Securing Larger Front Tires

What’s your method of securing larger front wheels and tires? I have 19x7-8 ATV tires on standard rear lawn tractor rims mounted on my front spindles. I welded a large bolt to the end and secure them with a nut and red thread locker. I’ve had my left front tire fall off twice, because the motion of going forward loosens the nut despite any thread locker or anything. The other side obviously doesn’t have a problem, because going forward is spinning the nut right.

I just got the mower up to roughly 30mph, and the last thing I need is a wheel coming off again at that speed. Also, is the stock E clip setup on the rear sufficient? How could I make those more secure as well? I really don’t want to spend money on a hub with lugs, but I could. Open to all suggestions.

Thanks

Drill a small hole through the bolt either through the nut or through the threaded part where the nut has to come out and put a cotter pin in it.  Be sure there is a washer (2 thrust washers are best) between the nut and wheel.

I've ran my tractor pretty hard and ever since I upgraded to the spindles with the nice big cotter key instead of the little snap ring I haven't had a problem.

I mostly use cotter pins. If my spindles are custom i use nuts though. What you gotta do is get two nuts, set the inside one where you want, then with two wrenches lock the nuts together without moving the inside one much. I've found this is the best solution.

Lol once i forgot to tighten them more than hand tight and the right front locked up when the nut kept tightening. Good times.

My wheel horse just simply has a bolt that threads into the spindle but I also have bearings in my wheels so I'm sure you couldnt do this with Bushings since it'd probably grab and loosen up. I guess the main question here is do you have bushings or bearings??

You could drill and tap the ends if you wanted. I had a cub cadet with bolts holding the fronts on. It had bushings on the wheels. Just dont use the bolt to hold tension on the wheel, tighen the bolt against the spindle and use washers to shim it up.

Ah see this is why you dont listen to what I say and listen to people that have experience XD

As long as the bolts or nuts are tightened against something that isnt the wheel, they shouldn't move.

I’ve considered a cotter pin and also considered tapping the spindle itself. I think I’m just gonna put the biggest cotter pin I can on all 4 axles to be safe. Maybe even put the rear pins on top of the E clips. I think if I had just been able to put a jamb nut over the other nut I would’ve been fine, but the bolts I welded on aren’t long enough for that.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Don't reuse the E-clip on the rear axle. I've had it fall off several times. Even at time like these... (You can skip ahead to 1:40). For your rear axle (if you have enough space), just drill a hole and put a cotter pin. As I think you've realized, with the cotter pin the wheel will never come off because the cotter pin spins with the axle. There's nothing to wear it down.

For your front axles, I'd just listen to the advice the others gave. I don't have any suggestions for that. I personally like the drill and tap idea. I'll probably do that on Ol' Blue. But what I do on the MM is just use the stock cotter pins, and whenever I hear a squeak, I grease it. And I ALWAYS keep a close eye on it. Me and my brother have had fronts come off at speed due to the wheel wearing down the cotter pin until it breaks. So I just watch mine very closely until I see it starting to wear. Then I replace it.