Buying Advice Ballast Box vs Wheel Weights vs Filled Tires

ovrszd · Oct 26, 2010

rjkobbeman said:
A little sensitive are we? I see you don't like anyone clarifying points...

Who said it does not matter where the weight goes? In an earlier post I even said that if a ballast box is up too high it can really change the center of gravity.

If you read the entire post you would realize we agree more than you think.

I just see you as someone that reads posts looking for something to contradict rather than hearing the point. You can't help it.

rjkobbeman · Oct 26, 2010

ovrszd said:
I just see you as someone that reads posts looking for something to contradict rather than hearing the point. You can't help it.

The funny thing is, I even said why I was making my point as not to ruffle any overyly sensitive feathers... but I guess that doesn't matter to some.

ovrszd · Oct 26, 2010

rjkobbeman said:
The funny thing is, I even said why I was making my point as not to ruffle any overyly sensitive feathers... but I guess that doesn't matter to some.

You win.......

Brandon1107 · Nov 3, 2010

What do filled tires on the 8540 weigh (rim guard not sure tire type ?standard?)? And what will total tractor weight be (cab and loader/no loader)? Has anyone found the Canadian ballast box in the US?

I was picking up a large tree with my grapple last week and had one rear wheel off the ground for sure and possibly both. Serious pucker factor, but wow the loader power is amazing!!! My rears are filled with rim guard and the hay spear is not enough rear ballast. :/

Here is a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0a9puuvAO0

TripleR · Nov 3, 2010

Brandon1107 said:
What do filled tires on the 8540 weigh (rim guard not sure tire type ?standard?)? And what will total tractor weight be (cab and loader/no loader)? Has anyone found the Canadian ballast box in the US?

I was picking up a large tree with my grapple last week and had one rear wheel off the ground for sure and possibly both. Serious pucker factor, but wow the loader power is amazing!!! My rears are filled with rim guard and the hay spear is not enough rear ballast. :/

I don't really know, but we have the big tires on ours and fluid is not enough weight for comfort so we are going to fill a 55 gallon drum with concrete for counter balance.

RoyJackson · Nov 3, 2010

Brandon1107 said:
My rears are filled with rim guard and the hay spear is not enough rear ballast.

Maybe you ought to put a bale on that spear...that oughta keep your tail down!

Reg · Nov 3, 2010

rjkobbeman said:
Are you missing the point about keeping the rear end of the tractor on the ground? Several of us have said the bigger issue is keeping the rear tires down...

Yes, - that isn't the point.
I keep the rear ends down with ballasted rear tires (& often with a USEFUL implement behind that).
I was arguing against the notion that front axles need to be "relieved" of some of their load by hanging (basically useless) weight on the back - perhaps you missed that.

Reg · Nov 3, 2010

Brandon1107 said:
What do filled tires on the 8540 weigh (rim guard not sure tire type ?standard?)? And what will total tractor weight be (cab and loader/no loader)? Has anyone found the Canadian ballast box in the US?

I was picking up a large tree with my grapple last week and had one rear wheel off the ground for sure and possibly both. Serious pucker factor, but wow the loader power is amazing!!! My rears are filled with rim guard and the hay spear is not enough rear ballast. :/

Here is a video.

YouTube - M8540 and W R Long Grapple Moving Tree

You can look up the capacity of your tires on the FirestoneAg web site and in some cases the RimGuard site.
The weight of the rest of your tractor SHOULD BE in the manual (somewhere) but Kubotas have a rep for being on the light side.

crazyal · Nov 3, 2010

Here's my 900lbs of weight. Next year I'll probably fill the tire with Rim guard but for now this will work just fine.

rjkobbeman · Nov 3, 2010

Reg said:
Yes, - that isn't the point.
I keep the rear ends down with ballasted rear tires (& often with a USEFUL implement behind that).
I was arguing against the notion that front axles need to be "relieved" of some of their load by hanging (basically useless) weight on the back - perhaps you missed that.

I keep the rear end down using a USEFUL implement -- my ballast box. When I am doing FEL work where I need the weight in the back, the ballast box IS the usefull implement. It is small and compact.

Rear ballast (box, cutter, etc. -- NOT filled tires) does relieve weight off of the front axle. Whether or not it is needed, I can't answer that.