Tires BX23: 1-Loaded tires; 2-spark arrestor

[HomeBrew2]

Just kindly soliciting comments from experience.

The BX23 Owners manual states that no [internal] tire ballast be used ... only physical weights up front. That seems to preclude foam, et al. Anyone successfully loading front tires on a BX22 or 23, 1500, 22whatever, i.e., with a loader?

And the manual states that rear tire ballast should be removed with the BH attached ... anybody have hours with loaded rears with the BH or other heavy implement attached all the time?

The 23 seems to have a reverse-flow muffler, which, from experience mitigates most sparks exiting the exhaust pipe ... but, it does not seem to be a Forest Service approved spark arrestor muffler. But, maybe it is. Any knowledge of that? Any knowledge of a replacement muffler with approved capabilities. ... it's not that I'm afraid to start a fire ... I'm afraid of getting billed to respond or put it out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks in advance for help in these matters.
Cheers!

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Anyone successfully loading front tires on a BX22 or 23, 1500, 22whatever, i.e., with a loader? </font>

Homebrew2,

I don't know how to measure succesful, but I can tell you I think the manual for my B2910 says about the same thing as yours does.

I have foam filled front tires on both my BX2200 and my B2910. 530 hours on the B2910, which are tach hours, and probably equall about 700 or 750 real time hours. No problems to date...

On the BX I changed over to bar tires at about hour 25. Now have 100 hours on it.

I really like the foam filled fronts on both tractors. Somehow, I can't imagine how the foam on the inside of the small front tire (or liquid for that matter) could have a large negative affect, when the same front axle assembly carries a loader and full bucket without worry.

So I don't worry. I like the extra weight down low like that...seems to be successful...but like I said, I don't know how to make that measurement!

Foam adds enough weight to make filling the fronts worth doing. I don't know if I would bother with liquid like WW fluid, does not seem like it would add enough weight to make it worth much. If I remember right, each BX front tire weighed about 38 lbs after foam filling. Maybe a bit more? I know going into the tire shop I whistled on my way in carrying a tire in each hand. When I picked them up, I carried one back to the van myself, and a tire guy carried the other for me... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

edit: PS...my bx does not have a loader by my B2910 does, and I work it pretty hard a lot of the time...

 

[Workbull]

I have an old MF workbull 202 industrial with an afternarket frontloader that is smaller than the factory one that the tractor was designed for. I added jell (I assume that is the same as foam, very heavy 2 part liquid) filled tires to the front (7.50x16) to prevent air leaks from thorns. Within 2 years I broke both front spindles. Those tires went to the junk pile. I have never had any trouble before or since those tires were gone. There is no give in a jell filled tire unlike a 75% liquid filled tire. Watch your front tires when you have a full bucket and go over a rut or bump and you will see the tire flex a lot. I also know a company that tore up the steering on a forklift by using jell filled tires, they went to "soft solids" and had no more problems. I may be the exception to the rule but when the second spindle broke a year after the first I started to think twice.

 

[jim_wilson]

I have a BX23 that had the rear tires filled with RimGuard right from the dealer. I am nearing 190 hours on the tractor and haven't had any problems yet. In fact I think that having the rear tires loaded with the backhoe attached is a good idea because the backhoe unit adds a decent amount of weight up high - which might lead to easier rollovers. Adding weight to the rear tires counteracts that weight and makes the tractor more stable. Kubota never elaborates why they don't want the rear tires loaded when the backhoe is attached so I am left to guess but I would think that the added weight on the driveline might lead to premature driveline failure. Since most of my time on the tractor is spent at low speeds I don't worry about that too much. I have never driven my BX23 without the rear tires loaded so I can't speak as to what it like with no loading - but I can testify that with the rear tires loaded the tractor is very stable. There have been a number of times when I did something stupid and thought the tractor was going over and it hasn't yet. I have to attribute at least some of that to having the rear tires loaded.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">There is no give in a jell filled tire unlike a 75% liquid filled tire. </font>

I don't know if it is true, but I was told that different foam mixes have different characteristics.

I do know that if I stand on my foam filled tires they do flex, and if I push on them from the side the do move somewhat. They don't act like they are filled with concrete, in other words.

Not sure how to equate what flex might be there to what would be there with liquid/air inside. I don't think the Kubota manuals address the type of fill, just say don't do it...without explaining why.

Good point about potential damage due to shock if the front tires are made too solid.

 

[MBman]

The reason for not allowing filled tires and backhoe at the same time has to do with the fact that when filled the tires have very little give on bumps. If you were to hit a large bump at speed and there is no give somethings going to bend or break. Air compresses, liquid doesn't.
I have rear filled ag tires and have noticed it to ride harsher/bouncy with the filled tires. With the hoe on it's worse. I drive real slow with the backhoe on.
They don't want the front filled at all due to the fact that the front tires have so little air to begin with due to their small size. Foam filling is probably acceptable due to foam being compressable. The air in the tires is the only shock absorbers on the tractor as there is no suspension to absorb any shock.
I love my filled tires though.
Rich

 

[HomeBrew2]

Thanks for the great info, all. I had found plenty of info on big machines with loaded tires but not much on baby tractors doing big tractor work with loaded tires. I appreciate the input.

... I'm starting to think that I may be the only guy wondering about a spark arrestor on a tractor ... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif