Filled my rears. WOW

[ovrszd]

Yeah, we've drifted a bit. But it's still good discussion with educating points being made.

Not sure which of your tractors you are talking about concerning filled tires and mowing?? I mow with a JD2210. I filled the rears for stability while mowing road banks. I'm sure it's harder on the turf since I've added weight. But the stability gain was worth it in my case. I consider tire fluid to be the most effective weight. It's location and the fact that it does not load the chassis is the reason. Wheel weights come in second in my opinion. Only reason they are rated 2nd is because it takes so many to equal the weight of fluid and they are very expensive per pound.

 

[b73]

I don't mind the hijack. It's interesting and informative.
My fronts are pretty large so it would add decent weight.
As far as compaction,the tractor was 5000lbs before filling any tires.Not convinced the extra weight will make much difference in my situation. I have noticed grass dying in one of my heavily traveled paths,mostly before filling rears.
Still undecided on filling fronts. Don't have time for a while anyway.

 

[94BULLITT]

One thing that is rarely discussed is that when you add fluid to your tires you are increasing your rotating mass. You are going to put less power to the ground with fluid in your tires or wheel weights.

 

[mikehaugen]

One thing that is rarely discussed is that when you add fluid to your tires you are increasing your rotating mass. You are going to put less power to the ground with fluid in your tires or wheel weights.

I don't know... is this for sure? It is a fluid and could theoretically stay in the same place as the tire rotates. I'm not sure that it could be considered "rotating" mass. I could be wrong. I am also not sure it would decrease your power to ground, sure it would accelerate slower, but once at speed would it really decrease power? If so it would really only be an issue in the most constant power hungry applications like pulling a plow or something correct? In any case it sure makes it more useable power if you weren't getting traction beforehand. Not trying to argue, maybe I am missing something.

As far as fronts go, I could see it being advantageous even with fel when the bucket is on the ground like while digging. It also may help steering if you are plowing snow with bucket on the ground.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

One thing that is rarely discussed is that when you add fluid to your tires you are increasing your rotating mass. You are going to put less power to the ground with fluid in your tires or wheel weights.

Not really. The only loss is through friction, a thing that low viscosity fluid does not have much of. You do have to move the extra mass around which can effect economy, but given the low acceleration rates of tractors, I think parasitic loss of economy due to extra mass is also marginal.

Anybody have some numbers to push aside our conjecture in favor of hard evidence?

 

[ovrszd]

Would be hard to come up with numbers.

I agree that a tractor with loaded tires, fluid or weights, moves a bit more sluggishly. But doesn't a tractor with the FEL on versus off do the same thing??

When I remove my FEL my tractor acts like a HotRod, hops around like a rabbit.

I think the only constant with fluid would be the friction of the fluid against the tire as it rotates. I agree that would be minimal.

Weights on the other hand would be rotational mass and would require constant power to maintain rotation. I've experienced this with Jeeps and large tires/wheels. Noticeable difference in 6ply tires and steel wheels versus 4ply tires and aluminum wheels.

 

[94BULLITT]

I see what you guys are saying. Since the fluid is loose inside the tire the tractor does not have to turn it like a wheel weight so the power loses with fluid in the tires would be minimal.

When I remove my FEL my tractor acts like a HotRod, hops around like a rabbit.

I have not really noticed a difference in the performance with the loader off. If I drove down the road I may since I would be 1300lbs+ lighter. I do like how agile the L4240 is with the loader off. It will turn on a dime on give you 2 cents back.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah Roger. I always remove my FEL when brush cutting. So much more manueverable.

 

[Mud Mechanik]

Another point that has not been mentioned is that loading front tires has to be harder on steering components. I filled my fronts for weight only and have been very careful to not turn steering wheel unless tractor is moving, this proves to be difficult when stacking rolls of hay in tight quarters.

 

[94BULLITT]

Yeah Roger. I always remove my FEL when brush cutting. So much more manueverable.

I really don't do any brush cutting but if I did and the felid was not overgrown real bad the loader would come off. If it was bad I would leave the loader on with the grapple.

Another point that has not been mentioned is that loading front tires has to be harder on steering components. I filled my fronts for weight only and have been very careful to not turn steering wheel unless tractor is moving, this proves to be difficult when stacking rolls of hay in tight quarters.

Do you think the weight from filling the tires is worse than the weight that would be on them with full load on the FEL?