deepNdirt, Thanks for your comment. I understand exactly what you are saying about the temperament thing... my tractor and I have melded together many moons ago.... but it was quite a learning curve. With the amount of extra weight I generally carry around on the rear axle ( 160lb cement weight per wheel + 167 lbs of water
ballast per wheel = 654 total lbs on the rear tires, plus the box blade and FEL) most of the tractor work is in 1st or 2nd gear at low rpms. I am careful but consistent. I want results, not a broken tractor. 9.5/9 x 24 tires are the original size for the ym2000 so maybe the 11.2 will fit on the slightly bigger rim. I have 200lbs of suit case weights... never thought of putting them on the box blade... they will go there when I get home, that extra weight behind the tires will surely help plant tread to the ground. Don't mind the International pic at all.
284 International, the 200 lbs of ballast will be applied to the box blade and will definitely help. The traction issues are when pushing backward with the box blade ( pulling forward and getting a full box, lifting and pulling forward, then wanting to move the same pile backward out of the way), and sometimes when using the FEL to push something, logs, dirt, whatever, forward.
I think that lowering the air pressure in the tires and the additional weight on the box blade will be as good as it will get under these circumstances. The tractor already does a phenomenal job and I have asked it to do a lot over the 4 years I have had it. The present project is clearing, leveling and pulling stumps out of the back 2 acres of my property after selling the timber off of it 2 years ago. Not an easy task considering the huge loaders that cut and pulled the trees did some of the work in the rain, and there are HUGE ruts everywhere. It took me 5 hrs to do one area 4 ft wide and about 200ft long. But that one area is now level and stump free. Slow, careful work keeps the tractor together and get steady results. It is going to take a long time but I don't mind, not in a particular hurry and the satisfaction of doing it with my little tractor is .... well... satisfying!:laughing:
Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate all opinions and input.
capt.