Ballast T503 ballast requirement.

[seachange]

Hi everyone. I'm a new owner of a TYM T503 and would like to ask two questions about it. ( was a computer guy in my previous life ). Was hoping someone may be able to give me a bit of advice.

1. Ballast. The dealer has put some fluid in the rear wheels to help with stability but I feel that it is not enough. When using the loader to lift and move soil I get the feeling that it needs more ballast as I get an uncomfortable feeling that the tractor just is not stable enough. Am I being over critical or do other users feel the same way? solution is I guess to spend $500.00 and get a ballast box. Anyone bought one of these and feel that it made a big difference??

2. The seat is weird. When I am going along and hit even a small bump, I get lifted from the seat a bit and come down with a solid thump. I think I may have to fit a foam pad on the seat and just ride out the bumps. at least that will be practical and won't come down on the seat with that annoying thump. ( I always wear the seat belt).

Overall, I think this south korean made tractor seems like a really nice solid workhorse with a terrific 50 hp perkins deisel. The front end loader seems very tough and well built and I'm looking forward to doing quite a bit of work with this machine.

 

[Oldtink]

Yes seachange, any kind of weight you add behind the rear wheels will make your tractor more stable while using the front loader. It also has the added benefit of taking weight off of the front axle by having a weight behind the rear wheels and you always want to do that when using the front loader.

 

[varmint]

Behind and low is what you want. I made this box for about $100 worth of materials, and I figure it's about 500 pounds with the dense rocks I have in it for now. As for your seat, does it have any spring tension adjustments? Most tractors do, although only a pricey air suspension seat will do for some guys.

 

[katoomed00]

I also own the t503 and felt exactly like you about the back end being to light for the power of the hydraulics, used a ballast weight (about 2000lb) from a small old forklift, welded a 3pt setup on it using 3"x1/4" angle iron, cost 200 bucks from a junk yard, now it is rock solid and I can push dirt in 2wd.

Also the seat sucks, one of my biggest complaints, I ended up using a 10" lawnmower inner tube I had laying around, rolled it up loosely with the Schrader valve sticking out of one end, then wrapped a light cushion around it for protection, placed in under the seat and loosened the seat tensioner all the way, filled it with air to my liking.

Darrell

 

[seachange]

Thanks for your replies katoomed00, Varmint and Oldtink. I didn't expect a response so soon and it was very welcome.

I'll now go ahead and look at getting the extra ballast as it is obviously needed. The rep of course is trying to sell me one for about $600 Australian but that is a lot of money for just a box so I'll put on my thinking cap as did Varmint.

Same goes for a ' modification ' to the seat.

Thanks very much once again for your helpful advice.

 

[katoomed00]

I found that it takes a lot of weight to hold the backend firmly to the ground, there were several cases that the back end was still coming off the ground even with my Mott88 Flail mower attached (about 1100-1200lbs). Once I lifted a pallet of salt(63-40lbs sacks)just high enough to clear the trailer it was on and the back end came off the ground, that is when I decided it needed more and came up with the idea of the forklift ballast.

When I'm moving dirt I normally just hook the Flail mower up for ballast.

 

[ALKY]

I own a t233 and added ballast.My ft frame broke and my dealer threatened to void the warranty cause of it!BTW it was a 360 ford shortblock on a pallet with rear forks.

 

[seachange]

Thanks everyone. Seems like I will need a heavy ballast of some sort to do the job. Time for the thinking cap to try and come up with something local now before going to the dealer or just moving half loads of dirt at a time which I don't want to have to do.

 

[katoomed00]

Seachange, all I use for ballast to move dirt is my flail mower 1100-1200lbs, the tractor is plenty stable even with a heaping full bucket of clay dirt. (on flat land for sure, lol)