To ballast, or not to ballast

[TripleR]

Since you have a "green ballast box" and I'm not sure what size Kub you have here is a copy from the JD manual for smaller tractors regarding ballast. Hope this helps.

Required Minimum Tractor Ballast

CAUTION: To help prevent the possibility of personal injury or death caused by tractor/loader roll over, DO NOT operate tractor/loader unless it is equipped with proper ballast.
The amount of ballast listed in the chart is the minimum required for normal loader operation. For some operations, additional ballast may be required to maximize stability.
IMPORTANT: When adding ballast, do not exceed maximum tire carrying capacity shown on sidewall.
REQUIRED MINIMUM BALLAST FOR 2210 AND 2305 TRACTORS
Option
Ballast1
1
Fluid-filled rear tires and one wheel weight per wheel and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
REQUIRED MINIMUM BALLAST FOR 2320, 2520, 2720, 4100, 4110 AND 4115 TRACTORS
1
Fluid-filled rear tires and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
2
Three rear wheel weights per wheel and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
If loader is equipped with pallet fork attachment, 85 kg (187 lb) of additional ballast is required.

1 Ballast given is required with minimum rear tread setting.
2 See ADDING BALLAST TO 3-POINT HITCH in this section.

Appreciate the information, that is a little more than I would have thought; can always learn something.

 

[bp fick]

Very informative thread. This issue arises often here and it is going to take some education, across the board on this(these) issue(s). It really is two issues at once. Having ballast, using wheels weights and/or fluid in tires does a fair bit to aid traction and does provide the rear of the tractor additional weight, down low, where it does a lot of good.

That said, it is important we all remember how the rear axle is a fulcrum. Most cuts benefit from relieving the front axle of some of the burden of a heavy, out-stretched implement filled with heavy material. To do that, counter weight off the 3 pt is very, helpful. The knowledgeable guys here at TBN have really helped me better understand there a couple of things going on. Ballast and counter-weight, I have come to understand, are not precisely the same thing and both need to be understood in achieving proper and safe balance. I'm still learning.

 

[kevinj]

Appreciate the information, that is a little more than I would have thought; can always learn something.

My basic rule is to add ballast to match what the loader will lift.:thumbsup: Anything less and you will lighten the rear!

 

[poldies4]

Is it best to leave the ballast weight on all the time, or should it be on and off? I do not have any other implements so I use the loader to perform all possible tasks safely. Mantaining my drive/trails in the woods. Light log moving, but that is not necesarily always using the bucket to scoop or move material. I've read a lot about potential front axle damage without proper ballast, anyone heard of rear axle damage due to too much ballast/weight?
Let me squeeze one more in here, if i'm backblading and smoothing out my sandy drive, maybe light loader work are loaded tires sufficient? Or is there no real benefit to not having the ballast box on? Thanks for all the info!!

 

[LBrown59]

Using a FEL without rear ballast is like operating a one passenger teeter totter.

 

[poldies4]

Thanks LBrown, hate to beat this one to death, but in fact the rule of thumb as I understand it from you would be if the loader is on the tractor, the ballast box is too, period?

 

[TripleR]

Is it best to leave the ballast weight on all the time, or should it be on and off? I do not have any other implements so I use the loader to perform all possible tasks safely. Mantaining my drive/trails in the woods. Light log moving, but that is not necesarily always using the bucket to scoop or move material. I've read a lot about potential front axle damage without proper ballast, anyone heard of rear axle damage due to too much ballast/weight?
Let me squeeze one more in here, if i'm backblading and smoothing out my sandy drive, maybe light loader work are loaded tires sufficient? Or is there no real benefit to not having the ballast box on? Thanks for all the info!!

These things are made to carry weight and you are not going to hurt anything by leaving it on and will certainly improve handling with FEL mounted.

I will occasionally use a FEL with just loaded tires to smooth a drive or haul a light load as I use my BX with and without a FEL and am constantly changing implements from a tiller, box blade, back blade or rotary cutter or running it sans FEL and implement to mow. I never take the FEL off of my L5030, so I always have some sort of ballast on it.

Short answer is if you have your FEL on, you really should have some sort of ballast.

Many of the farmers around here run no ballast with a FEL, but they run very big, heavy tractors and the weight of the FEL and load just don't seem to matter much in handling with such large implements as they often run dual loaded rear tires.

 

[kevinj]

Thanks LBrown, hate to beat this one to death, but in fact the rule of thumb as I understand it from you would be if the loader is on the tractor, the ballast box is too, period?

This why 3ph ballast is nice. A heavy rear implement will work also if you are multi tasking

If I am cleaning up brush in the yard then I do not worry about ballast beyond the filled tires. Any serious work and and the 3ph weight goes on!!!!

The weight for my BX consists of a Ford Bar and solid lead plates.

The weight for the 3940 weighs in about 1200# with over 500# in the tires.

 

[rdsaustintx]

weight is weight whether it is on the 3-point or in your tires and your 3-point.

Sorta but not really. With 3 point hitch ballast you modify weight distribution, esp. on the subcompacts.

 

[TripleR]

Sorta but not really. With 3 point hitch ballast you modify weight distribution, esp. on the subcompacts.

Like I said, in most situations and the effect will vary depending on size, wheel base and on and on; hate to make blanket statements as someone can always pick it apart.