Ballast Another Liquid Ballast vs Wheel Weight Thread

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

If cost of both were the exact same per lb, which is better? For both stability and traction. Which is less strain on the tractor?

Which would you rather have? If cost was the same.

 

[Groo]

If cost of both were the exact same per lb, which is better? For both stability and traction. Which is less strain on the tractor?

Which would you rather have? If cost was the same.

looks like you'd get more absolute weight out of a filled tire in many cases (looks like 350lbs vs 1000lbs on the YT359 I am looking into it for, but probably way of on the metal weight weight). The CG of a filled tire will be lower than that of a tire with a weight added. If you had the same weight with both, the rim and hub would take 100% of the load with a wheel weight, and less than that with a filled tire. Your two requirements there looks to favor liquid.

Logically the big advantage of the bolt-on weight is when it comes time to do service, but I will say that Dad's 30 something year old Kubota has never needed rear tire work of any kind. I might have adjusted the pressure once or twice, but that is it. The fronts have both been replaced 10 years-ish back one at a time, so they don't match.
Either loaded or bolt on weights would be more hassle when chaining. Bolt on weights would be more hassle since there is the added bulk to deal with.

ROI should be quite a bit better with bolt on weights. ballast liquid would need to be recovered with special equipment and stored in a container. It may also break down after decades. I haven't really looked into that aspect of it.
weights could be dumped into the corner, then a fresh coat of rattle-can when you are ready to reuse.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Most rear wheel weights are going to weigh 100# or more each so they aren't going to be a walk in the park to remove and replace either. Unless you need more weight than liquid ballast will provide, I prefer the liquid. If you have a large enough container, a hose attached to the valve stem can remove most of the liquid without any strain at all.

 

[oosik]

My rear tires have 770 pounds of Rimguard in each tire. I would just imagine it would be difficult to get that much bolt on/clamp on wheel weight on each tire.

My current tractor - Kubota M6040 is only nine years old - so not much of an example, but its not had any required maintenance to the tires - actually to anything.

My previous tractor - 1982 Ford 1710 4WD - purchased new - the rear tires were in excellent shape when I traded it in on the Kubota in 2009. Never had any required maintenance on the TIRES. However - I had the d a m n tires filled with calcium chloride and it became a real PITA. Replaced the inner workings of the valve stem on both tires almost every year.

The valve stems developed a late stage case of syphilis.

 

[Texasmark]

If cost of both were the exact same per lb, which is better? For both stability and traction. Which is less strain on the tractor?

Which would you rather have? If cost was the same.

If you run low pressures to assist in a softer ride, tire bead to wheel separation occurs more readily with liquid. BTDT. Weights are pricy so it's really apples and oranges on cost. If you run 15# on drive wheels up, I don't see a problem with wheel to tire slip or tire disconnecting from rim with fluid fill, your cheapest solution.....but if you are around thorns, fluid is a "thorny" business to fix.