Front-End Loader Would I damage the FEL by putting ballast weight on one side of the bucket?

[Grandad4]

Would you damage the FEL by putting ballast weight on one side of the bucket? Depends on how much time you plan to spend running with it set up like that. If you need to do that for an hour once in a while to mow your farm pond, it's probably no big deal. As others say, having a lop-sided FEL load is pretty routine. And if it keeps you and your tractor out of the drink, it's worth doing. But if you plan on mowing the entire shoreline of Lake Michigan or something, better come up with a better ballasting arrangement. I have heard that even the big highway offset mowing rigs with their side flails and boom mowers are prone to excessive wear on the rear axles, bearings, etc. due to the unbalanced loading of those mowers. Our compact-type equipment is even less suited to that kind of operation.

[Don87]

Interesting. I have been clear that a/ my rear tires are loaded, b/ I intend to add rear wheel spacers, and c/ I intend to look into wheel weights also (I was told today that wheel weights are not available from Kubota for my L3800's rear wheels--not sure about after-market wheel weights). And from the physics perspective, I could have commented that some of the feedback is not exactly correct, in my opinion. But I didn't make any such comment, because my question was about possible damage to the FEL if I loaded it on the left side only. I appreciate all of the feedback, suggestions, etc. But having apparently triggered mass confusion, plain craziness, and who knows what else, I'll just be sure not to post again--would not want to take up anyone's cyberspace or time, or trigger any more stress among the readers.

Actually, you haven't..........and if I knew how to 'multiquote, I could show you in one post..........but it will take 2...............

[Don87]

Post number 11................."As to ballast and R4 tires, I have water and antifreeze in the rear tires. I think the total weight is something like 335 pounds per tire"



Post number 24............... "I realize I could either fill the left tire when I use the sickle mower and then drain the tire, or fill both tires"



No offense was intended, but I qouted your responces directly, and the meaning of both are clear.

My intention was NOT to keep you from posting...............but you need to be clear when you post so that myself, and others can not only help you................but the other 1,000 posters per day that need our help also.

If we spend 24 hours a day, with someone who confuses issues just to keep a thread going...............that person is cheating someone else out of valuable resource time from us users who are trying to help.


I myself missed 5.................count them.............5 other posts that also needed help while I was trying to decipher your on again off again loaded tire , wheel weight dilemma.

I hope you keep posting, and keep us updated on your situation............We are here to help...............

But with a country(USA) of over 300 million people, and a world with 7.4 billion people, we are trying to help as many as possible with our limited amount of time.


And I'll even go a little farther...........I joined TBN over 2 years ago..........After I bought my Massey, Brand new off the lot...........For this entire time I have scanned the threads ...........not asking questions...........but answering them to the best of my ability.............

I send private messages to other users all the time referring them to threads that I don't have the answer to.............ask Sounguy...........

I ain't here for me..............I'm here for YOU. Yes I get upset at times.............as do others on this forum...........


But ******............I'm here to help if I can.

[Don87]

I apologize for unloading on you, rbjr.

I can't change or apoligize for my words, because I meant every one.........but I do apologize for unloading on you.