Question on adding ballast to rear tires

[Bluegill2]

I do not like loaded tires. Once you do it, you cannot easily go back. I add weight as required for traction or counter balance, then remove for mowing. This ballast box gives me 1250 pounds on the 3 point, and is easy to add or remove. Philip.

That's actually better than loaded tires anyway. As far as I'm concerned. :thumbsup:

 

[Ken45101]

That's actually better than loaded tires anyway. As far as I'm concerned. :thumbsup:

Weight on the 3pt is higher above ground than filled tires so it provides less hillside stability. Plus it counteracts the weight on the front tires, which may lessen the tractor's steering.

I want/need the low down weight while mowing. The big tractor has (M9540) plenty of weight on the rear (2000# batwing on the drawbar) but I still have loaded rear tires for stability. Even with 700# of front weights, the steering is light when turning uphill.

Of course, what's best for one situation may not be best for another. But with the hills I have, the tires are loaded.

 

[PHILIP8N]

My area is pretty flat, so I do not have to worry about stability on hills. Now my 8N has loaded rears (R1's). Did that mainly for now traction on snow/ice and pulling a 2 bottom plow. Really helps with pulling 2 bottom plow, but chains are the equalizer for ice. The rears have been filled with salt water for about 15 years, now I am seeing rust. Now that I have L3940, I am thinking about dumping the salt water in my 8N to slow the rusting. Philip.

 

[k0ua]

Here is the way I see.. what both sides of the "loaded tire debate" are saying are true.. there are upsides to loaded tires and there are downsides, just as there are upsides to 3pt weight, and there are failings on 3pt weight.. It just depends on the job you are doing.. When you are dragging a box-blade of heavy materiel uphill you will be darn glad you have the loaded tires.. When you are mowing steep hills you will be happy for the side-hill stability of the loaded tires. When you have a flat with a loaded tire, you will not be so happy:irked:. The 3 point weight is essential to relieve stress on the front axle and allow full use of the FEL for heavy loads. Loaded tires are not enough, unless you have a wimpy loader. But like I said for many tasks with an ground engaging implement on the 3pt, the weight box is NOT going to do you any good. In My humble, and experienced opinion, you need both. I have tried it all sort's of ways and this is the best experience I have come up with.

James K0UA

 

[Don87]

Here is the way I see.. what both sides of the "loaded tire debate" are saying are true.. there are upsides to loaded tires and there are downsides, just as there are upsides to 3pt weight, and there are failings on 3pt weight.. It just depends on the job you are doing.. When you are dragging a box-blade of heavy materiel uphill you will be darn glad you have the loaded tires.. When you are mowing steep hills you will be happy for the side-hill stability of the loaded tires. When you have a flat with a loaded tire, you will not be so happy:irked:. The 3 point weight is essential to relieve stress on the front axle and allow full use of the FEL for heavy loads. Loaded tires are not enough, unless you have a wimpy loader. But like I said for many tasks with an ground engaging implement on the 3pt, the weight box is NOT going to do you any good. In My humble, and experienced opinion, you need both. I have tried it all sort's of ways and this is the best experience I have come up with.

James K0UA

I agree. When I first got my Massey, the tires were not loaded and it was ok until I got the FEL, then things went downhill fast.

I first built a barrel ballast for on the 3pt. and it helped some. But as stated, with the weight up off the ground, the tractor still didn't feel good.

I then got Rimguard put in the tires. The change in the tractor was unbelievable. It was like driving a totally different machine. I was stuck to the ground like glue(or so it seemed). I had the ability to experience all three scenarios in about a 2 month period, and it was eye opening for sure.

 

[TripleR]

Here is the way I see.. what both sides of the "loaded tire debate" are saying are true.. there are upsides to loaded tires and there are downsides, just as there are upsides to 3pt weight, and there are failings on 3pt weight.. It just depends on the job you are doing.. When you are dragging a box-blade of heavy materiel uphill you will be darn glad you have the loaded tires.. When you are mowing steep hills you will be happy for the side-hill stability of the loaded tires. When you have a flat with a loaded tire, you will not be so happy:irked:. The 3 point weight is essential to relieve stress on the front axle and allow full use of the FEL for heavy loads. Loaded tires are not enough, unless you have a wimpy loader. But like I said for many tasks with an ground engaging implement on the 3pt, the weight box is NOT going to do you any good. In My humble, and experienced opinion, you need both. I have tried it all sort's of ways and this is the best experience I have come up with.

James K0UA

Pretty much, one works better than the other in some situations such as terrain and task, so you have to decide. As is so often the case we must comprise or have several tractors. We have one flat land farm and my brothers use four without loaded tires for mowing and two with MFWD and loaded tires for FEL and pulling. On our hill farms all have loaded tires and MFWD as when pulling a wheeled drag scraper, box scraper, plow etc. weight is needed for traction or they just sit there and spin.

 

[Bluegill2]

Weight on the 3pt is higher above ground than filled tires so it provides less hillside stability. Plus it counteracts the weight on the front tires, which may lessen the tractor's steering.

I want/need the low down weight while mowing. The big tractor has (M9540) plenty of weight on the rear (2000# batwing on the drawbar) but I still have loaded rear tires for stability. Even with 700# of front weights, the steering is light when turning uphill.

Of course, what's best for one situation may not be best for another. But with the hills I have, the tires are loaded.

Al I'm saying is loaded tires do not take the place of weight on the 3 pt hitch when using FEL. Counter weight is needed to take weight off the front end. Counter the weight on the FEL.

I have hills here and my rear tires are loaded and will stay that way, but I will also have around 1000 lbs on the 3PH when I'm doing any real loader work.

 

[Bluegill2]

Weight on the 3pt is higher above ground than filled tires so it provides less hillside stability. Plus it counteracts the weight on the front tires, which may lessen the tractor's steering.

I want/need the low down weight while mowing. The big tractor has (M9540) plenty of weight on the rear (2000# batwing on the drawbar) but I still have loaded rear tires for stability. Even with 700# of front weights, the steering is light when turning uphill.

Of course, what's best for one situation may not be best for another. But with the hills I have, the tires are loaded.

All I'm saying is loaded tires do not take the place of weight on the 3 pt hitch when using FEL. Counter weight is needed to take weight off the front end. Counter the weight on the FEL.

I have hills here and my rear tires are loaded and will stay that way, but I will also have around 1000 lbs on the 3PH when I'm doing any real loader work.

 

[murphy1244]

What we all need is more tractors!:thumbsup:

 

[Bluegill2]

What we all need is more tractors!:thumbsup:

Yes, one more, maybe two.