OK guys today was weight day to determine necessity for rear counterbalance

[Bluegill2]

The the key is to use enough ballast that the rear axle REMAINS the fulcrum point, cause when its in the air, it isnt the fulcrum. And all the weight you added in the tires OR behind it, is now all on the front axle.

Clear as mud right:thumbsup:

Bingo!

 

[k0ua]

As an example, I had on my 750lb ballast barrel, and with my brand spanking new L3400 I chained up a big rock into the loader.. Too big for the loader to contain, but heck that never stopped me before, just wrap a chain around the front of that sucker to keep it in the loader bucket right? So Up the hill I go with this nice big hefty rock, going in reverse. I notice the rock seems to be falling toward the ground so I gave the FEL joystick a little more "up" right?.. about that time the wife is screaming that the rear tires are 3 foot off of the ground and I did not even realize it . What an IDIOT! I dropped the rock and the tires settled back on the dirt. So during the time the rock was still in the air, the rear tires were in the air and my 750lb 3pt ballast barrel was in the air, ALL of that weight was on the front axle.:shocked: And it was under power moving up the hill by the front tires.. :ashamed: Thank God it was a Kubota, with a strong front axle.

James K0UA

 

[xring100]

How do you widen the stance and I *assume* you're talking about the rears only?

Thanks,

My fronts are adjustable but the manual says to only use the two inner most positions with a loader or you will destroy the front axle
And besides anything beyond that and my tires would be wider than my 84" bucket

 

[xring100]

As OVRSZD indicated our manual does not say to use rear ballast for removing load on the front but only for saftey and stability. If they were worried about the load it seems they would have put that in with not running the front tires to wide

 

[foreman Etexas]

Yeah mine are just around 6inches wider than stock.
FTG-05 you will neeed to un-bolt the inner part of rims and I done front and back. I have seen tractors with rims turned around its really wide but like said sure a lot of stress on certain parts on tractor.

 

[LD1]

Thank God it was a Kubota, with a strong front axle.

James K0UA

For the size and loader rating, I have to say that the L3400 does have quite a beefy front axle.

Last few weeks have been fair week around me. THere is always lots of tractor displays to look at. All different brands. Some of them had front axles that didnt look very robust.

 

[Bluegill2]

As an example, I had on my 750lb ballast barrel, and with my brand spanking new L3400 I chained up a big rock into the loader.. Too big for the loader to contain, but heck that never stopped me before, just wrap a chain around the front of that sucker to keep it in the loader bucket right? So Up the hill I go with this nice big hefty rock, going in reverse. I notice the rock seems to be falling toward the ground so I gave the FEL joystick a little more "up" right?.. about that time the wife is screaming that the rear tires are 3 foot off of the ground and I did not even realize it . What an IDIOT! I dropped the rock and the tires settled back on the dirt. So during the time the rock was still in the air, the rear tires were in the air and my 750lb 3pt ballast barrel was in the air, ALL of that weight was on the front axle.:shocked: And it was under power moving up the hill by the front tires.. :ashamed: Thank God it was a Kubota, with a strong front axle.

James K0UA

Good example James!

Not only was ALL the weight on your front axle. The front axle was doing ALL the pulling!

Best if the rear axle is doing most of the pulling!

BTW, I would have turned around and gone uphill in forward. In reverse your rear was all ready higher than your front.

 

[k0ua]

Good example James!

Not only was ALL the weight on your front axle. The front axle was doing ALL the pulling!

Best if the rear axle is doing most of the pulling!

BTW, I would have turned around and gone uphill in forward. In reverse your rear was all ready higher than your front.

Yeah I am suprised I didn't hear a big "pop" of something letting go in the front axle drive train. I unchained the rock from the FEL, and wrapped the chain around it and drug it up the hill with the fixed drawbar.

 

[Tx Jim]

Although somewhat confusing to an Old Phart this is an interesting topic. I'm beginning through every posters input see the light at the end of the tunnel. One last thought wouldn't the back 1/2 any weight on/in rear wheels contribute to the same counterbalance weight as on the 3 pt IE approximately 45% of the weight(wheel weights) in question would be behind rear axle??????????

 

[LD1]

Although somewhat confusing to an Old Phart this is an interesting topic. I'm beginning through every posters input see the light at the end of the tunnel. One last thought wouldn't the back 1/2 any weight on/in rear wheels contribute to the same counterbalance weight as on the 3 pt IE approximately 45% of the weight(wheel weights) in question would be behind rear axle??????????

Not quite sure what you are asking there??

Weight in/on the tires does nothing for counter balance. And by counter balance, I simply mean taking weight off the front axle.

What weight in the tires DOES get you is
1. keep the rear tires in contact with the ground
2. added weight to the largest traction tires
3. better stability

Any weight behind the axle, provides counter balance.

IF we are strictly talking about just keeping the rears planted, a 600lb weight hanging off the 3PH may do just as much good as 1000lbs of tire ballast. (if thats what you were asking).