Ballasting calculations

[oosik]

Oldtink,

Yes, that is exactly the case. That's what made the calc's I have, somewhere, so unbelievably complicated. The calc's had the FEL as a lever and the fulcrum point on the tractor body was an extremely important determination as was the fulcrum point of the 3-point. What took me so darn long to figure it out a couple years ago was they went so far beyond my understanding. I just plugged in numbers until the outcome looked "nice". Later my son looked at it and he wondered how I had figured it out. He actually understood it - I never told him that I just kept plugging in different lengths & measurements.

 

[oosik]

Whis -
I know you are correct. Especially when I start entering random length and measurements to the formulas to get an answer that looks "nice".

 

[ovrszd]

All that paper work don't mean nothing, put a couple thousand on back and if that aint enough add somemore

I was reading down thru the posts toward the end, so I could post what you just said.The amount of "ballast you need" exactly equals the amount of "ballast you need". That amount depends on application. Funny how that works out. With my Grapple, filled rears, an additional 300lb of cast wheel weights and a 1500lb BB on the back I can still lift the rear tires off the ground. Depending on application of course.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's an example of the loads you can put on your tractor with a Grapple.

 

[Underdog57]

My loader is rated for 2500#. My 3pt is rated for 2600#. I have loaded tires = 1200# my ballast box is 1800#. It works quite well for me.

 

[RG1]

I went to JD's site because I know they show ballast recommendations for their tractors/loaders. This was lifted from the loaders for the 5XXX series machines, and maybe it will help you if your tractor is approx. the same size-

"Front Tire Load Index and Rear Ballast Requirements (5R Series Tractors)

Minimum Ballast for Non Self-Leveling Loader

Ballast Recommendations

Ballast

Regular Duty Front Tire Load Index

Heavy Duty Front Tire Load Index

Option 1

3-Point Hitch

800 kg (1764 lb.)

106

117

Rear Axle

0

Option 2

Rear Axle

1400 kg (3086 lb.)

111

120

Minimum Ballast for Mechanical Self-Leveling Loader

Ballast Recommendations

Ballast

Regular Duty Front Tire Load Index

Heavy Duty Front Tire Load Index

Option 1

3-Point Hitch

1000 kg (2205 lb.)

109

121

Rear Axle

500

OUO6064,0000C38-19-20130607



"


http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMW54462_19/?tM=FR

 

[Ted Summey]

Here is a chart based on tire size and water at 8 pounds per gallon. From here the calculation is capacity of your tire in gallons times weight of fill material per gallon

Liquid Tire Ballast Chart

 

[Baby Grand]

Someone on here put together an excel spreadsheet for calculating wheel loads & ballast.
Anybody remember who did that - it was a pretty nice tool as I remember.

 

[puckgrinder85]

I know how to figure it out. Common sense. Go out and use the tractor, they give plenty of fair warning when they are unstable. I use our grapple sometimes without ballast at all, you can feel the difference and yes you have to be cautious but that's just a common sense thing again.

 

[oosik]

Thanks all for the advice and assists. I do have 1500# of rim guard and a 575# rear blade already. Like most have indicated - start with this and if I need additional I can add. I'll use a little common sense and what is currently on the tractor and go from there. Besides, I've had no luck finding the formulas and calculations. I did find a site that indicated that there were no formulas for an answer.