Ballast It must be a conspiracy.

[corey9212]

Fired off a message to Kubota...got the same old response. Check out my address which is under the safety forum "How to get killed without knowing". The response I got from Kubota using computers and sensors to know angle, weight and moment arms got the brush off till I sent them my credentials. The fact that all these dynamic factors are being used in construction, transportation and the like where the operator can be warned or the engine/hydraulics killed is in fact available today. The response was that they may consider this for future products.
You would think with cars coming up with all sorts of innovations today one company would seize this issue and initiative and use it as a marketing plus versus the stick your head in the sand response.
Anyway...using the stick method to picture your tractor versus slope and checking your loader manual to see where the elevation and weight maxes out at can save you a heart attack. Fastening the seat belt and using the ROPS even when doing the small stuff is cheap and effective.
Maybe we'll see some cool changes in the near future.

Those would be nice features that I would pay extra for, but nothing beats reading your manuals and experience.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

If the engine shut off or a warning light illuminated because the tractor had an implement attached without a counter weight, then the complaint would be that the safety system was intentionally designed to be too conservative. That would be immediately translated into, "They want to sell more attachments, i.e. conspiracy!"

 

[TripleR]

I would not be interested in such a "safe machine" as I believe the parameters would be way too conservative and compromise the utility for experienced users. I can only imagine the cost and personally am not interested in paying more than these things already cost. In short, I don't need it and don't want it.

 

[johnrex62]

My immediate fear of a machine smart enough to recognize such a problem and shut off before I could react is that it would leave me in the dangerous position, ie perched on the edge of the collapsing bank with a shut off engine. It would eliminate any option I have for removing myself from the scenario.

 

[TripleR]

My immediate fear of a machine smart enough to recognize such a problem and shut off before I could react is that it would leave me in the dangerous position, ie perched on the edge of the collapsing bank with a shut off engine. It would eliminate any option I have for removing myself from the scenario.

I can pretty much guarantee that during the last five days of mowing, pushing trees over, digging dirt both my L5030 and M8540 would of had warning lights flashing and engines killed and both are still on all four feet and will be when we finish today.

 

[ovrszd]

I agree with TripleR, I don't need or want my tractor to stop me in the middle of a situation. I also don't need or want my manual or warning stickers to set my parameters of operation. That's just silly to me. I'll use my experiences and knowledge to make those determinations.

I use my JD2210 for mowing, snow plowing, 5' box blade work and use a quick hitch to carry a tote box full of wood. I use ballast weight for everyone of those tasks including mowing w/filled rears.

I use my L4400 for FEL work, 6' box blade, 6' brush cutter and 8' rear blade. I have 900lbs of liquid ballast in the rears.

I guess I don't quite understand the issue or problem?? Ballast is not restricted to "new CUT or SCUT" tractors. When was the last time you saw an AG tractor, new or old, doing it's work without ballast weight?? I'll even include the old Fords as mentioned above. My Dad had three, 8N, 641 and 861 they all had filled rears and were worthless without that added weight.

I prefer my tractor to be minimally weighted from the factory. That gives me the versatility to add weight when needed and remove it when not.

 

[corey9212]

My fiancé's dad is a farmer and never used ballast on any of his machinery. When I asked him about ballast his response was "you don't need any of that stuff I have been farming an using my front end loader for 50 years and never used anything for ballast, they just sold you something you don't need to make money." Boy was he wrong I'm always countering the weight on one end or the other. As for the safety devices the part that I would pay for is the gauge that tells me how much weight is in my bucket and what angle my tractor is at not the ones that shut the whole machine down.

 

[ovrszd]

My fiancé's dad is a farmer and never used ballast on any of his machinery. When I asked him about ballast his response was "you don't need any of that stuff I have been farming an using my front end loader for 50 years and never used anything for ballast, they just sold you something you don't need to make money." .

Hmmmmm,,,, so his tractors have no wheel weights or suitcase weights or fluid in the tires?? I doubt that. I think he's referring to a ballast box.

 

[corey9212]

No he has none of those on his tractors (trust me I've looked being the typical son in law that's still trying to prove himself in the family) there was nothing in terms of weights. No wheel weights, no suitcase weights, just air in the tires. There was nothing but a tractor and front end loader. The tractor with the loader was John Deere 6400

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

My fiancé's dad is a farmer and never used ballast on any of his machinery. When I asked him about ballast his response was "you don't need any of that stuff I have been farming an using my front end loader for 50 years and never used anything for ballast, they just sold you something you don't need to make money." Boy was he wrong I'm always countering the weight on one end or the other. As for the safety devices the part that I would pay for is the gauge that tells me how much weight is in my bucket and what angle my tractor is at not the ones that shut the whole machine down.

Do a Google image search, and you'll see pics of them with weights on the front. Based on the size of loader versus that tractor, I can imagine possibly not needing counter weight, depending on what was being lifted, what terrain he was on, etc. Same decisions as are made today.

I wonder if he read his manual...