Ballast Codes for a "Naked" Tractor

[msmud]

I thought I would provide the following information FWIW and to illustrate the interesting front end weight differences in the 3E series, 3x20, and 4x20 machines. Putting a long heavy rear implement on a tractor requires ballasting but sometimes more or less than one thinks. The ballast code for my RC2072 bushhog is 54 - 55 without imatch; 39 for the RC2060; and around 23 - 24 with the RC2048. The shorter the implement the less front end counter weight required.

So a naked 3E series front end provides only 24 ballast units, requiring that some 31 units be made up in weights to counterbalance my bushhog--in my case that is 8-70# weights, plus weight bracket and front hood guard. About 27# per unit. The 3x20 tractors provide 36 units with a naked front end, and the 4x20 tractors provide 48 units. You can add 1 - 2 units for a hood guard installed. The 3x20 needs very little weight for a 5 ft hog; the 4x20 none. For my 6 ft hog, the 4x20 would need only around 140# if a hood guard is installed, or only 2-70# weights.

Tractor weight and its distribution isn't the only factor influencing this. A longer wheelbase of course increases the naked BC code of the front end. The presence of a loader will also increase the BC code though sometimes not enough for really long or heavy rear attachments. In my case a loader would not be enough for my 6' hog, one of the reasons I bought the tractor without one. Important info to keep in mind before choosing a particular tractor model.

 

[rekees4300]

Perhaps it would be helpful to define the terms "ballast code", "ballast unit", and "BC code"? :confused3:

 

[msmud]

Figuring out how much weight it takes on the front of a tractor to counterbalance a load of a given length and weight on the back of the tractor--or vice versa--requires a bit of algebra and a few assumptions. It's very important for safety of course, but also for getting the right traction. Deere has simplified that by coming up with a simple number called a ballast code which is assigned to a rear implement in order to help the operator know how much weight to put on the front end, usually via a table in the owner's manual, though you can calculate it.

There are different tables in the owners manuals for the use of imatch--which holds the implement out a little farther from the rear axle pivot point, thereby requiring still more front end weight to balance; for whether you have a cab tractor, which increases front end weight, reducing the need for ballast; or for whether you have a loader, which does the same. For instance on the 3032E/3038E the base ballast code of the front end--21 with imatch (I used 24 without imatch)--will balance rear implements coded 21 or lower if you use imatch. If you have a loader with bucket attached, the front end code jumps to 52 because of the extra front end weight, meaning that you can balance rear implements coded 52 or lower, such as a 5 foot bushhog, if you use imatch, about 54 or 55 if you dont.

I had to get into the nitty gritty of all of this because my dealer wasn't sure by the tables whether I could balance a 6 foot bushhog on the E series. I found out I could, but then in looking at the owner's manuals for the other tractor series, it became apparent just how different each of these tractor series are from each other as far as needed ballast. This is why I posted the base values, without imatch, for the various tractors as a guide.

 

[rekees4300]

Okay thanks for the explanation. Until your post never heard the term "ballast code" before. Can see where such a code would be useful since every tractor's rear axle acts as a fulcrum but there are variables from tractor to tractor.

 

[msmud]

I should correct the weight per ballast code unit, which should be around 21 pounds per unit. This means that you can calculate the base front end weight of the various tractors 3E series approx 450#; 3x20 series 750#; and 4x20 series 1000#. No wonder the 4x20s don't need any extra front end weight to ballast many attachments.

 

[pclausen]

Very interesting. Never knew about ballast codes before. My 5085M can handle a implement with a code of 87 with no front weights. So @ 21# each, that would mean I can handle implements up to 1827# with no front weights. Pretty amazing.

 

[msmud]

pcclausen,
Your no-weight front end ballast code of 87 means your front end weighs about 1827#. With a short load like a ballast box for a loader, which doesn't protrude behind the tractor very far, you likely would be able to lift more than 1827# without front end ballast. On the other hand, if you attach a 10 ft boom pole and try to lift 1827#, your front end might come up. The attachment BC for the ballast box is less than 87; for the boom pole load it is more than 87.

As a practical example, the attachment BC for the MX6 cutter is 82; likely you would need no front end ballast. The code for the dual wheel MX7 is 130, suggesting that you would need (130-87)x21 or around 900# extra weight added to the front end, which might be 12-70# weights plus the bracket.

 

[pclausen]

Thanks that makes sense.

Is Implement Codes something only Deere does for their implements? I have a Bush Hog 3209 rotary cutter that weigh around 2500 lbs. I looked in the Operator Manual for it, and there is no mention of Implement codes anywhere.

 

[msmud]

That's my experience, too, in looking at non-Deere attachments; no guidance is given in the form of codes to help you balance the machine. Because of Deere's detailed code system, I was able to figure out a 6 ft bushhog could be balanced on the 3038e before I bought it. Just one more reason to buy John Deere in my opinion. The company gives so much detail about its products, owner's manuals online etc.

