Weight, Hills and Balance

[SPYDERLK]

The bucket or anything in it has the effect of unweighting the rears. Not good. All your stability comes from the rear.
larry

I would think if you have about 400 lbs in the ballast box and a bucket of dirt , you would be well balanced, don't you?? the load will be behind the back wheels and in front of the front wheels, would it not? and the ballast box does not have to be lifted too high off the ground.

Wooden

It would depend on what type of terrain youre working on. If level ground and 1K# ballast box, it would be good for loader work or pulling etc. If up and down hills - good with or without a bucket load as long as youre using 4wd. For side hills a bucket load is a problem. Even if kept low the suspended weight forward of the front axle unweights the rears and the tractor becomes real easy to side tip.
larry

 

[radioman]

Good point. Thanks. I guess I could try 50% and if it is too sloshy I could have more put in.

You are better off to get it close to 75% just to keep the rims being exposed to air and rust out. You can do more harm then good at 50%.

When tires are "loaded", how much are they filled with fluid? Half full? Less, more? Seems like once you go over half full it wouldn't be as effective.

There are several reasons. As much I understand it, with fluid in tires, if you are not using calcium chloride (require tubes) but use WWF or antifreeze, water, rimguard, biogaurd , etc whatever you use- should cover rim completely like i stated above. Also having fluid at 75 percent seems to be the best compromise in flex of tire due to amount of air in it. My kubota manual explains all this. I suggest checking your manual on filling tires section.

IMHO filled tires can be better then ballast box. the ballast box adds a fulcrum action so "if" you are transversing the hill up hill at angle, the ballast box making front end light and tipping tractor- need I to say more ?
Filled tires has weight "under tractor" right at the rear axles .

 

[wooden]

It would depend on what type of terrain youre working on. If level ground and 1K# ballast box, it would be good for loader work or pulling etc. If up and down hills - good with or without a bucket load as long as youre using 4wd. For side hills a bucket load is a problem. Even if kept low the suspended weight forward of the front axle unweights the rears and the tractor becomes real easy to side tip.
larry

These are pics of some of the land I cut with my 318 or my 2720. Never had the need for ballast on dry or wet grass. Of course my loader is on the tractor but I don't yet have a ballast box. I ordered one for doing loader work

Wooden

 

[wooden]

Hopefully this works this time!!

Good ! these are both looking up hill and down . Never had the need for ballast wet or dry. I an sure there will come a time on the wet where I may have trouble stopping going down hill, but I always keep my wheels turning so I can stear and keep the machine pointed in the right direction.

Wooden

 

[pdp11]

Yes, they sure can. I hear about a lot of that kind of directional issue, esp with turfs and R4s. Was 4wd engaged?
larry

My understanding is that it was not in 4WD. There were a number of things that could have prevented the roll over, including a better assessment of the ground conditions.

 

[whistlepig]

If the hill is steep enough and the ground is slick enough no R1, R4, chains, or steel tracks will save you. Don't mess with the steep hills until the conditions are in your favor.

 

[TNTractor1]

Well, after talking with my dealer again, I think I am going to wait on filling the tires and see how it goes. He said he did not recommend filling the tires to guys that do mostly mowing and since most of my weekly mowing will not be that hilly, I am going to take his advice. I figure I can always get them filled later. I will use the ballast box however as needed. BTW his price for filling just the back 2 tires was $400. Another question: I am thinking I can leave the 62D attached most of the time... even when just using the loader for simple tasks like carrying bags of mulch or moving landscape stones. However, if using the FEL for actual ground work, I would definitely take the 62D off... what's everyone's opinion? My thinking is that for simple FEL tasks that the mower's weight is beneficial and lowers the center of gravity a bit?

 

[Runner]

I agree, there should be no problem keeping the MMM on for casual loader work. I use my loader so much, the tractor seems naked without it...

 

[TNTractor1]

Thanks for all the advice. Since I do mostly mowing, I think I am going to go with a couple of wheel weights on each rear wheel (tires in wide position) to help on mowing the slopes and a ballast box for any loader work. I figure the wheel weights will help on the hills and less likely to rut the ground as fluid filled tires would.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks for all the advice. Since I do mostly mowing, I think I am going to go with a couple of wheel weights on each rear wheel (tires in wide position) to help on mowing the slopes and a ballast box for any loader work. I figure the wheel weights will help on the hills and less likely to rut the ground as fluid filled tires would.

Just stay off that slope when the grass is wet. Weight won't help you then...