Weight is bad

[WilliamBos]

Exactly. We add & remove weight as needed, and for other jobs, no weight at all. The tires are not loaded and NEVER will be.

I think a lot of people are missing the point.

The OP was trying to say that excessive weight is a bad thing. The hard part is trying to figure out the "right" amount of weight for each job. I always leave the front weights on my little Ford but there are things I do that I could do without them.

Once a tractor is weighted it is much easier to leave it on and deal with it than guess at how much to remove for a particular job.

 

[N80]

I think a lot of people are missing the point.

The OP was trying to say that excessive weight is a bad thing.

Right. If is excessive then its excessive. That is fairly self evident, and most anyone would agree. The OP's point is made in the context of a long held and oft repeated belief that more weight is always better. You hear it here all the time. "Heavier is better." The seminar showed that this is not the case for many applications.

 

[WilliamBos]

Exactly. Traction is better, and weight distribution is key, not just weight.

Right. If is excessive then its excessive. That is fairly self evident, and most anyone would agree. The OP's point is made in the context of a long held and oft repeated belief that more weight is always better. You hear it here all the time. "Heavier is better." The seminar showed that this is not the case for many applications.

 

[N80]

Exactly. We add & remove weight as needed, and for other jobs, no weight at all. The tires are not loaded and NEVER will be.

It takes a wide range of uses for filled tires to be a problem. If you don't do lawns I can hardly think of a reason not to load them. An otherwise unweighted tractor is almost always going to benefit from fluid in the rears. So mine are filled and ALWAYS will be. If I get wheel weights, that will be in addition to fluid, if I need them. Rolling resistance from fluid will never be an issue for my weekend warrior tractor.

 

[WilliamBos]

Lawns, other than ours is one of the reasons for the purchase, hence the unloaded tires, and suitcase weights.

Less stress on the tractor all the time is a better thing. For heavier stuff, our trusty 35 will do.

It takes a wide range of uses for filled tires to be a problem. If you don't do lawns I can hardly think of a reason not to load them. An otherwise unweighted tractor is almost always going to benefit from fluid in the rears. So mine are filled and ALWAYS will be. If I get wheel weights, that will be in addition to fluid, if I need them. Rolling resistance from fluid will never be an issue for my weekend warrior tractor.

 

[N80]

Lawns, other than ours is one of the reasons for the purchase, hence the unloaded tires, and suitcase weights.

Agreed. Weight on lawns is a bad thing.

Less stress on the tractor all the time is a better thing. For heavier stuff, our trusty 35 will do.

There has been some debate about that. Seems like wheel weights and/or fluid in rears adds very little stress. Stress on the front axle is a different thing and probably a good reason to remove weight when not needed. Suitcase wieghts and removable FELS make that easy. Of course, bouncing a light front may be harder on the axles than weight.

 

[WilliamBos]

Agreed. Weight on lawns is a bad thing.

Suitcase wieghts and removable FELS make that easy. Of course, bouncing a light front may be harder on the axles than weight.

That is one thing I have wondered, a front end bouncing vs having a weight or 2 on it. When mowing, we use no weight, only time really is when the front tires feel light, or ground engaging work.

 

[dodge man]

I think the problem is that some people think of more weight giving better traction. They think more weight make the tire dig in more giving better traction. This is not true, the weight also makes the tractor sink in more and is that much more weight to get moving. Adding weight is all about balance.

 

[jake98]

It takes a wide range of uses for filled tires to be a problem. If you don't do lawns I can hardly think of a reason not to load them. An otherwise unweighted tractor is almost always going to benefit from fluid in the rears. So mine are filled and ALWAYS will be. If I get wheel weights, that will be in addition to fluid, if I need them. Rolling resistance from fluid will never be an issue for my weekend warrior tractor.

tell me you're not talking about rolling resistance with tire solution factor. It's not about ..

 

[jake98]

Agreed. Weight on lawns is a bad thing.



There has been some debate about that. Seems like wheel weights and/or fluid in rears adds very little stress. Stress on the front axle is a different thing and probably a good reason to remove weight when not needed. Suitcase wieghts and removable FELS make that easy. Of course, bouncing a light front may be harder on the axles than weight.

bouncing a light front? Geo/bro whaaatt? oh.. wait I seen it on videos from LA usually w/chevies..