Traction Does anyone find the front of the 3039 LS tractor light?

[gkess2]

I have a LS 3039 tractor with a factory backhoe. I bought a snowplow this year and could not steer as I was plowing because it seems that the front end was off the ground half the time. I finally split the brakes and was able to steer that way. The float seemed to work initially, that is it lifted the front end up and then settled down but it did not seem like it worked as I was plowing. I even put it in float on top of a 2x4 and tried to lift up on it and it raised the whole front end, not just the plow. My dealer is good but he says that that is normal, and the backhoe is made and balanced for the machine. I now notice that as I drive over wet grass, I lose steering and even with the machine in 4 wheel drive it will continue to go straight, when the wheels turned, because the front end seems light. This is with the FEL on the front.
My questions are is anyone else having this problem and how did you fix it? How does one test the float to see if it is working properly?
My dealer says I don't need front end weights but do I and where would I put them on the 3039?
Thanks
George

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN...

A BH put a lot of weight on the rear end making the front end light. Weight brackets and weights are available for the LS tractors. The bracket bolts on where the front brush guard is now and the weights would hang from that. Not sure if you have to remove the brush bar or if the weight bracket bolts on top of it. I don't have front weights or a BH for mine. I do plow snow with a 7'6" snow pusher box and use about 900 lb for rear ballast on the 3 pt. and chains on all 4 tires. When the loader is in float mode it should not lift the front end. Also the curl functions will work in float mode also.

 

[k0ua]

How to test if float mode works on your FEL..

1: dump bucket so the cutting edge of the bucket is straight down vertical.
2: WITHOUT pushing into the float detent, lower the lift arms, (push forward on stick) the tractors front tires should come off of the ground.
3: lower the tires back on the ground by raising the lift arms (pull back on stick)
4: now push rapidly and firmly forward on stick past the detent, the tires should stay on the ground, the stick should stay forward into the detent position, and there should not be any strain on they hydraulics. You float position works.

 

[gkess2]

Thanks George2615. I did a quick search for front end weights and there were suitcase weights for other model tractors but not the R3039H. Any ideas or web sites?

 

[gkess2]

Hello k0ua and thanks for the reply. It's raining like **** here in not so sunny PA. I will try the test tomorrow if it clears and let you know how I made out. As I said in my post I sort of did that with the plow on the front and I laid it on a 2x4 and I was able to move the front end up where I would have thought I would only move the plow and would be able to see the piston retract. Like I said I will try it using your instructions and let you know.
George

 

[k0ua]

Hello k0ua and thanks for the reply. It's raining like **** here in not so sunny PA. I will try the test tomorrow if it clears and let you know how I made out. As I said in my post I sort of did that with the plow on the front and I laid it on a 2x4 and I was able to move the front end up where I would have thought I would only move the plow and would be able to see the piston retract. Like I said I will try it using your instructions and let you know.
George

Hi George, it would surprise me a lot if the float function did not work.
When scraping ice and snow, it is imperative to get the angle of the bucket set correctly. Even in float mode if the angle of the bucket is dumped down too much it will "dig in" and the front end of the tractor will come off of the ground in an instant. It requires some practice. If you backdrag the bucket while going in reverse over uneven ground with the lift in float mode, you will be be able to see the the bucket "float up and down over the hills and dips.

 

[George2615]

Thanks George2615. I did a quick search for front end weights and there were suitcase weights for other model tractors but not the R3039H. Any ideas or web sites?

George,
I don't know of any aftermarket frames and weights for the LS tractors. Check with your LS dealer to see if he can order a factory bracket and weights. Price them first so you can recover from the sticker shock. If it were me I'd shop online for standard suitcase weights from another brand and make my own bracket to support them. I have seen other brand tractor weights selling online for twenty five to fifty cents a pound. Check on Ebay or CL for local sales as you wouldn't want to pay shipping on a few hundred pounds of weights.
Just an FYI, I had the same steering problem on my previous tractor plowing snow with a plow blade or bucket. I added a weight bracket and about 200 lbs. of weight to the front end and the tractor still wanted to go straight. Adding front chains to this set up helped regain some steering ability. On my new tractor I only plowed snow a couple times (6-10" each time) and didn't have any steering problem. But the new tractor is also about 1k heavier than the old one and I had chains on all 4 tires.

 

[Bob77064]

George, when I asked about the front weight bracket the dealer told that I would have to remove the brush guard to mount the weight bracket. Maybe you could have a welding shop make you a bracket that would mount over the brush guard.

 

[gkess2]

I'll bet you are right, that I was digging in. I have to play with the plow mount because if I had it too flat the frame would scrape the ground so I did have it at a sharper angle. I just need to play with the adjustments. I will still try the test though and see how that works out. The plow is off but I am doing some digging so I will try back dragging the bucket and see what happens.
Thanks again
George

 

[gkess2]

Hello Bob77064 I looked on the LS website and a few others that sold LS parts and none of them listed weights or weight bracket for the LS R3039H.
Are you talking about a LS dealer? Does anyone have a picture of the mounting frame. I have a friend who is a good welder/fabricator and I am sure he could come up with something.
Thanks Bob
George