Questions about 790

HalseyGreen · Mar 26, 2004

I've had my 790 almost 3 years now and you definitely need rear ballast to do any front end loader work. My first project was to move a hill from one side of the drive to the other. I found that the bucket had trouble digging in the Virginia Clay, so I got a tooth bar, digging is like cutting butter with a hot knife now. I also discovered that the rear end got really light when I had a full bucket of dirt, so I got a box blade for ballast. The box blade made a real difference, but the rear would still feel light with a full bucket, so I added methenol/ water mix to the rear tires. Now the rear stays planted with a full bucket of dirt. The rear still gets a little light when I have the pallet forks on and reach loader capacity.

harleyx142 · Mar 26, 2004

I will have the 419 loader. I will have to go check it out. They haven't put it on yet. I a supposed to get it next week. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

harleyx142 · Mar 26, 2004

The ballast issue is a mute point now. I went by the dealer this morning and they already have the tires filled with calcium chloride. At least now I don't have to worry about that anymore. I just have to live with any problems it might cause. Thanks guys.

zuiko · Mar 26, 2004

If you are worried about it you can always drain them and fill them with antifreeze or windshield washer fluid at a later time. Filled tires are the way to go IMO, you'd have to add a whole bunch of iron weights to equal the amount of ballast you get from the tires. The CaCl is supposed to be good for keeping dust down in dirt floor buildings so you dont even have to waste it.

The level indicator is extremely easy to install (no holes to drill or anything) so if you don't get it now you can always get it later. I think it will be a pretty handy thing to have. I put one on but I haven't painted it yet because it hasn't been warm enough until recently.

I don't have hooks welded onto my bucket but I've wished I had them several times. I will eventually get around to doing it myself but I should've just had it done at the dealer.

I just ordered a toothbar for around $350.

harleyx142 · Mar 26, 2004

How bad is that calcium chloride stuff anyway? Is it something I have to clean up if it leaks out of the tire?

harleyx142 · Mar 26, 2004

I'll have to check on the hooks. They sound like something I could use. I think I should get a free hat or something for all the money I am spending at the dealers.

RobS · Mar 26, 2004

<font color="blue">How bad is that calcium chloride stuff anyway </font>

Chemically, it is a salt much like sodium chloride or table salt. It's mixed with water in your tires for added weight and freeze resistance. It will have the same effects of salt water including corroding steel/iron and killing vegetation.

It's been used for decades in tractor tires so one school of thought is to not worry about it. Now that there are some other alternatives though, many are moving away from the stuff. My tires are not filled yet and I won't put CaCl in them. I'll use Rim Guard /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

zuiko · Mar 26, 2004

It's not bad at all. There is a food grade CaCl, so how bad can it be, I figure. It's used to melt ice on roads or keep the dust down in the summer. It will kill grass or other plants is the only harm it'd cause i think. I'm more concerned about the antifreeze I got in mine. I think the rear tires are pretty tough though, the front ones get flat a lot easier.

Ledgemere Farm · Mar 26, 2004

Sounds like he might be charging you freight for those weights. My Case-IH dealer asked me to wait until they ordered a bunch so I didn't pay extra. I got (4) Case-IH 62# wheel weights for abot $320.