 

[pclausen]

I looked up the implement code for the MX10 rotary cutter. It's 141, which is probably in the ballpark of what my Bush Hog 3209 is.

My tractor manual indicates that I max out an implement code of 127 without liquid in the front tires and 8 104 lb front weights, or 137 with liquid and 8 weights.

Now the tractor will hold 14 weights, which would allow it to carry a much heavier implement, but I guess the reason the manual shows a max of 137 has to do with max front axle weight, which is 4365 lbs in my case? Seems odd as another section of the manual states that the tractor will hold up to 14 weights...

I have used my 3209 cutter for about 8 hours so far, but that was with the FEL mounted with a 1000 lbs grapple. That combo was very stable.

 

[msmud]

pcclausen

This does seem odd for your tractor. You ought to be able to counterbalance the bushhog with weights if you can do it with a loader. The axle capacity is clearly high enough, but you would have to make sure your front tire pressures were high enough to support the axle load. I suspect the maximum BC of the attachments you can add is higher, since that tractor of yours is built like a tank.

It also depends on terrain. I can actually bushhog without any weights on flat terrain with the 6 foot hog on my small 3038e, but the moment I back down any incline there are problems.

As long as you know you are not exceeding axle and tire load, I think you are free to carefully experiment. If you have a cotton gin or weigh station nearby you can weigh the front end naked and loaded, and know for sure. That's one of the standard recs of the ag tire manuals.

 

[pclausen]

Each of my front tires is rated for 3240lbs @ 24 psi, so yeah, there should be no problem at all adding up to the max of 14 weights I would think.

I had a JD 4700 before my current tractor, and when running without the FEL, I too had issues with my 6' cutter and 90" finish mover without weights in the front on sloped terrain. My current tractor has no issues with the 90" finish cutter "naked" in any terrain. I'm pretty sure that won't be the case with the 9' cutter.

I'll try out the 9' cutter without the FEL to see how it feels, and then add weights as necessary until it feels stable and planted. Will likely take 8-10 weights to get there I think.

 

[BOC]

MSMUD

I am having a hard time understanding my manual and how the math is done. I do understand the concept though as it makes perfect sense.

When I go to my manual (JD3038e just like yours), in the ballast section I see that my tractor with the loader has a code of 52 (yes I do use the imatch). Beyond this, none of the three tables in the owners manual make any sense to me partly because this code of 52 is not listed in anywhere. To complicate matters, in the operators manual for my Frontier RC2060 bush hog and my 1157 tiller, I cannot find any ballast code listed for either implement. Can you possibly dumb it down for me and steer me in the right direction. I know you said with this bush hog and a loader/bucket attached I do not need any additional weights up front; however, I just want to understand and make sense of it myself.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[msmud]

BOC,
This issue is unnecessarily confusing though Deere tried to help with its code system. If you look at the 3x20 series tractor manuals, you see that for nonimatch loads you add about 3 units to the code of an attachment that a given set of weights can balance, because a given set of weights up front can balance a bigger rear load if it is held "closer in" to the tractor, as is true without imatch. Since no nonimatch table is given for the e series tractors, I will use this added factor. Your loader gives you the ability to balance a rear attachment of BC52 with imatch, about 54 - 55 without. If you look up the bushhog manual of the one most equivalent to the RC2060, the old Deere LX5, you see that it has a BC of 39, easily balanced by your loader. In fact the LX6 unit with BC of 55 would be balanced. So if you look at the tables your loader gives you the equivalent of about 8-70# weights on the front end if you use imatch, about 9 weights worth if you don't.

I have worked out a simple algebra system for shorter loads like boxblades and tillers to see what the maximum load might be for them. I can share that if you want but I don't want to overcomplicate this. Just as a common sense rule, if your loader allows you to balance a LX6 load (about 680# or so)with center of mass about 6 - 6.5 feet from the rear axle, then you should be able to balance anything with a center of mass closer than 6 feet to the rear axle (box blades/tillers etc) with the same or lower attachment weight.

 

[burnieman]

REALLY!

 

[msmud]

I offer this FWIW to 3032e/3038e owners because the Deere manual gives such limited guidance even with the Ballast codes. With the 305 loader and empty bucket attached, the maximum boxblade that I calculate can be counterbalanced is around 975 pounds (close to the Woods 5.5' HD2465HB, though the 3038e may be marginal for power); the maximum disk around 850 (something like the Woods DHM6); the heaviest 5 foot bushhog around 725 pounds (a little light for the Deere MX5 but close to other manufacturers medium duty models like Woods BB60X/Bushhog SQ160/possibly Bushhog 285); the heaviest 6 foot bushhog around 620#, like my RC2072 with chains removed, or Woods HC72. The above is for attachment without imatch.