Buying Advice Bobcat CT 225

[MoPops]

May I suggest an immediate purchase of a properly sized ballast box. Your owner's manual will instruct you in how much weight to ad to the box. I have 1,100 lbs. in mine.

Affordable ballast boxes are frequently available on Craigslist.

I'm on it.. I just had to fire it up yesterday.. In the process of finding rear ballast box, box blade, brush hog, and possibly a front fork, or some way to pick up brush besides a $1,800 grappler..

 

[k0ua]

May I suggest an immediate purchase of a properly sized ballast box. Your owner's manual will instruct you in how much weight to ad to the box. I have 1,100 lbs. in mine.

Affordable ballast boxes are frequently available on Craigslist.

Or make one!

 

[MoPops]

The best way is to do it yourself.. Do not let them put in calcium chloride unless you use tubes in the tires.. it will rot the rims. Calcium chloride is a salt. I don't like to use it at all even if it is still an industry standard. One reason is if you do have a puncture even with a tube, it sprays salt water all over your tractor, and on the ground. It will kill vegetation also. Rimguard (beet juice byproduct) is good and must be put in by a tire service (they wont sell it to individuals). You can put in Windshield Washer fluid (low temp kind) or methanol mix or RV antifreeze (propolene glycol) yourself Now is a good time to buy the RV antifreeze and the low temp Windshield Washer fluid. You can buy the simple tire fill/burp adapter for about 10 dollars at Tractor supply and other locations.

Slime® Air/Water Adapter Kit with Bleeder Valve - Tractor Supply Co.

My gosh.. How many gallons would I need of the RV antifreeze? That's a lot. I'll clean out a walmart, or two.. Looks much less expensive than taking it to a dealer though..

 

[k0ua]

I'm on it.. I just had to fire it up yesterday.. In the process of finding rear ballast box, box blade, brush hog, and possibly a front fork, or some way to pick up brush besides a $1,800 grappler..

These are some forks you might like

Everything Attachments Compact Pallet Forks with 42" Tines

 

[k0ua]

My gosh.. How many gallons would I need of the RV antifreeze? That's a lot. I'll clean out a walmart, or two.. Looks much less expensive than taking it to a dealer though..

I need to double check your tire size, but approximately 48 gallons

 

[MoPops]

I need to double check your tire size, but approximately 48 gallons

I am curious.. Would filled tires, and a 335# box blade be enough weight? (In place of rear ballast box?)

 

[k0ua]

I am curious.. Would filled tires, and a 335# box blade be enough weight? (In place of rear ballast box?)

Marginal. It would make a big difference vs. a bare tractor, but you really need at least 700 on the back to help unload the front axle. Loaded tires help side stability and also help prevent the rears from lifting, but do nothing to take load off of the front axle as all of the loaded tire weight rests on the ground. Rear ballast removes weight from the front axle as you have two pivot points the front axle and the rear axle, which is a bunch stronger than the front axle. Also keep in mind when you are "nose down" due to terrain, that also puts more weight on the front axle and less on the rear axle. A rear world example is for instance if you own a pickup truck without any weight in the bed, you know how hard it is to reverse up a steep hill as what little weight you have is now shifted to the front axle and the light to begin with rear axle is even lighter and just spins the tires so easily.

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned, your manual should have the weights needed, but even this can be a general guideline that may need tweaking a bit for best performance. It may take you a bit of use to come to the right combination.

I have an L5740 with windshield washer fluid in the tires and an 1100 pound box scraper which works pretty well. With our hills and things for which I use my tractors, mine is having 400 pounds of wheel weights added. It has taken me some time and use to get to this point.

Bottom line is, to get good use, you really need counterweight and ballast on the 3PH will make life a little easier on your front axles etc. Good luck with your tractor.

EDIT: I see James beat me to it; again.

 

[MoPops]

Marginal. It would make a big difference vs. a bare tractor, but you really need at least 700 on the back to help unload the front axle. Loaded tires help side stability and also help prevent the rears from lifting, but do nothing to take load off of the front axle as all of the loaded tire weight rests on the ground. Rear ballast removes weight from the front axle as you have two pivot points the front axle and the rear axle, which is a bunch stronger than the front axle. Also keep in mind when you are "nose down" due to terrain, that also puts more weight on the front axle and less on the rear axle. A rear world example is for instance if you own a pickup truck without any weight in the bed, you know how hard it is to reverse up a steep hill as what little weight you have is now shifted to the front axle and the light to begin with rear axle is even lighter and just spins the tires so easily.

Gotcha.. Can you add weight to the box blade? (Cinder blocks) don't want to destroy the box blade either.

 

[k0ua]

Gotcha.. Can you add weight to the box blade? (Cinder blocks) don't want to destroy the box blade either.

Yes, you can, some guys build a "shelf" to temporary add weight when they need it and remove it when they dont.