Ballast

[rcambray]

I have a JD 4100 with FEL and use ballast box. Would like to
hear what people think as fas as positioning box. Do you think it should be fully raised or partially lowered. I think the traction and stability seem better in lowered position. It could be just mind set.
Thanks for opinions
BC

 

[JackIL]

The stability is best with the box carried as low as practical while providing sufficient ground clearance. For me the best compromise is to have the bottom about a foot above the ground.

 

[LarryT]

BC, traction won't change with the box raised or lowered. It's still the same amount of weight on the wheels. Stability is a different thing. As you raise the ballast box (or the FEL), you also raise the center of gravity (or CG for short). CG is the theoretical "center" of the combined mass of the tractor and any attachments actually suspended by the tractor. You can also think of CG as the "piviot point". The CG is pretty high on a tractor anyway so any thing you can do to lower the CG will improve the stability, especially the "perceived stability", or comfort factor. That is exactly the reason the books tell you to keep your FEL low at all times.

One more note on CG, filled tires for ballast definitely improve the stability of the tractor since most of the added weight is well below the original CG of the tractor, thereby lowering the CG.

An example of low CG and better stability is the difference between sports cars and mini vans.

Hope this helps,

Larry...

 

[Bird]

Very good answers by both Jack and LarryT.

Bird

 

[rekees]

When I have my ballast box attached, I feel very uncomfortable driving across a slope. Seems to me all that weight could contribute to a rollover since gravity would be pulling the box sideways instead of downward. I always keep the box as low as possible and whenever possible drive up & down slopes rather than across.

Chuck in IN