New L2501 advice needed

[paulsharvey]

I dont see where our OP lives; but my last tractor had just normal water filled tires (well, water filled tubes). We do get freezing weather, but I don't think I've ever seen Temps actively below 32 for more than 24 hours. Never had an issue.

 

[needmoredirt]

N TX, it's been problematic

 

[needmoredirt]

If you had a bigger tractor it might be more of a problem but those economy series tractors are excessively light to start with. The tires on my L3800 are loaded and I can’t see any good reason you’d ever want to take it out. I’d slap on cast weights in addition to the fluid if I had them. The weight will make traction better not worse. The front tires cause more compaction and turf damage. What weight the fluid adds really doesn’t change that aspect. Any ride benefits with such a small tire to start with would be extremely limited. You’d accomplish a lot more to throw away the crappy seat. If you did happen to have a good reason you would just drain the tires and be done with it. You definitely aren’t going to load the tires for one job and unload them for another. If you had iron hub weights you aren’t going to be taking them on and off either.

Looking at your list of equipment, I would imagine you would load this thing down

I bought an over grown yard tractor, more of a EDC swiss army knife that's heavy on the front axle, skinny in the butt.

I hear ya on the seat thing, I'll suffer...

 

[Carl_NH]

You can make an inexpensive counter weight with a 55 gallon barrel and some crushed stone some concrete and pipe and get the quick attach from HF or TSC and adapt it.

Don't underestimate the 400 Lbs hanging 2' off the back (BB or rear blade) as it's further back - the thing about the barrel or any box is taking on and off when you want to use the 3PT implement.

 

[dodge man]

Ballast on the three point is important. Loaded tires and/or wheel weights help but are not enough. I went years without rear ballast and finally bought a ballast box, a huge improvement, it takes that rocking back and forth on the front axle away when using the end loader.

My ballast box is filled with cheap stuff or nearly free stuff, old brake rotors, old weight lifting weights etc. My owners manual calls for something like 750 pounds of 3 point ballast but I’m probably more like 500 pounds which helps a lot.

 

[Fallon]

Depending on your specific use case; compaction.

Fuel usage & speed too. Roading my tractor with vs without an impliment cuts my max speed on a particular hill from a little over 7mph to under 6. 1,000lbs or so on a 40mph machine that is in the 6k range with loader & loaded tires is noticeable at times.

I wouldn't run without loaded tires ever though. The extra traction & stability are more important. Well, unless I sprung for wheel weights, but they do the same thing.

 

[2manyrocks]

One thing about DIY ballast on the 3pt is to try not to use anything that can shift and actually cause you to tip.

 

[needmoredirt]

Am I the only one that's looked for SSQA pallet forks that can mount on 3pt/Quick Attach???

Thant would kill about 10 birds w/one stone.

 

[dodge man]

They make forks for 3 points.

 

[needmoredirt]

They make forks for 3 points.

Standard SSQA forks that can be used at either end? I've not seen any.