L3540 counterbalance, what manual say?

[Tony H]

Please, don't comment on what you do or whst other manuals state. Does, anywhere, in the manual for Kubota L3540 read that you need to put a weight box on the 3pt hitch to use the FEL?
No manual in hand, trying to see what the manual, for this tractor literally says about this.
Thanks

 

[RjCorazza]

The manual generically discusses ballast in the form of liquid filled rears and cast iron. There is no mention of 3 point ballast for loader use.
3 point ballast may be discussed in the loader manual, but I didn't know what loader you have or have access to any of them.

 

[CalG]

The info you desire will be in the LOADER Operator's Manual.

Not the tractor operators Manual

For a LA434 Loader, the rear weight is between 350 and 700 pounds. Based on rear implement attachment.

I just checked!

 

[Chewwy]

The operators manual for your machine says absolutely nothing about needing to put a weight box on the 3pt hitch to use the FEL. As menioned in earlier posts, counterweight information is contained in the loader manual.

Here is the page from my loader manual. It is for the LA514, LA524 and LA854. I believe these are the loaders that are used on your machine.

 

[Tony H]

THANK YOU! That is exactly how i see it. I am getting flack on another forum. I say the weighting of the rear is for stability. Keeping the rear firmly on the ground.
They say you must use the 3pt hitch for counter weight of the front axle. Using the rear axle as a folcrum point.

 

[ning]

THANK YOU! That is exactly how i see it. I am getting flack on another forum. I say the weighting of the rear is for stability. Keeping the rear firmly on the ground.
They say you must use the 3pt hitch for counter weight of the front axle. Using the rear axle as a folcrum point.

There are many threads about this topic here; search and enjoy.

 

[rScotty]

There are many threads about this topic here; search and enjoy.

Agreed. With a FEL hanging off the front end, adding weight to the other end is necessary. Whether that weight is in tires around the rear axle or farther back on the 3pt does have slightly different effects on stability and front axle loading. Different situations require different ballest.

It's not too complicated, just something to pay attention too as part of tractoring.

 

[CalG]

THANK YOU! That is exactly how i see it. I am getting flack on another forum. I say the weighting of the rear is for stability. Keeping the rear firmly on the ground.
They say you must use the 3pt hitch for counter weight of the front axle. Using the rear axle as a folcrum point.

Ballast and counter weight are two different things. (That's why there are two different words!)
Physically, both can be combined, but functionally, they will always be different.

 

[bcp]

THANK YOU! That is exactly how i see it. I am getting flack on another forum. I say the weighting of the rear is for stability. Keeping the rear firmly on the ground.
They say you must use the 3pt hitch for counter weight of the front axle. Using the rear axle as a folcrum point.

I think both are right, just from different perspectives.

Adding weight to the rear wheels will keep them more firmly on the ground.

Adding weight on the 3pt will also keep them more firmly on the ground.

Adding weight on the 3pt will reduce weight on the front axle.

From the manual above:

Bruce

 

[ning]

THANK YOU! That is exactly how i see it. I am getting flack on another forum. I say the weighting of the rear is for stability. Keeping the rear firmly on the ground.
They say you must use the 3pt hitch for counter weight of the front axle. Using the rear axle as a folcrum point.

They're not entirely wrong.

If you have a heavy load in front, you'll gradually destroy something up there if you don't use a counterbalance weight (3ph).

Ballast on the wheels or in the tires, and weight on the 3ph, provides better traction and can keep the rear end down when lifting heavy; the wheel weight/loaded tires do nothing about reducing weight on the front axle.

These are two different things, and depending on what you're doing, you likely need one or the other, or both.