I am not sure about the ballast...I had just gotten the tractor when I took these photos. I am thinking that the balllast would be deflating the tires to a certain PSI? and also a ballast at the rear on the PTO. The tractor feels very steady when I lift him but you are right that if I needed more lifting ability that I would need to have the tractor be as stable as possible...just a FYI, I have gone throught so many treatments with Ghost ..even chiropractics (yes, Iknow I have gone overboard) but I just had a new blood test done and he may have a disease called EPM with is a protozeal disease..for the short story it affects the nervous system and I will treat him for it and this may be the problem...I really hope but no guarentee...so we will see..as for the dogs with needing help up and down the steps..I have a Newfoundland that is 9 with bad hips...sounds pathetic with the horse too but I know I can deal with her problems if I can lift the horse.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
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JimR
Elite Member
I would definitely get some type of ballast for the back of your tractor. You may be in for a rude awakening if the horse falls over while you are lifting him up. Good luck with the horse and dog.
JayC
Veteran Member
I don't think lowering the PSI in the tires would work. What you need is a counterweight in the back. The one with the lowest center of gravity would be filling your tires with a liquid. There are different types of fluid you can use. Rim Guard would probably be the best solution. It is environmentally safe in the event of a leak and non-corrosive. Calcium chloride is highly corrosive and will kill any vegetation on the spot if it leaked, but is pretty cheap. If your climate is pretty warm, people fill their tires with water. In the colder climates, some use anti-freeze, or a mix of anti-freeze with water. Some even use winshield washer fluid. Your options are numerous for filling the tires with a liquid, but I wouldn't want to use that poisonous stuff around animals like your horse in the even of a leak. I think the best solution is Rim Guard (aka "beet juice"). Of course you could also put wheel weights on, a weight for the 3ph, or a heavy implement. I feel, though, your best bet is going to be liquid filled tires with Rim Guard.
Btw, I almost forgot about foam. You could also get a foam put into the tires. That would be another possible solution. Once the foam sets up it makes the tire pretty hard. That may impact how hard the tractor rides on hard surfaces. Foam will not leak, isn't corrosive, and makes a tire pretty much "solid".
Btw, I almost forgot about foam. You could also get a foam put into the tires. That would be another possible solution. Once the foam sets up it makes the tire pretty hard. That may impact how hard the tractor rides on hard surfaces. Foam will not leak, isn't corrosive, and makes a tire pretty much "solid".
So, you mean actuaaly filling the tires with something other than air? I never thought of that as a counter weight or "ballast" but if the tractor was going to be used for using the FEL to flip compost then also using a mower deck to mow at my brothers property ...then the easiest solution would be? I would think a weight in the back "ballast" that I could keep on for use at my house primarily to lift the horse and then something I could easily un-load to add a mower deck or to use the FEL?
JayC
Veteran Member
Is the mower deck a rear mount? If it is, you could even use that as your ballast. Something is definately better than nothing. Being you use the tractor for mowing, it would be best to have as little weight as possible to prevent things like rutting. A 3ph mounted weight box would be a possiblity. You can remove that when mowing. There is still the option of wheel weights, but that would get tiring really fast lugging them on and off. I think your best bet is fluid filled tires or weight hooked up to the 3ph (either an implement or ballast box). If maneuvering is an issue, the implement may stick too far, so in this case I think a ballast box would be better.
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, you mean actuaaly filling the tires with something other than air? I never thought of that as a counter weight or "ballast" but if the tractor was going to be used for using the FEL to flip compost then also using a mower deck to mow at my brothers property ...then the easiest solution would be? I would think a weight in the back "ballast" that I could keep on for use at my house primarily to lift the horse and then something I could easily un-load to add a mower deck or to use the FEL? )</font>
Shawna, a ballast box, or a weight box, is exactly what it sounds like, it is a box, that you fill with rocks, concrete, sand, or whatever and they are used for exactly what you are describing. I don't know why, but they don't come with wheels on the bottom of them. I welded wheels on the bottom of my ballast box so I can slide it into the corner of my garage when not in use.
