Weighting front wheels

[hayden]

I went ahead and had the front wheels on my 2910 (R4's) filled with SuperFlex. I was having the most trouble snow blowing between the weight of the 3PH snow blower and slippery snow. The SuperFlex added around 70lbs to each wheel (they weigh 100 lbs each total now) and definitely made a difference, though it's only 140 lbs total additional weight up front. Another 100-200lbs would be great, but I don't have a good way to create and attach weights yet - maybe my next project. It's not cheap stuff - cost about $90 per tire, but I like the flatproofing aspect so I decided to go ahead and do it.

For additional weight I was thinking of loading up the tube in the loader frame that ties the two lift arms together up by the bucket. It's a 4" steel pipe and I was thinking of loading it up with rebar or some other material that would be easy to install/remove. It would put the weight forward and relatively low assuming the loader is kept low. I don't know how much weight it would add.

Peter

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hayden,
My only concern would be the added weight when you had the loader up in the air. Don't know for sure, not having an idea how much weight it will add, but it may make the unit alittle more tipsy when you are loading high IMHO. Can't hurt to try though.
DaveL

 

[Rick Jay]

Hayden,

Just to make sure we're not overlooking the obvious:

When using the 3 pt. blower, to gain extra weight on the front, don't you fill the bucket with snow? That in itself should add a couple hundred pounds.

Of course, this is of no use when using the loader, but your post made it sound like your front end was light while using the blower.

~Rick

 

[hayden]

True, that's why I want something that can be easily removed. When I'm dealing with snow the loader is almost always down or low, and the times it will be high for piling snow will be on flat ground. But you are right - that's the trade off.

I don't know how much the rebar would weigh. I just ran some numbers to see what it would add if I filled it with concrete (assuming I came up with a way to make the concrete tube and insert that could be removed), and I only get about 5 lbs (assumes the inner diameter of the tube is 3.5".

 

[hayden]

Yes, that definitely helps, but some of the snow removal involves using the loader, hence the desire for weight that doesn't interfer with its use.

I should probably figure out a way to add a front frame weight. Kubota's doesn't work with a loader so I'd have to make my own.