Weights

[sixgun]

Chris,

I have a 27 hp unit with a front blade and though I don't have any experience yet (just installed a front blade) I have set myself up similar to Whistlepig - loaded tires and a carryall box loaded with about 600 lbs. I'm itching to try it out!!!

 

[newbury]

Hello. Thanks to everyone and the great advice I finally purchased a front blade for my JD 4310. Now, the question is what kind of weight do I need in the back? any advice? Its a 7 foot plow. Also, I was told NOT to load the tires cause thats hurts traction?

For weight I'd recommend a Woods BH70X, that should give you about 800lbs. It comes in handy when you have to lift the rear end to put on chains, when you need to pick up sticks in the yard, and many other things

 

[gerard]

Hello. Thanks to everyone and the great advice I finally purchased a front blade for my JD 4310. Now, the question is what kind of weight do I need in the back? any advice? Its a 7 foot plow. Also, I was told NOT to load the tires cause thats hurts traction?

Either you misunderstood (best case), or your getting advice from someone who shouldn't be giving it. Putting an implement on the back will help. Loading the tires AND putting an implement on the back will help the most. I didn't load my tires until a few years ago and then kicked myself in the a&% for not having done it right away. Used rimguard, $200 to have it done which wasn't bad and well worth it. I like it because it's totally non corrosive to the rims and if it spills, no big deal. Would never use Calcium due to corrosive issue. Can't recommend strongly enough to load the tires.

 

[George2615]

You can also make your own rear ballast box. Many posts on this site of various types. Mine is made out of a plastic 55 gallon drum, I welded up some framework inside it to connect to the 3 pt. and filled it 3/4 full of concrete. Weight is about 800 lb.

Check out a recent rear ballast build in Build it yourself.

 

[LD1]

I can only think of ONE case where loading the tires will give LESS traction.

That case being if you are driving on a frozen pond/lake with thin ice and the added weight would cause you to go through. You wont get much traction on the bottom

I agree that you should no longer take advice form whoever told you that, unless it is a misunderstanding indeed.

 

[sixgun]

To follow-up my earlier post...there is such a thing as too much weight.

I was moving some firewood earlier today and experienced a bit of weightlessness in the front end - as in...hey why aren't the front wheels responding to the steering wheel? I guess the loaded tires, coupled with the concrete blocks and wood in the carryall box, were a bit too much.

You may have to try a few different combinations before you get the traction response that you are looking for.

 

[gerard]

Don't blame the loaded tires on this one. They have no effect on weight transfer. It's the stuff behind the axle that you have to watch out for, plus any towing.

Very true - all of the weight from the liquid is actually pressing down on the bottom of the tire which is pressed against the ground on the "contact" patch. That's one of the nice things about liquid ballast, doesn't add any stress to the frame or axel like a weight box does.

 

[whistlepig]

Also depends how far back on the rear of the tractor the weight is hanging.