Load Front Tires??

[TerryR]

The bearing excuse is just that. Maybe run the tractor and see if you notice any difference. I dont think 100lbs is going to change a whole lot but it might be just enough in the right place to make things work. How much room do you have to add suitcase weights?

There's room for two more on the factory rack. Maybe I need to get them.

7-14's are 6 gallons, so depending what you put in them. 48 lbs each for water, or 64 lbs each for Rimguard with 75 percent fill.

Thanks for the numbers, James. That makes it seem worthwhile.

The location of the suitcase weight vs the location of the loaded front tires is a lot different. The weights are in front of the axle and higher off the ground (moment). They will have more affect on the cog than the loaded tires on the ground. I have one of those fancy ME degrees too, just not sure how much I remember:thumbsup:

Thanks, Duck. Mine is more than 50 years old, and I've done exactly one actual ME task in that time, so I suppose common sense plays a bigger part than what I remember from the classroom.

I got no ME degree, but I got some common sense.
The wheel bearing thing is a load of malarkey. That's the main advantage of loading tires -- it keeps the weight off the frame/axles.

That's my thinkng.

From my experience, suitcase weights are way more effective. They are a couple of feet further forward, and that greatly their effectiveness when overcoming rear weight.
The hillside is a little different, but not much. They are a little higher, causing a higher center of gravity, but I dont suspect your problem is with rolling over, but rather keeping traction with front tires. In this case, I still vote for suitcase weights. Actually, I vote for both. Sounds like you need the extra front weight. Control on a hillside is super important.

Sounds like a plan.

Terry

 

[FTG-05]

I loaded my front tires on my Kubota L4330 and I feel the tractor works better coming up my hills while I'm bushhogging. I added 12 gallons of RV/water mix to each tire IRC. The tractor also "porposes" less when going down the road in higher gears.

The way I see it, loading the fronts has all upside and very little downsides. I would do it as someone suggested above and see how it works for you.

good luck!

 

[MitchellB]

I used to have a Craftsman riding mower that did wheelies on a regular basis, especially with the grass catcher on the back. I loaded the small front tires, and after that, I had to try hard to get the front end to raise up with me. It couldn't have been much added weight, but it was just enough to balance it out.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just loaded the fronts on my 4610 SU. You can do it yourself. It's not that difficult. Your front weights are going to be more effective since that weight is further out front. I don't have that option. My tractor does not have a weight bracket and finding one for a 30 year old tractor is problematic to say the least. Personally l would get them loaded.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My 18-year old JD 870 has finally worn out it's front tires and I'm getting ready to replace them. It uses 7-14 R1's.

Both front and rears are loaded, and set a wide as they will go because of our hillside property. My tire dealer says the fronts shouldn't be loaded if I'm using it with a loader, claiming that doing so wears out the front wheel bearings. I suspect he just doesn't want to deal with re-loading them.

I do use it with the loader, though not heavily. I also use it with the loader off for mowing with a rotary cutter. With the loader off I add 4 suitcase weights to add control on the hillside.

I don't believe that the loaded tires have much impact on bearing wear, but I wonder if the weight of loading pretty small tires makes much difference in hillside stability.

Any thoughts?

Terry

Not sure how much actual side stability you will get out of it seeing as the front axle articulates freely. :confused3: Now with that said, I have all four tires loaded on both my 32hp & 75hp tractors. Filled tires give you a better ride, better traction, better steering, better load carrying capacity. Don't know if there is a real down side to filling them other than the flat tire scenario. Mine have been filled going on 10 years now. My only regret is that I waited 1 year to fill them from new on the 75hp machine, what a mistake that was. My 32hp tractor tires were filled 5 days after the purchase. :thumbsup:

My thinking is to fill them and get the additional front weights. Front weights can really make a difference. I doubled the front weight capacity on my 75hp tractor, HUGE working improvement.

 

[TerryR]

As I said initially, they have been loaded since I got the tractor new. My question was whether to have the fluid transferred to the new tires. I think the answer is clearly yes.

I should have been more clear about what I meant by "hillside stability." I understand loading the fronts does little or nothing about rollover because of the free articulation of the front axle. What I was referring to was steering control, which I suspect loading, and front weights help. I think I should go ahead and fill the other two weight slots as well.

Thanks to all who replied.

Terry