Ballast Almost flipped my brand new BX 2230...ballast?

tobypineo · Oct 10, 2005

Hey there...Ok, finally get my 2230 delivered. Very happy day. Got the 60" MMM, 50" front snowblower and weight box. I cruised up a little hill in back of my garage, hit a little rock (size of a golf ball) and the tractor near rolled over backward!!! It felt like it anyway, there was about 6 inches of daylight under the right front tire after it hit the rock. I wasn't going that fast at all, I didn't think so anyway. This isn't any where near the worst hill I have to deal with, by the way.

So I know these 3 things will help:

(1) The 60" mower will add weight at a low COG
(2) Took of the weight box. It was empty and pretty light, but it definately wasn't helping anything.
(3) Lowered my tire pressures from 20 Front and 17 Rear to 15 and 12.

I am sure all of these will help, but I think I want to add some front weight too. Probably the weights that hang off the front bumper. The manual states that 275# is the max, but I assume that is for a heavy rear implement. Was thinking of 150# or 200#, purely for stability on slopes. I would appreciate any input geared toward developing the most stable BX on slopes. Is front ballast the way to go?? Seemed like the back was heavy enough already. Thanks.

have_blue · Oct 10, 2005

Toby,

Lowering tire pressure probably won't help. It just makes the tires mushy, and could allow more leaning than firmer tires.

Filled tires are an excellent way to add weight and improve the CG.

I'm sure you realize that carrying the FEL and other implements low can help a lot.

tobypineo · Oct 10, 2005

Thanks, I was hoping to get the tires down to a point that they would be less likely to "bounce", but I see your point about going too far with it. I will watch for that. I don't have a FEL, just the 60" MMM in the summer, so that will help a little. I am thinking that I should start loading the weight to the front bumper. Thanks for your input.

KirkMcD · Oct 10, 2005

If you are going to have a weight box on, you'll need some kind of weight in the front of the tractor to counter balance it. Most people have a FEL for that.

What was your intentions in getting a weight box? Just for more traction or to counter balance the snowblower and added traction in the winter?

tobypineo · Oct 10, 2005

Actually, I didn't even know the weight box was coming. It was just part of the snowblower package, I suppose. I am thinking about just using the front mounting bracket for the snowblower as my front ballast. It must weigh around 100# or so. Maybe I will just leave it on all year.

KirkMcD · Oct 10, 2005

The mount for the snowblower is pretty low to the ground. It gets in the way sometimes.

escavader · Oct 10, 2005

ID LOAD THE TIRES.
IM in the next town up from you if you want to see what the small botas feel like with loaded tires
ALAN

guyrj33 · Oct 11, 2005

If you load the tires the tractor will have a greater tendancy to sink in soft ground and make grooves in your lawn.
I suggest using the weight box.

escavader · Oct 11, 2005

my tires which are bars have never cut in my lawn.and why would weight in the tires be any different than weight on the tires? A lower center of gravity is what loaded tires do instead of weights
ALAN

ByronBob · Oct 11, 2005

I see no reason to have the rear ballast on the tractor unless you have the snowblower on it. All it does is add trouble like you already found out.

Life is a lesson, you learn it when your through.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif