Ballast do i need front weights?

whitearrow · Apr 12, 2006

hello fellas.i am in the process of buying a jd 5203 and a bushhog 296,the replacement for the 286 rotary cutter.i was wondering if i needed to buy the optional front weight bar and some weights?i am also going to be puting the hood/grill guard on the front end.do i even need the weights to keep my fornt end from getting too light?the bushhog weighs around 1100 pounds.
thanks for your time,
whitearrow->>>--------------------->

NoMo · Apr 12, 2006

Read THIS THREAD (first post for sure) and decide for yourself. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

beenthere · Apr 12, 2006

With or without the FEL?

Don't see any need to buy the weights if you find out they are not needed. Can always add the weights later.

Congrats on the tractor. Will you post a pic?

HillbillyFarmer · Apr 13, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With or without the FEL?

Don't see any need to buy the weights if you find out they are not needed. Can always add the weights later.

Congrats on the tractor. Will you post a pic? )</font>

When do you decide whether to add weights "later?" When you've flipped it over on it's back end and rolled it down a hill?

Toolguy · Apr 13, 2006

The safe way to find out if you need extra weights is to tryout the tractor and implement on level, flat ground. Raise the implement with the 3PTH and drive around slowly. Stop and start a few times and see if the front end feels "light". If the front wheels come off the ground on a normal start, then you need more weight. If you have to rev up the engine and dump the clutch to get the front wheels up, you probably don't need more weight. Make some turns at normal speed and see if the front wheels bite and turn the tractor. If they slide and it is hard to turn you need more weight. Another thing to remember is that anytime you are working with a 3PT implement and you feel unsafe you can always lower the implement to the ground and regain stability. When operating a brushhog you normally have the majority of the weight of the hog on the tailwheel so driving up and down hills should not pose a problem. The hog will not make the tractor more "tippy" on sidehills. In fact it will lower the CG and if anything make it more stabil as long as it is lowered to the operating position. Bottom line is you need to be safe and feel safe, too. If you feel better with extra weight on the front end then put it on and go to work. Good luck.

beenthere · Apr 13, 2006

Real good idea to make that decision before the tractor flips over. If the one who asked the question wants to buy weights before learning if he needs them, I'm sure the dealer will gladly oblige. If there is a FEL on the tractor (I like to have mine on to push things out of the way besides having the front end weight), then that should provide the weight needed.
And as Toolguy described so well, that method of determining a need for weight would be my recommendation as well.

pruntyc · Apr 14, 2006

About the only reason, I can see that you might want to have the weights is if you have a lot of steep hill to do and will be going up it often. And then it would be to hold the front end down so you could control it better. As far as doing a back roll over, very small chance of that, as the bush hog would stop it from doing it. By the time you saw it was trying to, you could stop it. That upper arm is pretty strong, and it would really slow down a back flip. So I would use it a little bit first, to see how well it worked, then if you front seems light get them. Just my 2 ¢ worth.