Dk5310se ballast question

[CADplans]

I just wish I could get a good quality non freezing liquid ballast down here in southern California.

Dave

My tire guy gets methanol in 55 gallon drums,
it is mixed with water, similar to engine antifreeze, more methanol, lower freeze point.
Pick your lowest temperature, and mix.

I would imagine that the methanol is available, I think it is the same stuff some race cars burn.
Here is a pic of the tires I had filled.

 

[Buggs67]

My tractor recommends about 1,000-1,200 lbs. And it's only a CK2510. A rear implement is not sufficient IMO; they don't weigh enough. Also IMO loaded tires do NOTHING as counter weight, ie reducing strain on the front axle. They do help to keep the tires planted but the rear axle is the pivot point for the lever that the tractor becomes when lifting weight i the FEL.

 

[CADplans]

Also IMO loaded tires do NOTHING as counter weight, ie reducing strain on the front axle.
They do help to keep the tires planted but the rear axle is the pivot point for the lever that the tractor becomes when lifting weight i the FEL.

Some tractors simply do not care about using the rear axle as a pivot point,,

 

[jeff9366]

Specifications DK5310 - KL5520 Loader​

Maximum Lift Height to Pivot Pin	107.7 in. (2,735 mm)
Clearance w/ Bucket Level	96.3 in. (2,446 mm)
Clearance w/ Bucket Dumped	78.8 in. (2,001 mm)
Reach at Maximum Height (45º)	22.7 in. (576 mm)
Maximum Dump Angle	46º
Reach w/ Bucket on Ground	71.1 in. (1806 mm)
Maximum Rollback Angle	41º
Digging Depth Below Grade	8.6 in. (218 mm)
Overall Height in Carry Position	54 in. (1371 mm)
Bucket Depth (Inner Shell)	18.5 in. (470 mm)
Bucket Height	22 in. (560 mm)
Bucket Length (Pivot Pin)	26 in. (660 mm)
Lift Capacity to Full Height at Pivot Pins	2,474 lbs. (1,122 kg)
Breakout Force at Pivot Pins	3,895 lbs. (1,767 kg)
Bucket Rollback Force at Ground Line	3,148 lbs. (1,428 kg)
Relief Valve Setting (Loader Control Valve)	2,774 psi (195 kg/cm²)
Rated Flow (Tractor System)	9.62 gpm (36.4 L/min)
Bucket Size(s) Available	66" QA / 72" QA
Bucket Capacity (Heaped)	66 in.: 14.5 cu. ft. / 72 in.: 16.0 cu. ft.
Approximate Weight (With Bucket)	66 in.: 1,361 lbs. (617 kg) / 72 in.: 1,389 lbs. (630 kg)

 

[Gee Ray]

Some tractors simply do not care about using the rear axle as a pivot point,,View attachment 728042

I do not think that there is a tractor that will not benefit from the addition of a rear ballast. Several times I have witnessed tractors running without rear ballast but that does mean the wear and tear of a heavy load on the front axle could be reduced with the addition of the rear ballast. Also the addition of rear ballast on the tractor in your picture would reduce the need for wheel spinning and the use of the dif lock or brakes to walk back out of the hole that you were digging.

If you watch this video

you will see Mike pick up a cube of block and then without much warning the rear tires start to lift. On a hillside or working around a burn pit this could have be a serious problem. The lifting of the rear tires on a 2 wheel drive or a 4x4 in 2 wheel drive would mean there is no control of the tractor.

Is it a big deal? No most of the time it is no big deal but the chance of a disaster plus the reduction of wear on the front end by simply hanging a box blade or ballast box on the rear seam like a small price to pay for a safe day on the farm.

Deere Compact Tractor Ballast Calculator

www.greentractortalk.com

 

[Buggs67]

Some tractors simply do not care about using the rear axle as a pivot point,,View attachment 728042

Your name implies you might be an engineer, or at least more than competent with CAD systems. So you understand levers and leverage. So when you lift that bucket of dirt all that additional weight on the front axle is actually more than the weight of the dirt in the bucket. Because the bucket being out in front of the axle is creating a lever with the pivot point being the front ... wait for it; AXLE! This is why a big load in the FEL can lift the rear tires. Which is why some people load the tires, keeping the rear planted. But still all that stress is concentrated on the front axle.

But you knew that.

You just wanted to post a picture of your tractor doing some amazing digging. It is impressive. Sincerely. My tractor cannot do that unless my 1200 lb BH is on the rear.

 

[mickeyw]

Ballasted rear tyres primarily help with traction by (hopefully) keeping the rear wheels on the ground.
A counterweight will be what reduces the load on the front axle components and makes steering a bit easier on a non-PAS machine.

Our little old Ford 3000 has liquid ballasted rears, but when I'm not using another implement on the back I carry a concrete counterweight to makes the steering lighter. It's about 2/3 of a 205 litre oil drum. I first thought it weighed around 500kg but since realised it's a good deal heavier than that.
Either way it's certainly worth having on there.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

On my 30 hp tractor with similar tractor weight and lifting capabilities I have a ~1200 lb ballast. I would not want to go much less that that. 1000+ lbs. seems like a good bet. I have lighter implements that I can use when I am not needing the big boy. It's scary using a FEL without some sort of ballast.