Ballast How much ballast is too much?

[JGY]

The attached files are for your perusal on ballasting and traction and CG and such.

Joe

 

[nvpliers]

The attached files are for your perusal on ballasting and traction and CG and such.

Joe

Thanks for posting these. I've downloaded, and am studying them...especially today, since it's too wet to get into the field!! Thanks again!

 

[gladehound]

Completely situational. Different from machine to machine and also different for a given machine depending on the task and terrain.

 

[texasjohn]

Thread over 3 years old.

 

[gladehound]

Thread over 3 years old.

I like to consider it "timeless"

 

[newbury]

I like to consider it "timeless"

I agree, which is why am bringing it up again.

Ford seemed the only one to put some good general numbers on the problem 1.5-2x the FEL max lift in wheel fill, wheel weight and 3pt counter balance is the general optimum

<snip>
For "general utility use" with FEL or draw bar /3pt implement that we do, having 1.5-2x the FEL max lift in wheel fill, wheel weight and 3pt counter balance is the general optimum. About .75x to 1x that as counter weight to keep the weight off the front end. So if you can FEL lift 1000# put 750-1000# on the 3pt and 500-1000# in/on the wheels.

For example our little kubota has 420-70x24 industrial tires. Filled they add about 425-450 pounds per tire or 900-ish total. That's about 90% of the loader lift capacity. Toss on a 800# 3pt implement and it's at 1.75 x the FEL lift. A few times more weight would be appreciated, a few times less. So it's about right.
The above is more jawing, but it hopefully adds a bit to the discussion.

So for my M4700 w/ a 2,0000 lb lift and 1300 lbs in the rear I should probably carry about 1500 lbs or so in the rear.

However Brandi has the better approach:

Baby Grand hit it on the nail talking about CG. FarmWithJunk hit it also, but used another term besides CG.

You add ballast to change your Center of Gravity (CG). An example is extending a backhoe bucket straight out to move your CG aft on the tractor.

The photo below shows me moving a complete pine tree to the burn pile. I had to raise the loader up high to get the tree moving. The tree is way over the weight of my loader lifting the whole tree, so I drug it. With the loader this high, the rear tires starting lifting when I put it low range reverse.

I extended the backhoe and slowly drug it to the burn pile with no rear tire lifting. The CG moved aft to favor more weight on the rear axle.

My 7 foot loader bucket can handle 3900 pounds. The backhoe weighs 1600 pounds. However, numerous times I have had to extend the backhoe to raise a stump out of a hole.

Someone here mentioned the triangle of the CG or something like that on a slope. When you fill the rear tires and on a slope, the CG tends to stay within your "safe" center of gravity envelope. When you add ballast to the 3PH, you may have the ballast too high and it will move the tractor's center of gravity way to the downhill side and past the tires of the tractor. I am thinking of a weight box on the 3PH lifted here. Depending on the slope angle, this will cause the CG to help tip the tractor over.

Think of a pendulum hanging from the centerline of your tractor. As you go sideways up a slope that gets steeper, the pendulum will swing from directly under your tractor towards the downhill tire. The pendulum illustrates how your CG can move on a slope and cause a tip over.

You can read up on the center of gravity by researching weight and balance in aircraft.
hugs, Brandi

PLUS when you travel with a backhoe and you have to cross a side slope you can swing the backhoe to the uphill side.

And you can use the outriggers or stabilizers to lift the tractor up to change a tire.

 

[bindian]

Ha..........where did you dig that up?:confused3: I have also used the backhoe swung to the uphill side of the dam as I drug my drag harrow with my loader bucket near the water. Backhoes have way too many uses. Non backhoe owners have no idea.
hugs, Brandi

 

[newbury]

Ha..........where did you dig that up?:confused3: I have also used the backhoe swung to the uphill side of the dam as I drug my drag harrow with my loader bucket near the water. Backhoes have way too many uses. Non backhoe owners have no idea.
hugs, Brandi

I was looking at old threads discussing ballast. Lots of discussion on here recently about tires and ballast boxes. My backhoe provides PLENTY of ballast for my B7610.