John Deere L120 Turning Radius

Flaken, I think Tundra may have the answer: locked rear end.

Your tractor weighs approx. 530 pounds. That weight s roughly distributed between the front & rear wheels. Now, add your 280 pounds, pretty much over the rear wheels. This is rough numbers, but you've 1/2 your tractor weight, 275#, plus your 280#, or 550# on your rear wheels trying to drive you straight forward...rear end locked and equal power to both wheels. So 550# driving forward with two 9.5" tires tires and 275# (1/2 tractor weight) on two 6.5" tires, guess what's going to happen....you're gonna go straight, or straightish!

As Tundra said, jack up the rear of the tractor and turn one wheel. If the opposite wheel turns in the same direction, your rear is locked...and putting all power to BOTH rear wheels. If the opposite wheel turns in the opposite direction, your rear is OK. Jack it up, check, and report back. Bob

Well, that proves one idea, your rear is NOT locked. My only other suggestion is to add weight to the front to increase traction on the front wheels. Bob

Tundra, Another excellent point!

Too much toe in or out may confuse things...the tractor won't know which way to go.

Flaken, Put a tape measure on the inside front of your front rim, close to the center of your axle, and extend tape to opposite wheel. LOCK tape measure. Move tape measure to rear of front rims and see if end of tape hits or misses opposite rim. If tape hits, wheels are toed out. If tape misses, wheels are toed in. If tape misses, "eye ball" by how much...this is the amount of toe in. I don't know the exact spec, but worst case is probably 3/16". Adjust tie rod to 1/8"...unless you have actual spec. Bob

Not familiar with the L120, just assumed they were adjustable. Bob