Ballast/liquid filled tires are also exactly what they sound like. Typically a solution like windshield wiper solvent, anti-freeze (which is poisonous if it leaks out) or any of several other solutions that resist freezing are loaded into the rear tires to add weight to the rear to balance the load when using your front end loader. The downside is you cannot easily remove the weight when you don't need it.
Wheel weights come in many forms, but typically they are semi-permanantly mounted to the wheels and held on with bolts. They are technically removable, but it is a real hassle to take off or put on 50# (or more) disks every time you want to lighten the load.
Foam Fill is very similar to liquid filled rear tires only instead of liquid, foam is injected into the rear tires. It hardens and the tire never goes flat. The only way to remove the tires is to cut them off. It is very heavy and many of us swear by it.
I have my Cub Cadet garden tractor tires foam filled.
I have a weight box for my NH which is a mowing tractor and also used for FEL work, I want to be able to easily remove extra weight when mowing if the ground is soft.
I have liquid fill on the Kubota which is basically used for FEL work, box blading, etc.
I have air fill on the Ventrac slope mower, but am considering foam filling those tires for puncture resistance more than adding weight.
Shawna, a ballast box, or a weight box, is exactly what it sounds like, it is a box, that you fill with rocks, concrete, sand, or whatever and they are used for exactly what you are describing. I don't know why, but they don't come with wheels on the bottom of them. I welded wheels on the bottom of my ballast box so I can slide it into the corner of my garage when not in use.
Ballast/liquid filled tires are also exactly what they sound like. Typically a solution like windshield wiper solvent, anti-freeze (which is poisonous if it leaks out) or any of several other solutions that resist freezing are loaded into the rear tires to add weight to the rear to balance the load when using your front end loader. The downside is you cannot easily remove the weight when you don't need it.
Wheel weights come in many forms, but typically they are semi-permanantly mounted to the wheels and held on with bolts. They are technically removable, but it is a real hassle to take off or put on 50# (or more) disks every time you want to lighten the load.
Foam Fill is very similar to liquid filled rear tires only instead of liquid, foam is injected into the rear tires. It hardens and the tire never goes flat. The only way to remove the tires is to cut them off. It is very heavy and many of us swear by it.
I have my Cub Cadet garden tractor tires foam filled.
I have a weight box for my NH which is a mowing tractor and also used for FEL work, I want to be able to easily remove extra weight when mowing if the ground is soft.
I have liquid fill on the Kubota which is basically used for FEL work, box blading, etc.
I have air fill on the Ventrac slope mower, but am considering foam filling those tires for puncture resistance more than adding weight.
Thanks guys for the help...I am thinking I will go with a ballast that I can hook onto the back (PTO) like a box or mower deck. I have an area that is sand or clay in the pasture where he sometimes lays down so the weight of the tractor is an issue such as when I drive out to him...even though primarily in the winter he in a an enclosed sand area. I really appreciate your info....Ghost appreciates it too... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If you need to get into the stall, a ballast box may be better than a much larger implement. Check out the post I did on weight boxes in attachments here
These boxes are not really large, and can help get you into tight spaces. Just add whatever sand, gravel etc. you need to get the desired weight, and that can change as you find how much you need. John
These boxes are not really large, and can help get you into tight spaces. Just add whatever sand, gravel etc. you need to get the desired weight, and that can change as you find how much you need. John
polecat
Platinum Member
Just have 2 quick comments...wanted u 2 no that i looked up yer pics!!!!AND I MOST DEFINTITELY RETRACT MY STATEMENT BOUT YOU BEING A GOOD MOMMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
U MY FRIEND ARE AN UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME MOMMA!!!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifand my hat is way off to you Shawna!!!
Keep up the good work ....
TODD
U MY FRIEND ARE AN UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME MOMMA!!!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifand my hat is way off to you Shawna!!!
Keep up the good work ....
TODD
