I hadn't found some MTD weights at WalMart today I probably would have tried them. But, with the 31 lb MTD weights at $74, and the Tractor Traction forms at $37 + freight + 2 bags of ready mix concrete + my propensity to screw things up made it a no brainer. BUT - I did have a problem with the MTD's and would like your opinion. They apparently are manufactured with the intent of using them on 9" rims with the valve core facing outwards. The Regent has the rim mounted with the valve core facing inwards and the 7-1/2" hex bolts just wouldn't quite reach. I replaced them with 8" bolts and they now seem to work great, but probably stick out approx 1/2" further (a total of 2-1/2" from existing tire) than they would if the rims were reversed. Do you think this will cause excess axle stress? Do most lawn tractors have valve core facing in (advantage is of course that you can still add air with weights on) or is that primarily a Simplicity feature?

[FiremanRon]

I ran into the same thing when I tried to install weights on my Regent. They don't stick out any farther form the tire, since they rest on the rim either way. The wheel is offset deeper on the side without the valve stem, so the tractor slightly wider with the wheels in that position. I think the older versions of the Regent (4200series) had the wheels flipped around so the valve was facing outward, so that is what I did, at first. All was fine till last year when we were hit with snow, then rain, then more snow, and then it all froze into one big mess. I needed to install the chains for the first time, and they don't fit between the tire and frame! So I changed the wheels around, but I didn't have the long bolts, so I hung the weights off the back of the tractor with a chain. This year I used threaded rod to mount the weights in the normal manner. One advantage is that you can air up or down without taking the weights off. On my dad's 728, he had wheel weights made from lead, using a coffee can for a mold, and the bolts were cast in place.

[tej]

The 12" 50# weights I bought at Home Depot were also MTD and were exactly 1/2 the price of Simplicity weights. Tim