Rotary Cutter How much weight for tractor for Bush Hog 2715?

[SPYDERLK]

FWJ says he has no problem pulling the 2715's using a tractor weighing 8200 lbs. Your 8540 should already weigh at least 8200 lbs (5400lbs base weight for 4wd rops, 7 front weights and front bumper 700+ lbs, loader 1800 lbs, wheel weights ???).

Do you have cast rear wheels, add on rear wheel weights or both? You said you have radials, which size?

Since you said you have steep hills I think you should load the rear tires, use the front weight bumper and front weights, and remove the loader. If you find you want or need more weight you could put the loader on or add rear wheel weights.

A tubeless tire that gets soft can debead and flatten in an instant - - sideslope . Tubed tires are more forgiving.
larry

 

[chevy454]

Thanks for the input everyone......I'm going to load the tires without tubes and try mowing with the 2715 without the loader and see how she does!!

I get the mower delivered October 3rd so I'll let you all know how I stop on the hills......of course I just killed myself mowing everything for this season with my 6' woods so I really won't know till next season if I have enough power to cut AND climb the hills.......

 

[scrapironford]

You have the best tire for traction [radial 18.4x30] on your tractor. Don't make a mistake by loading [liquid ballast]. A properly inflated radial,for axle weight, terrain and impliment size for tractor, will give you the best traction and stability.When a radial is loaded it looses its ability to flex,liquid is basically non compressable,and the tires footprint will not be as large. Cast weight on wheel is much prefered for traction,cast belly weights will lower center of gravity better on hills. The bad thing about cast weights is the cost, they are a lot easier to remove than liquid ballast when you don't need them,better fuel economy less wear on tractor. scrapironford

 

[Ken45101]

The tire still flexes when liquid loaded. Tires are only loaded to 75%, leaving 25% air space to compress.

This is the first time I've heard cast belly weights mentioned. Your point about lowering the center of gravity is well taken, but they would also add wear and tear to the bearings and frame structure. I don't know if most tractors are designed for significant extra weight that way. I certainly cannot imagine taking 1600#s on and off underneath the tractor. Would not be a simple (or safe?) job.

I'm not sure that I agree that cast wheel weights mean less wear on the tractor. Wheel weights have rotational inertia and rotational momentum. That means more clutch wear when starting and more brake wear when stopping. Liquid ballast has negligible rotational inertia or momentum. On my M9540, I have a total of 1600# of Rimguard in the rear tires. That would add a lot of rotational momentum/inertia if it were in the form of wheel weights.

You have the best tire for traction [radial 18.4x30] on your tractor. Don't make a mistake by loading [liquid ballast]. A properly inflated radial,for axle weight, terrain and impliment size for tractor, will give you the best traction and stability.When a radial is loaded it looses its ability to flex,liquid is basically non compressable,and the tires footprint will not be as large. Cast weight on wheel is much prefered for traction,cast belly weights will lower center of gravity better on hills. The bad thing about cast weights is the cost, they are a lot easier to remove than liquid ballast when you don't need them,better fuel economy less wear on tractor. scrapironford

 

[MarkV]

I hadn't thought about it until Scrapironford mentioned something but I kind of remember reading that radials should not be filled. May want to check with the tire manufacture and see what their take is.

MarkV

 

[scrapironford]

Ken45101 responded tires are only loaded 75% leaving 25%air, that is correct,I said the same thing years ago about radials. A large ag equipment company, one of the largest in the world, that I refuse to own any of their equipment {local dealer problems], proved me wrong !!!!! I now use a lot of John Deere's research and recomendations on my red and blue tractors. JD has published results of studies,that state,

"Cast ballast is preferred. Since liquid is incompressible its presence inside of a tire increases tire stiffness. The results are detrimental". [end quote]. From JD publication "A practical guide to optimizing tractor performance". I an not trying to start a "war" just trying to pass along some good information that has worked for me and a lot of other farmers I know. scrapironford

 

[Ken45101]

Ken45101 responded tires are only loaded 75% leaving 25%air, that is correct,I said the same thing years ago about radials. A large ag equipment company, one of the largest in the world, that I refuse to own any of their equipment {local dealer problems], proved me wrong !!!!! I now use a lot of John Deere's research and recomendations on my red and blue tractors. JD has published results of studies,that state,

"Cast ballast is preferred. Since liquid is incompressible its presence inside of a tire increases tire stiffness. The results are detrimental". [end quote]. From JD publication "A practical guide to optimizing tractor performance". I an not trying to start a "war" just trying to pass along some good information that has worked for me and a lot of other farmers I know. scrapironford

You have the same local dealer I have?

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

I have a couple of thoughts:

-- are they looking at 100% filled tires, or 75%? Yes, I can see where even 75% would lose a bit of flexibility, but not that much unless:

-- they are looking at higher speed operations such as mining, etc. I don't see where the typical farm or homeowner tractor would be operated at speed on rough terrain.

-- also, the big iron companies make a big profit in selling those cast iron weights. They don't make any money if the dealer installs calcium or Rimguard.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

-- also, the big iron companies make a big profit in selling those cast iron weights. They don't make any money if the dealer installs calcium or Rimguard.[/quote]

This was my exact thought. I don't really know of very many companies that push a product that makes them zero money. And as far as the less compression and flex with the tires filled, if they say that they don't flex as well when they are filled, then I believe them. But just how much less is it? 1,2 percent, maybe, I don't really know. JMO

 

[scrapironford]

When it was shown to me with Radial tires on a 100hp tractor, if I remember correctly they were Michelen and Firestone 18.4x38. They had 2 sets of each brand one water filled, one set with cast ballast. The footprint of the water filled tires were several inches shorter, front to back of tire footprint, than the footprint of the tires with cast ballast. The radial tire with water had only a slightly longer footprint than a bias tire, which has the shortest footprint of all tires. The man from that Case dealer helped a lot of us,sorry to see them close ,the JD dealer said do this, no help, nothing. He also showed us how to mount and use belly weights even though they had to go to an outside supplier to get them at that time. The formula he showed us then, it has been changed slightly, for a 4x4 100 hp tractor was 125lb per 1hp, total tractor weight,at 4.5 mph ground speed with a draft load. The faster you travel the more weight per hp you need. On normal ground, slightly rolling,we often use only 6psi of air pressure in the tires, depending on load and terrain as much as 18-20psi.scrapironford

 

[sandman2234]

scrapironford
Since you live in Florida, I would appreciate knowing what dealer you had problems with, so I am carefull if dealing with them. You can send it to me in a PM if you would.
David from jax