Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires

   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #11  
I think you selected the correct machine for how you state its usage will be. There is no dealer that can "force" you to load tires nor legally use this aspect as leverage associated with a sale condition. All they can do is suggest and inform the potential buyer of the use of ballast. They might not even be aware or care about of the contraindication of the tire company for radials and suggest tire loading anyway. Farm owners have certainly loaded radial tires and usually this being for traction advantage when plowing up fields with multi point plows and the three point is taken up by the plow instead of being able to carry ballast.. The liability of tractor use rests on its owner. Prudence of fel use usually combines rear ballast of some type if lifting objects heavy enough to upset the balance of the tractor. I'd be willing to bet you will be able to pick up anything you want with the bucket and not be too concerned about imbalances with this size machine. I know my bil does with a similar size, unloaded tire JD. I've seen him pick up round bales, pea stone, manure, clay, etc and the rear of his tractor always stayed put. if you are "digging" it would be advantageous to have the extra weight rear ballast can provide for not only stability, but increased traction and pushing power. You'll see what you'll need as you use and learn your new tractor.
 
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   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #12  
Very very common to load radial tyres , Big artic steer tractors always had inside 4 loaded . Rigid frame tractors I will not have loaded with water as a lot of the time it's unneeded compaction and sucks power, even loader tractors are not loaded , Adding iron in the form of weights when needed is better
 
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #13  
My advice:

Buy the tractor WITHOUT loading the Michelin radial ag tires. Use Three Point Hitch mounted counterbalance when you want to lift lift heavy loads in the FEL.

Mow and bale without counterbalance.

Optionally, drop FEL when mowing and baling, unless front end weight is needed. ( I have never dropped the FEL on either of my two Kubotas.)

Tractor tires last a very long time in field use. If tires spend a lot of time on pavement, WITH 4-WD ENGAGED, rather than disengaged, tires wear relatively rapidly. Transit pavement in 2-WD only.

Rarely is there a thread here seeking advice on replacing tractor tires because of wear, usually it is because of a major rip/puncture or rubber and cord deterioration after of 30+ years of age.
 
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   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #14  
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #15  
A heavy counterweight will reduce the load on your front axle.
Quite easy to make:

LODD2 | Mjøsbetong as;

These are nice Ag. I have never seen ready made concrete counter weights here in the states. It looks as if this is a brochure for all commercially available weights from a company. I wonder what they get for them all set to go? They obviously must pour some of these with the mold upside down in order to get the truncated tops if I'm seeing these correctly. The smaller ones look like they just pour them flat on the ground. Would like to see their operation. Thanks for posting.
 
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #16  
600kg ca 500$, think they in the link might be more expensive as they got quick couplings? .
 
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #17  
I have a 5083e JD with similar specs as the op's tractor. I think my machine is heavier but the loader lift I think is around 4000 lbs. I think unless he gets 1000 lb cast weights or always has a substantial counter weight 2k+ that the rear end is going to be very light. I have managed to get my rears off the ground with 95lb wheel weights, tires loaded with rimguard, and a 1700lb counter weight. Your experiences may vary, but wet clay is extremely heavy.
 
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #19  
I agree that one should assess the need for more rear weight before sweating the possibilities and pitfalls, and can think of one potential caveat regarding fluid ballast. An air-filled tire will cushion bumps & thumps more gently (pressure spikes) than a fluid-filled tire with far less airspace (~2/3 less?).

Perhaps a radial carcass is less able to survive the worst of that than a bias-ply would. Best thing I see about weight on the 3PH (beyond cantilever effect) is quick switching between options and minimizing compaction when the xtra wt isn't needed, so I'm strongly in the counterweight camp. That said, having more than one might cover a wider variety of tasks (or tractors), if needed at all.

btw: Someone could link to the thread where a member concreted a 55 gal drum with PVC toolholders cast in (and not just 'cuz tog wants to do the same :eek:). Liquid ballast is a considerable commitment in cost, if nothing else, and a tire warranty wouldn't mean much if it were a maker's loophole not to cover a product used contrary to their insistence.
 
   / Liquid Ballast In Radial Tires #20  
Radial tires do give better traction then bias do to the size of the foot print. Loading a tire will not give you more traction over unloaded tires with cast weights!

Get the weights for the rear! Then if needed get a three point hitch weight for heavy digging to assist the tractor for rear ballast. Three point hitch weights use the rear axle as a pivot unloading the weight on the front axle enhancing the life.
 

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