Ballast fluid and weights

[RaydaKub]

I finally got a manual for my BX2230. I was hoping to add like 75 to 100 lbs on each wheel in addition to the 11+ gallons I put in them 2 weeks ago. But the manual says that in order to avoid transmission problems, don't do both.

Anybody have any trouble after doing this? I'm going to hang more on the 3ph, but this seemed like a good way to help stability also.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Not sure what your model has for tires. My BX25 has pretty small and light weight tires. Both the dealer and Les Schwab advised not to put liquid in the tires as the walls will not take the extra dynamic pressure caused by the fluid density and weight. When the backhoe is off I have a 3 PT universal carrier with a 400# log strapped to it. That keeps the *** end on the ground when lifting max weight with the FEL. If I have a big load on the BH such as grubbing roots around stumps, lifting stumps, ets I will the FEL with wet dirt or gravel or big firewood rounds tilted all the way back. Cheaper than replacing tires. If you do fill with liquid stay away from calcium as it corrodes the wheel.

By the way, I now have a Quick Hitch which saves bucoo time changing implements. I does shave some capacity off the 3 PT lifting capacity due to shifting the weight back 4". Looking at adding a hydrauylic top link if I can find one short enough. Kubota has a shorter couple than most tractors I guess.

Ron

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Not sure what your model has for tires. My BX25 has pretty small and light weight tires. Both the dealer and Les Schwab advised not to put liquid in the tires as the walls will not take the extra dynamic pressure caused by the fluid density and weight. When the backhoe is off I have a 3 PT universal carrier with a 400# log strapped to it. That keeps the *** end on the ground when lifting max weight with the FEL. If I have a big load on the BH such as grubbing roots around stumps, lifting stumps, ets I will the FEL with wet dirt or gravel or big firewood rounds tilted all the way back. Cheaper than replacing tires. If you do fill with liquid stay away from calcium as it corrodes the wheel.

By the way, I now have a Quick Hitch which saves bucoo time changing implements. I does shave some capacity off the 3 PT lifting capacity due to shifting the weight back 4". Looking at adding a hydrauylic top link if I can find one short enough. Kubota has a shorter couple than most tractors I guess.

Ron

Figure out what length you need for your top link and I can build you what you need. Top link $180 + hoses $40 + shipping.

 

[RaydaKub]

I've got the turf tires. I filled the back ones with 11 1/2 gallons a few weeks ago and it helped a LOT, but it still gets way too light on the uphill side when I'm mowing. I guess I'll take my chances as long as they hold out. If I blow them and have to get R4's instead, well, so be it.

I just got 25 10lb plates from a universal gym last night. I bolted them in 4 groups of 6 on an 8 inch bolt through a 26 inch 3ph drawbar. The difference was amazing, but I don't want that hanging on the back end all the time.

I was just wondering if anybody has actually done both fluid and wheel weights at the same time and had any adverse effects. I can't imagine that being harder on the transmission than some of these rigs with duals and pulling a disk through a plowed field.

 

[PhysAssist]

RaydaKub,

You never did say what you filled your tires with for weight.

Inquiring minds [or in my case the mindless] qwould sure like to know...

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Figure out what length you need for your top link and I can build you what you need. Top link $180 + hoses $40 + shipping.

Thanks for the offer. This is more complicated for the BX25. The top link C-C of pin holes are +/- 15" retracted. That makes it tough to find a push-pull cylinder and maintain the 8" adjustment available with the manual one. The tilt one is even worse as it has 1/2" pins where it connects. Couple that with a Power Beyond Hydraulic system and the valving gets expensive. Two push-pull valves would be required.

I'll keep you in mind but more inclined to make my own as I am very mechanical. Winter is coming so will have trime to plan it out.

Ron

 

[RaydaKub]

RaydaKub,
You never did say what you filled your tires with for weight.
Inquiring minds [or in my case the mindless] qwould sure like to know...
Thanks,
Thomas

I called a couple stores about RimGuard, but they didn't have it. I walked into Menard's for something else and walked out with 20 gallons of Purple Power washer fluid that is rated for -35. They had it on sale for $2 a gallon. It was still flowing in well at 10 gallons, so I added another 1 1/2 gallons of water. I figured that much wouldn't dilute it all that much. So 11 1/2 gallons in each tire, I figure that's gotta be around 105 lbs in each one.

 

[PhysAssist]

Hi RaydaKub,

Thanks, That adds one more possible type of Fluid Ballast to consider....

I have a friend looking into a bulk source for antifreeze, and I'm waiting for a couple of local tractor and tire shops to get back to me re: what they sell and recommend for ballast.

Have you seen or heard anything about weighting the fronts?

The Rim Guard website suggests that it is safe for that purpose, but I reread my Kubota manual this w/e and it says not to weight the fronts.

Then again, it also says that the combination of ballast and tires weights should only be used on the narrow B2320 tractor nd not the standard model.

Finally, does anyone here know anything about a need to replace the stock tire valvestems with steel valvestems ones to use Rim Guard?

I think I read a thread somewhere tht talked bout dealers recommedning it to avoid corrosion or breakdown of the rubber valvestem.

Take care,
Thomas

 

[RaydaKub]

PhysAssist,
Not sure what you are trying to weigh down, but on a BX, I don't think filling the fronts would be worth the effort. They might take 3-4 gallons each which would only be 25-30 lbs.

And I realized I made a calculation error. Instead of 105-110 lbs, I only got 90. But I can live with that. It made a huge difference. I still intend to add some iron to each wheel also. I'm just surprised nobody else has done that and reported on how it worked for them.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

I have already posted on another thread what I have done as far as rear wheel weights go but for the front end what I did was scrounge a bunch of old car ,truck and tractor batteries from neighboring farmers melted them down and poured the lead into an old tool box with a couple of pieces of 1/2" all thread cast in place. Then I pealed of the tool box and mounted the weight on the front end. The tool box mold warped a bit and it wasn't quite level so the weight came out sorta ugly but it's heavy, compact and it works really well but most importantly it was CHEAP as in Free. The difference it makes for loader work is truly amazing.

This Free block of lead weighs in at 225 pounds so is 50 pounds under max for a Bx2350 but I have a five gallon bucket of used wheel balancing weights to pick up at the local tire shop so one of these days I'll just melt the whole bunch down and re-pour it into a proper mold.

David