How much rear ballast on L3130 with LA723 loader?

[bbwithdrawls]

instead of the ballast box get a 6 ft box scraper , kill 2 birds with one stone , if need be you can add a little weight to it but i doubt you'll need to , thats how mine is 3430 with fel

 

[PandDLong]

I just purchased a L3540 with the LA724 Loader (rated 1865 pounds lift @ pivot @ full height). The dealer looked up the ballast recommendations and said I need 800 pounds on the 3PH. Sold me a Kubota Ballast Box - the LM8244 which weights 200 pounds empty. I measured it up and it is about 5 cubic feet - my local sand supply is about 110 to 120 pounds per cubic foot, so I will be real close once I fill it.

I have not loaded my tires and will use the tractor for awhile as-is to see if I need it - I am hoping not to load the tires so I can have a lower "lowest" weight and to avoid the experience I had with my last tractor which had tires loaded with CaCl and it was a real pain any time I had a tire issue.

I don't know what formulas Kubota uses to determine recommended ballast weight but they do have a recommendation - it seems to be a dealer-only piece of knowledge as I can't find anything on the web. I can't even find the Kubota Ballast Boxes listed with specs anywhere....

Good luck, I'll be interested to hear of your experiences.

 

[moship]

PandDLong,

Thanks for the info.

I couldn't find any info on the LM8244 but found a few pictures. It's interesting how it connects.

Here's the only info I found from the L-Series WholeGoods Pricelist:
BALLAST BOX
Description and P/N: L8170 Ballast Box (1000 lbs cap. with dry sand)
Weight: 168
Cost: $449.00

 

[k0ua]

Well if you want my opinion, and I guessed you asked for it sort of The 800 lbs is no where near enough for a loader that lifts around 1800 lbs at the pins.. My Kioti outweighs your Kubota, and does not lift as much at the pins 1800 vs 1400, and Kioti recommends 1100 lbs for rear ballast. I have fluid filled tires (methanol) and that helps a bunch, and I use about 800 lbs of ballast on the 3 point ( I am carrying several log chains in my box now as a little extra weight) and it is barely enough, and I could use some more. Here is a little test you can do. Put one edge (left or right) of your bucket under a rock ledge, or something that will not move. then operate the lift, and see if the opposite side rear tire comes off of the ground. If it does you do not have enough ballast. Where you will really notice problems is when you are nose down and attempting to lift something, your weight is already on the front axle from being in the nose down attitude, and as soon as you start prying on something to lift it, that is when the rears come up off of the ground, and then the tractor usually starts to tip to one side because the front axle is on a single pivot point and relies on the rear tires which do not articulate to keep you from tipping to one side. The loaded tires also give you more stability on side hills when for instance your ballast is off of the tractor, and you are mowing with a rotary cutter. Good luck.

James K0UA

 

[Verticaltrx]

Most of the time Kubota lists the rear ballast requirements in the manual for the loader, not the tractor. I know in my manual for my LA504 it gives the recommend ballast using a ballast box (including its weight with different materials) and also the average weight of different implements commonly used for ballast.

 

[moship]

Verticaltrx,

Thanks for the comment, but in the Operator's Manual for LA513, LA723 and LA853 there is no recommendation given. [The assembly instructions have no recommendation either.] I was hoping the info was added in later revisions or new loader models, and that someone could provide the info on similar FEL's.

For heavy loads I can always attach the Backhoe which is over 2,300 lbs

 

[Notforhire]

Verticaltrx,

Thanks for the comment, but in the Operator's Manual for LA513, LA723 and LA853 there is no recommendation given. [The assembly instructions have no recommendation either.] I was hoping the info was added in later revisions or new loader models, and that someone could provide the info on similar FEL's.

For heavy loads I can always attach the Backhoe which is over 2,300 lbs

My loader manual for the LA514, 724, and 854 says that you should use 3 PT ballast. " The amount of rear ballast will depend on the application."
So no help there. If Kubota is willing to install a backhoe that weighs 2K lbs, you can certainly use ballast of the same weight. If you intend on lifting to full capacity you may need that much. As they say " it will depend on the application. ". As I said before, more counterweight isn't a bad thing, but if you are only lifting 1/3 yard of mulch 2000# probably isn't necessary. IMHO

"The loaded tires also give you more stability on side hills when for instance your ballast is off of the tractor, and you are mowing with a rotary cutter."
I couldn't agree more. If you don't want to load your tires. You may want to think about wheel weights.

Bill

 

[johnk]

I have a 3130 w/ 723 loader and before I loaded the tires it was pretty hairy using the loader if a little off camber. That is with a 650 pound box blade on. The best thing I ever did was load the tires and keep the BB on while using the loader. I also have PEC on my tractor which sets the BB back a little further giving me more ballast. It's a great feeling when you lift a full bucket and the back wheels stay on the ground.

 

[LD1]

If you are not planning on loading the tires, I agree that 800# is nowhere near enough. Heck, 800# wouldnt be enough on my MUCH smaller 3400 if my tires werent loaded. And even with my 700# rear blade, (which puts the weight about 24" farther back vs a box), AND loaded tires, it is just BARLEY enough. A slight downhill grade and the rear can be light quick.

800# is certainly better than nothing. But I would want about twice that hanging back there. A 55gallon barrel filled to the brim with concrete is 1200#. that would be a good start. But as someone else mentioned, why does the weight have to be in the form of useless concrete or sand? How about a implement of some type? 6' bushhog? 6' HD box blade?

 

[johnk]

10bags of concrete. 1 plastic barrel. 1 7/8 bar. Total > $50.00. New implement 400+. **** I'd get the implement unless the barrel could also be used for a roller....