Weight on Rear of PT

[Barryh]

Barry,

You may want to check into the other sealant mentioned here. You have to buy Hydro-Seal by the 5gal bucket and it's expensive.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/99119-tire-sealants-liquid-ballast-compatible.html?highlight=sealant

Thanks for the link.

 

[RegL]

FYI, steel weighs 490 lbs. per cubic foot.

Therefore, a 1/2" x 12" x 12" plate would weigh 20.41 lbs.

So, even a an 3/4" x 18" x 24" plate would only weigh 91.875 lbs.

Don't know if that would make a hugh difference or not, assuming a plate that large could be installed.

Regards, Mark H.

Mark, thanks for the info. I had no idea how much steel weighs. I know it weighs a lot more than it did 20 years ago. Anyway, the bottom of the back tub on my 1430 measures 44" x 26". So using your figures I come up with 240lbs. for 3/4" thick and about 320lbs. for 1" thick. This weight would be located about 6" below center of wheels so I think it would add some stability. Probably not practical to use one sheet of steel but maybe several smaller ones. This all probably doesn't make sense, but hey, we are just brain storming.

 

[J_J]

Has anyone considered wheel weights. It would put the weight on the ground and not the wheel motor axles. I know they make the weights for the 12 in rims, and I believe most of the rims have extra holes . Two of my rims are solid except for the center . There is another way to carry some extra weight, and that is with those carriers that plug in to the 2 in receiver. Some of them are rated for 500 lbs. Set a bunch of solid cement blocks on there, secure them, and away you go. Your rear end might be dragging, but you can lift more than you could before. I would worry about the axles and bearings if used this way very long. Easy to set up and dismantle. I would not carry this kind of weight all the time. Only certain functions demand the extra weight.

 

[KentT]

Has anyone considered wheel weights. It would put the weight on the ground and not the wheel motor axles. I know they make the weights for the 12 in rims, and I believe most of the rims have extra holes . Two of my rims are solid except for the center . There is another way to carry some extra weight, and that is with those carriers that plug in to the 2 in receiver. Some of them are rated for 500 lbs. Set a bunch of solid cement blocks on there, secure them, and away you go. Your rear end might be dragging, but you can lift more than you could before. I would worry about the axles and bearings if used this way very long. Easy to set up and dismantle. I would not carry this kind of weight all the time. Only certain functions demand the extra weight.

I used rear wheel weights on the rear (in addition to loaded tires) until I reversed my tires. Now, I just put those same wheel weights in the weight box when I want extra weight on the rear.

All four of my 12" wheels have the four extra holes for wheel weights...

 

[BobRip]

KentT, how much fluid did it take to fill each tire?

 

[KentT]

KentT, how much fluid did it take to fill each tire?

Ballpark estimate is 7.5 gallons per tire. I ordered 5 cases of 6 gal each from Napa, and got it for like $1.49 a gallon or something. I had about four left over, but I also put almost 4 gallons of HydroSeal in them. It was during the summer and Wally World didn't have winter mix in stock. I buy the Walmart stuff for use in my garden tractors tires, in addition to actual WW use, but I didn't have that big of a stockpile...

 

[toy]

Has anyone considered wheel weights. It would put the weight on the ground and not the wheel motor axles. I know they make the weights for the 12 in rims, and I believe most of the rims have extra holes . Two of my rims are solid except for the center . There is another way to carry some extra weight, and that is with those carriers that plug in to the 2 in receiver. Some of them are rated for 500 lbs. Set a bunch of solid cement blocks on there, secure them, and away you go. Your rear end might be dragging, but you can lift more than you could before. I would worry about the axles and bearings if used this way very long. Easy to set up and dismantle. I would not carry this kind of weight all the time. Only certain functions demand the extra weight.

The wheel weights for my sears garden tractor will fit the wheels on my pt. These wheel weights are 55 lbs. each. I've kinda been thinking that if you mounted something on the canopy that would extend back some and add weights to that. The canopy is supposed to handel a roll over so it would handel the weights and if you were to pick the rear of the machine off the ground it would not add extra strain on the center section. That is just kinda a silly ideathat might work but it would raise the center of gravity . But I've learned something else that might work when you are reading the pt forum snack on cherry cheese cake, donuts, cherry candie, banna pudding, all sorts of candy bars and cakes and fudge stripped cookies and over a period of time you won't need any extra weight, it's working for me. lol.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Ballpark estimate is 7.5 gallons per tire. I ordered 5 cases of 6 gal each from Napa, and got it for like $1.49 a gallon or something. I had about four left over, but I also put almost 4 gallons of HydroSeal in them. It was during the summer and Wally World didn't have winter mix in stock. I buy the Walmart stuff for use in my garden tractors tires, in addition to actual WW use, but I didn't have that big of a stockpile...

8.34 lbs per gallon = 62.55 lbs.... Not bad....

 

[BobRip]

8.34 lbs per gallon = 62.55 lbs.... Not bad....

Just remember that weight at the rear wheels is not going to be as effective as the same weight further back, but I think it will be enough for most uses.

 

[J_J]

Just remember that weight at the rear wheels is not going to be as effective as the same weight further back, but I think it will be enough for most uses.

Bob,

Have you considered the fact that Pt probably came up with the lift capacity taking into account the tipping point, and the load on the wheel motors?Sure, more weight on the back will allow you to lift more, but will your front wheel motors stand up to the additional shaft load that is generated by adding extra weight. Reversing wheels in this situation, I think not, but to each, do what you have to do.