First Time I Really **NEEDED** Rear Weight

[fried1765]

Loaded tires are nice but they don't count as ballast for the FEL.

I don't want any ballast in my rear tires!
I carry my 1800+ pound backhoe around everywhere I go!
It is removable, but I don't.

 

[Diggin It]

My tires are filled, but small as they are they only add a couple of hundred pounds. I can't have the BH on all the time for clearance reasons. It sticks out and up too far for many tasks when using the FEL. I need to watch what's in front of me and not have to worry about that giant preying mantis running into things. As it was, the finish mower I had back there was causing issues. A weight box might have been ideal in this case, but I don't have one. I could have grabbed the tiller, but that wasn't convenient at the moment and can be a real bear to hook up.

 

[oosik]

I have 1550# of RimGuard in the rear tires and my Rhino rear blade @ 1050# on the 3-point. That rear blade could easily get to be a real problem if my land was densely forested. When I do navigate thru the trees - turn the blade 90 degrees. It may bang on a few trees but the edges won't catch on any trees.

I have trails to most everywhere on the property. Seldom get off these trails. The M6040 with the rear blade is not a whole lot of fun to navigate thru LARGE pines. I use a long chain when "stuff" needs to be removed from inside tree stands.

I make it a point to do some heavy thinking before I decide whether to take the tractor into a tree stand. I most often use the chain or just leave it alone. "It's" not really bothering anything, anyhow.

 

[PCABE5]

Hmmm! Learn something new every day.

PCABE5 - it would do well if you read your tractor Op Manual again. This time with a little understanding ............

Does this help with your understanding of what the manual says?

"When working with front loader or rear heavy loaded attachments installed to the 3-point linkage,
install ballast weights on the counter-part axle to maintain the front and rear weight balance of the tractor.

If not, front or rear axle can be strained by the overloaded weight.

When working with the front loader, place the attached rear weight to the highest position and turn the down speed control knob to the “lock” position."

 

[rbstern]

Loaded tires are nice but they don't count as ballast for the FEL.

Any weight added aft of the center of gravity will counteract the FEL load. I'm sure there are cautious views that suggest not solely relying on rear tire weight as ballast, but it's ballast nonetheless.

 

[oosik]

AH - PCABE5. We are talking about two different things. Relieving strain on the axles and having sufficient weight to offset what is being lifted by the FEL.

The axles( front & rear ) on my M6040 are more than adequate to take whatever load I can pick up with the FEL. I DO NOT put weight anywhere to relieve strain on either axle. I put weight - loaded rear tires & rear blade - to offset what I am lifting with the FEL. While the rear blade may relieve some of the weight on the front axle due to the teeter-totter effect - it's primary purpose is to keep the rear wheels on the ground while lifting with the FEL.

My Op Manual only speaks to offsetting whatever load is going to be lifted with the FEL.

Sorry - I meant no offense .........

 

[BRMyers]

Loaded tires are nice but they don't count as ballast for the FEL.

To avoid personal injury:
A For tractor stability and operator's safety, rear
ballast should be added to the rear of the
tractor in the form of 3-point counter weight
and rear wheel ballast. The amount of rear
ballast will depend on the application.

 

[PCABE5]

To avoid personal injury:
A For tractor stability and operator's safety, rear
ballast should be added to the rear of the
tractor in the form of 3-point counter weight
and rear wheel ballast. The amount of rear
ballast will depend on the application.

Exactly my point. Both

 

[Diggin It]

Are we really gonna bicker over whether the weight is inside the tire attached to the wheel or a separate hunk of metal or concrete attached to the wheel?

 

[PCABE5]

Are we really gonna bicker over whether the weight is inside the tire attached to the wheel or a separate hunk of metal or concrete attached to the wheel?

Not sure.