Loader Does my small tractor need wheel ballast?

[Redline09]

Hey everyone,
I am waiting, somewhat patiently, for delivery of my Massey Ferguson 1705.
Mostly, I will be using it for the front-end loader, moving donkey manure and snow. It will be my only tractor.
For an additional $60, the dealership says it will fill the tires with windshield washer fluid.
Should I have them do that, or would you recommend using something else, like Rim Guard?
The other option, I suppose, would be to not put any liquid in the tires and keep the bucket loads light.
I am a first-time tractor owner, so many thanks for your thoughts on this!

 

[flusher]

Yes, definitely. You'll need all the traction you can get. Rim Guard is fine and will take the winter temperatures in WI. But it's pricey. Calcium chloride is the cheaper alternative for your area. But it will corrode the steel wheel unless you're using inner tubes.

Good luck.

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN....

Weight is your friend when moving snow or any loader work. It helps keep the rear wheels on the ground. Washer fluid weighs roughly 7-7.5 lbs per gallon. Rim Guard weighs between 10-11 lbs per gallon but is much more costly then WW fluid. For $60 I'd get them filled.
Even when filled you may need more rear ballast on the 3 pt. for more traction in slippery conditions.

 

[Deere Dude]

Unless it is crazy nuts, go with the Rimgard. 10.5# per gallon vs 8#/gal. I would do that plus I would get some kind of weight box for the rear for when you are grubbing dirt or moving snow.

You will never get the bucket loads lite. You will load up as much as it holds and go with it.

I would venture a guess that the owners manual would tell you to do those two things and maybe even a wheel weight or two.

I have Rimgard and a weight box for pushing snow when I lived in Beaver Dam, WI and it worked out very well. My tractor may be bigger than yours and weigh more but the principle is the same.

If you have any small hills or obstacles that may need more traction, I would also consider chains for the rear. But you can always get them I guess.

Good luck with your new tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

Some people want the weight of tire liquid, some do not.

With or WITHOUT tire liquid, the most effective counterbalance you can have is weight mounted on the Three Point Hitch, which, being cantilevered behind the rear axle, is much more effective counterbalance than weight anywhere else on the tractor.

For serious snow traction GOOD quality tractor rear tire chains cannot be beat.

 

[Code54]

I personally always fill my tires and have never had an occasion that it was a negative for me.

 

[holeycow]

Fill the tires. It lowers the centre of gravity and takes bounce out of the tires, as well as adds weight to the rear of the tractor for traction and to help keep the rearend on the ground. Its a no-brainer that comes up on here all the time.

 

[FTG-05]

Hopefully not against the rules to post these articles:

6 Reasons to Liquid Ballast your Kubota’s Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

How to Ballast your Kubota’s Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

 

[Code54]

Hopefully not against the rules to post these articles:

6 Reasons to Liquid Ballast your Kubota’s Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks

How to Ballast your Kubota’s Tires | OrangeTractorTalks

Good info for new owners!

 

[pmsmechanic]

If you have four wheel drive then you do not need the weight for traction. You need the weight for counterbalancing the front end loader when the bucket is full of heavier materials. I have a 600 lb weight that I hang on my three point hitch when I need the counterbalance. The rest of the time the weight sits on the ground where it belongs.

So what you need to decide is what kind of jobs your tractor is going to be doing the majority of the time. If you need the weight then by all means take the dealer up on his offer. Otherwise you are just carrying a lot of weight around for nothing.