Tires Thinking of draining tires. TC24DA.

[JSUnlimited]

I've been reading the endless posts here about loaded/unloaded tires. Currenty my R4's are loaded with WW fluid adding aprox. 340lbs. total. Most of time my loader work is light (bucket full of firewood, mulch, etc) and if I get into the heavy stuff I generally have the BH on.

I do take off the loader to shed some weight while finish mowing, no so much worried about rutting the yard, but being able to climb the slightest grade in high range while mowing.

Is there really a need to keep dragging around an extra 300-400lbs.? Will getting rid of the weight help with overall performance in terms of simply having power to move forwards up a puny little grade?

I wish NH had put a middle range gear instead of just high and low. High is to high sometimes and low is slower than Grandma can move.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I don't think you will find any difference in the ability to climb an incline while mowing if you you unload the tires. The added 350# of weight is just enough to stabilize the tractor with a modest amount in the loader, but without it you may find tractor front heavy with the same load (I do not have my rears loaded and am seriously considering loading them because even modest bucket loads make the rear light).

 

[jwstewar]

I ran my 24 for about 2 years unloaded. Finally loaded them spring of 2005. Used WW, like you probably add 330 - 350#s. I have to say, I don't notice much difference performance wise as far as hills or whatever. Have noticed a definite increase in stability on side hills and loader work. I also notice I don't have to use 4x4 as much - especially with the loader on and nothing on the rear. Much better grip for the rear tires when digging into a pile. I won't be unloading my tires any time soon. Since I've loaded them I've only wished they weren't one time and that was last fall when it was really wet and I was trying to mow. Left some pretty decent ruts, but in all honesty probably would've left the same ruts w/o the WW fluid. I shouldn't been mowing, but you gotta do what you gotta do when you can do it.

 

[dknarnd]

My TC40A that I just got this fall is useless without weight in the rear. I purchased it with two rear wheel weights on each side which totals 210 lbs per side and with one inch of snow on the ground I needed 4WD to just drive up a small hill. When I moved a load of stone I could barely keep the rear on the ground.

Soon as it warms up I'm taking it to the local tire place and filling each tire with WW fluid which will add about another 400 lbs to each side. Then this summer I will make a small counter weight for those times that more weight is needed.

 

[billfires]

Mega Me, I have a NH 1920 w/FEL & BH with turf tires that were loaded with calcium chloride. The BH has only been off the tractor twice in 5 years (did some work with landscape rake and backfilled the inside foundation of a garage). I had the tires unloaded at a tire shop after noticing rust around the valve stems. In 2wd the tractor dug better going into a pile or bank when loaded but in 4wd I don't notice a difference. It is also a lot easier to check tire pressures without the fluid. The only thihg is you will have to have weight on the back of your tractor if you do any heavy loader work (rear end gets very light). One other thing, small punctures can be repaired with the tires mounted with a plug kit. Hope this helps, Bill C

 

[Zipperhead0]

I agree that weight in the rear is important for safety. My local dealership wont let a tractor off of the lot without CC in the rear tires. I got my tractor from another dealership without rear ballast and my TC29 get's very light when moving snow or dirt with my FEL. In fact before I put a rear blade on the back the whole rear end would come off of the ground with a bucket full of dirt. NOT SAFE.

I'm really looking into a product called rimguard. Rim Guard - Liquid Tire Ballast

Now I just need to find a dealer in my area to fill my tires.

 

[JSUnlimited]

Thanks guys for the information/opinions, I'll just leave them loaded. Anyways, if I want to finish mow faster, I'll just use the zero-turn.

Thanks again.

 

[firewalker]

Hey Mega...If you drain all that WW fluid out, would you save it for me? I'll use it in my Olds.

 

[JSUnlimited]

Yeah sure, bring that hard-hat over and I'll fill her up!

 

[firewalker]

Once you get that turbo on there you'll need the extra weight to keep that thing under control!! You're just jealous that you don't have a hard hat that nice.