Filled my rears. WOW

[MtnViewRanch]

I guess I don't understand the "traction" gain of loaded front tires on an FEL tractor??
As for stability on a side slope, it's only gained when the front axle has oscillated to the stopper. By then the operator is generally retreating from the situation. When climbing vertically the FEL will keep the front tires on the ground on all but the most extreme situations, which again will be retreated from.

You have more weight to move into the material to be loaded. More weight gets you better traction which makes loading the bucket easier. Everyone does not load from a pile of loose material as shown in about every tractor brochure.

 

[ovrszd]

I use my FEL a LOT. I've loaded all types of material. I apply the bucket to the material to be loaded in such a way that it applies load to the front of the tractor. If more traction is needed I apply the bucket with more down drag. If less is needed I level and let the weight of the tractor do the trick. I just don't see where carrying front tire fluid around all the time is effective. Especially when I've got my FEL maxxed out carrying a load. Not sure I want/need more downward pressure applied to the front tires at that time or when moving with an empty bucket. Different strokes I guess.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I use my FEL a LOT. I've loaded all types of material. I apply the bucket to the material to be loaded in such a way that it applies load to the front of the tractor. If more traction is needed I apply the bucket with more down drag. If less is needed I level and let the weight of the tractor do the trick. I just don't see where carrying front tire fluid around all the time is effective. Especially when I've got my FEL maxxed out carrying a load. Not sure I want/need more downward pressure applied to the front tires at that time or when moving with an empty bucket. Different strokes I guess.

One of those things of you have to try it to appreciate it. Plus you would find that your front tires would hold a load better. But like you said, "different strokes". :thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

My brother's L3240 has loaded fronts. As I said before, the only gain I see is it handles a 3pt load better with the FEL removed. Actually, being loaded, it creates such a small air "area" that compression is lost, which is a bad thing, not a good thing. If the tire has to bulge over an obstacle it creates very high pressure during that time. Also rides rougher when not loaded. But at a glance it might appear that the tire is carrying the load better I guess. Which as I said, to do that the pressure in the tire rises dramatically. But it's all good.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My brother's L3240 has loaded fronts. As I said before, the only gain I see is it handles a 3pt load better with the FEL removed. Actually, being loaded, it creates such a small air "area" that compression is lost, which is a bad thing, not a good thing. If the tire has to bulge over an obstacle it creates very high pressure during that time. Also rides rougher when not loaded. But at a glance it might appear that the tire is carrying the load better I guess. Which as I said, to do that the pressure in the tire rises dramatically. But it's all good.

I suppose that we can go back and forth about this forever, I found that with all of my tires loaded, my tractor ride is by far smoother and yes the air pressure goes up real quick when you put a good load on the tire, so it holds a load quite a bit better and the side wall does not just collapse. I suppose you could consider that the tire ends up over inflated when this happens, all I can say is that I have been trouble free for 8 years and counting.

 

[ovrszd]

No going back and forth here Brian. And I don't see filled fronts as causing trouble. Unless you have a flat, but that's trouble regardless.

I would be interested in you running a small test for me if you don't mind??

With no FEL load on the front of your tractor, check your air pressure in one front tire.

Then load your bucket or Grapple or whatever attachment you are using with the heaviest load you can conveniently find. Now while carrying that load, check the air pressure in the same tire.

I'd be interested in seeing how much the pressure compounds.

I think what we will find is that if an unfilled front tire is aired up to whatever pressure you find in your filled tire with a load on it, the unfilled tire would then carry the load just as well as the filled one??

Pure logic there.

I guess you could possibly see a ride improvement with filled fronts if your tractor tends to be a bit light in the front?? My brother's L3240, with filled fronts, rides like crap compared to my M9540 with unfilled fronts.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

No going back and forth here Brian. And I don't see filled fronts as causing trouble. Unless you have a flat, but that's trouble regardless.

I would be interested in you running a small test for me if you don't mind??

With no FEL load on the front of your tractor, check your air pressure in one front tire.

Then load your bucket or Grapple or whatever attachment you are using with the heaviest load you can conveniently find. Now while carrying that load, check the air pressure in the same tire.

I'd be interested in seeing how much the pressure compounds.

I think what we will find is that if an unfilled front tire is aired up to whatever pressure you find in your filled tire with a load on it, the unfilled tire would then carry the load just as well as the filled one??

Pure logic there.

I guess you could possibly see a ride improvement with filled fronts if your tractor tends to be a bit light in the front?? My brother's L3240, with filled fronts, rides like crap compared to my M9540 with unfilled fronts.

You are right, but who wants to go around continually with over inflated tires??? I can run my tires a bit below max pressure , get a nice smooth ride, put a load on the tractor, the air pressure automatically jumps up to carry the load better.

I have a 12,000lb and a 6,000lb tractor, both with all 4 tires loaded. My big tractor rides waaaaaaaay better than the small one, ALL the time.

I will try to make time to do your test tomorrow. :thumbsup:

 

[94BULLITT]

Some manufacturers advise you to not fill your front tires.

You will not see the gains in filling the fronts like when you filled your rears.

 

[edkemper]

Aren't we filling the tires for better traction? If that's the case, why wouldn't you get the same added traction by filling the fronts?

Isn't this like saying that chains on the rear are fine but you get no added traction by adding them to the front? Of course I'm speaking of a 4WD tractor.

I know that in extreme situations, I can go places with my 4WD truck with all 4 corners chained than I can with only the rears chained.

In any 4WD, added traction is added traction. Or am I wrong?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Some manufacturers advise you to not fill your front tires.

You will not see the gains in filling the fronts like when you filled your rears.

Obviously, much smaller tires, much less weight from the smaller amount of fluid and an oscillating front axle. Only with a true 4 wheel drive machine (front & rears being the same size) would you gain the same amount of weight and as long as an oscillating axel is involved, you would never be able to double the stability.

But with the few hundred additional pounds, that extra traction helps, especially for those of us that do remove our loaders.