Loading tires on a Kubota BX ?????

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

When buying a new sub compact tractor with a need for mmm grass cutting on steeper hills . . . is there a reason why you wouldn't load both your front and back tires ? It seems normal to have rears loaded . . . but other than cost . . . wouldn't loading the fronts be a good thing ?

And how long does loading last before it needs to be redone? What negatives are there to loading tires?

 

[davesl708]

If you need the traction then adding weights to the front frame will get you more weight. the small tires on the front will not give you much weight for the cost of loading them.

 

[tractorshopper]

I guess because the front wheels are so small, it may not be much of a help and not worth the hassle. I got the rears filled on my BX-2370 and it is very stable on hills. I was mowing side-hill this weekend what I never was able to mow side-hill with my old lawn tractor. Even leaning over the fender on the old machine, it was very tippy and some spots I had to go up and down. Now I can go side-hill and don't have to lean. I guess with the extra low weight and wider stance, it can handle more than my mower did. I'm still going very slow in those spots though to avoid any bump or rut that could cause it to get squirrely.

 

[TripleR]

I loaded my rear tires and added Bro-Tek wheel spacers, works great. Even though the BX is very stable as-is, my wife feels more comfortable with spacers.

 

[tow653]

I loaded my rear tires and added Bro-Tek wheel spacers, works great. Even though the BX is very stable as-is, my wife feels more comfortable with spacers.

Heck,the only hills you all have down there are levies!

 

[buickanddeere]

In an ideal world cast weights would be used instead of liquid ballast.

 

[TripleR]

Heck,the only hills you all have down there are levies!

Actually two of our farms are in the hills and two in the flatlands. The topography down here is kind of interesting with flat land, rolling hills and really steep rocky hills scattered about.

Now we do have seven ponds, so yes some are levies.

 

[AxleHub]

I loaded my rear tires and added Bro-Tek wheel spacers, works great. Even though the BX is very stable as-is, my wife feels more comfortable with spacers.

Greetings TripleR,

I had looked up spacers and saw bro tek etc.. Is that something anyone can put on or is that something that requires dealer skills . . it didn't look complicated.

I'm going to get wheel weights to help with plowing . . As well loading rears. We've got 15 to 20+ degree hills and some can't be up and down cut . . some are side hill cutting and downhill angle at the same time. If I went spacers too . . I wouldn't want to hang too far past fenders . . Maybe 2 inch ????

How much did you do?

Would you recommend having the wheel weights on also (I'm good sized)?

Why I asked about loading front tires is . . . What goes down must come up . . And weighting the back is good but then doesn't the front get lighter too? And of couse side hilling?

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

generally we use weights. You can't get enough fluid in there. It also maintains the air space so the tractor rides better.

 

[jeff9366]

The front axle of a BX should not be stressed by adding fluid to the front tires.

Rear axle is spec'ed for fluid or weights.

As important a question you should be considering is what type of tire to order on your BX.

As you have not completed your TBN PROFILE LOCATION it is difficult to answer your other questions.

 

[jeff9366]

Why I asked about loading front tires is . . . What goes down must come up . . And weighting the back is good but then doesn't the front get lighter too? And of couse side hilling?

About 95% of BX tractors are sold with Front End Loaders. That FEL provides all the weight you need in front and FEL weight + FEL load weight is the reason you should not fill the front tires of a BX.

 

[AxleHub]

About 95% of BX tractors are sold with Front End Loaders. That FEL provides all the weight you need in front and FEL weight + load weight is the reason you should not fill the front tires of a BX.

Greetings jeff,

At least when it comes to the grass cutting activity . . I'd never have the fel on at the same time . . too much weight leveraged at too high a height for the hilly areas plus it forward positioned for gravity drag on the side hills . . but I understand what you mean when I'd have the fell on.

 

[TripleR]

Greetings TripleR,

I had looked up spacers and saw bro tek etc.. Is that something anyone can put on or is that something that requires dealer skills . . it didn't look complicated.

I'm going to get wheel weights to help with plowing . . As well loading rears. We've got 15 to 20+ degree hills and some can't be up and down cut . . some are side hill cutting and downhill angle at the same time. If I went spacers too . . I wouldn't want to hang too far past fenders . . Maybe 2 inch ????

How much did you do?

Would you recommend having the wheel weights on also (I'm good sized)?

Why I asked about loading front tires is . . . What goes down must come up . . And weighting the back is good but then doesn't the front get lighter too? And of couse side hilling?

Adding the spacers is really as easy as changing tires a couple of times as they are bolt on.

I don't see a problem using weights and fluid, I have that on my L5740HSTC, I just haven't needed it on my BXs, one has fluid and one weights.

 

[ultrarunner]

I had my rears Foamed filled because I was always getting flats and for improved stability and better backhoe efficiency... it was money well spent.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

Different responses and points of view are welcome. In my case . . when I do order my sub compact tractor . . because I'm going to be belly mower cutting blue grass lawn on 15 to 20+ degree hills . . I'm looking for the best advantages for it.

The idea of loading front tires by some opinions is that its an insignificant improvement. Others think front weights etc can be a help.

Obviously no front end loader when I'm doing the hills because of leveraged weight forward (my opinion). But I also don't think I'd choose weights either . . just because its axle weight.

I'm considering loading the front tires because any weight gain is ground contact weight . . not suspended axle weight - (best weight possible . . I'm guessing). But I'm happy to hear contrary opinions or reasoning.

So cost vs. gain is something I hear stated. So if I did it myself to keep cost down . . . would RimGuard still be the best choice? Or is another method preferred or another product a better consideration?

I'm planning on ordering turf tires rather than industrial . . but I'm also open to opinions on tire choices . . dealers seem to suggest industrial tires.

Factors to consider:
15 + 20 degree hills with up down and side hill cutting
Sub compact tractor
Blue grass
Turf tires
Belly mower attached and fel not attached
Rimguard or something else for loading

And of course can this be self loaded to keep cost/benefit in line for front tires?

 

[tractorshopper]

Axlehub, I think your logic is sound. It seems that the more weight down low, the better. I will say that I'm side-hill cutting with mine and have only rears filled. I haven't put an inclinometer on, so don't exactly, but I think I'm mowing steeper than that on side-hills on the steepest part of my lawn and don't have any issues. No need to lean my body over the fender or anything like that. I have R4's and the traction is no issue. Mine are filled by dealer with antifreeze and water. I take my loader and any rear implements off for mowing. I think the belly mower also helps lower the CG.

When I asked my dealer about loading fronts also, he just said it won't make enough of a difference.

Caution - mow very slowly on the sidehills no matter how stable you feel; one bump on the high side or depression on the low side going fast can upset the apple cart.

 

[TripleR]

Whatever makes you feel better, but I've run BXs on steep hills since 2003 and had no stability issues and my hills are steeper than 20 degrees. I put spacer on a couple of years ago as it makes my wife more comfortable and we often use a loader which really needs the added stability going sideways. I have never had the front end come off the ground going up any of our hills.

 

[Zick]

I loaded my BX front tires because with the 3pt snowblower on, it made it very difficult to steer in the winter (even with the front snowblade on).
I could not find a decent way to add weight to the front without spending a lot of money so I went the cheaper router. I put windshield washer fluid in the front tires.
It added about ~25lb per tire and did help my issue a little but not enough.

I did this back in Winter of 2013-2014 and have not noticed any issues because of it and cannot tell their loaded on a daily basis.

 

[TripleR]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/257252-bx2360-upgrades-5.html

 

[Zick]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/257252-bx2360-upgrades-5.html

Not sure if that's directed at me or not but it wouldn't for me since I keep the front plow blade on all winter.