Wheel weights/Ballast box vs Tire filled?

Turtro · Apr 29, 2008

When I purchase my tractor the dealer reccomends getting the rear tires filled...is there any advantage to having additional Wheel weights or a ballast box, if the tires are filled?

Charlesaf3 · Apr 29, 2008

yes. THough as usual depends on your usage.

For me, I'm on hills, plus I do a lot of landscaping (blades, etc that touch the ground) and loader work. So that means foam filled tires, front and rear PLUS wheel weights PLUS a heavy implement on the back when I'm doing loader work. I've put a rear wheel in the air despite that with a load of concrete in the bucket. NOT FUN.

No one has ever had too low a center of gravity on a tractor, or too stable a CUT.

texasjohn · Apr 30, 2008

We know nothing of size of tractor you are planning, use, kind of terrain you have, etc... might expand your personal profile to assist in answering your questions.

I'd start with fluid filled rear tires. If you have a FEL, then you WILL want some weight on the rear... boxblade, or manufactured weight. Try an implement on the rear if you have one... some people do prefer a ballast box because it keeps vehicle length down. Don't purchase wheel weights until you have tried all other methods of adding weight and have proven a need for wheel weights.

Ed_C · Apr 30, 2008

Wheel weights hurt like heck when they slip onto your feet. Don't have that problem with filled tires

Turtro · Apr 30, 2008

Ok all thanks for the info... I'll start with filled rear tires, and a ballast box.

big bubba · Apr 30, 2008

Mechanics have advised me NOT to have foam or fluid weight in front tires, could void warranty....apparently acts differently on differential that just extra weight on ft. bumper. why add weight to the front, resulting in less FELS capacity? bb

Charlesaf3 · Apr 30, 2008

you might rethink the ballast box, unless its really cheap. A box blade pretty much works the same, and has all sorts of other uses.

If I'm not tight, the bush hog also balances well. THough warning, everything becomes tighter with a bush hog on the back!

Tom_H · Apr 30, 2008

A rack of suitcase weights is an option to wheel weights. With some implements like a PHD or subsoiler being used in hardpan, the weight needs to be placed on top of the implement. A 3ph hydro-downpressure unit can be helpful. You can also find old barbell sets, weld a short piece of the bar vertically atop the implement, stack weights and lock with the collar. Some PHD units are hydraulic and can be mounted at the FEL bucket or BH bucket location and use downpressure from the FEL or BH arm.

N80 · Apr 30, 2008

Charlesaf3 said:
you might rethink the ballast box, unless its really cheap. A box blade pretty much works the same, and has all sorts of other uses.

I totally agree. A box blade might not cost that much more, it does not stick out very far behind the tractor and is mush more useful than a box full of dead weight.

I also agree that if you have a loader you need ballast. I can get by with just the tires filled and nothing on the back, but with a full bucket it is still bouncy. When the boxblade is back there it balances very well even with a full bucket. So I suggest weights on the rears and something on the 3pt hitch.

I think rear wheel weights are a great thing, but they are too expensive for my blood. And as mentioned, you can drop them on your toe too.

But filled tires are not risk free either. I was told that my rears were not filled. When I popped the valve off one day I got quite a bath! Geyser is the word that comes to mind.

Charlesaf3 · Apr 30, 2008

I can imagine George! Any chance anyone was around to watch? I think I would have fallen over laughing myself. Laughing with you of course!

offcamber · Apr 30, 2008

I don't know what a ballast box even cost...I have seen some homemade ones that will do that job but I agree a box blade is a nice way to go. TSC has a 4ft model thats only $400. If I am working the FEL hard I usually just put the BH on. but for the average/light FEL work, loaded tires and the Box blade work great.

N80 · Apr 30, 2008

Charlesaf3 said:
I can imagine George! Any chance anyone was around to watch? I think I would have fallen over laughing myself. Laughing with you of course!

Well, it was everything you might imagine. My first big tractor project. I've got my hoses, antifreeze bottles, filling valve. I've got the tractor rear up on jackstands.

Of course with my wheels configured the way they are the valve is on the inside of the rim. And as fate would have it, I'm under the tractor on my back. I think I was looking to see where the oil drain plugs were for the upcoming 50 hour service. So while I'm down there I figured I'd go ahead and take the valve stem off.

Now I have NO reason to think there is fluid in the tires. I was told there was not. So I just spin the sucker off and then woosh. A literal geyser. Total surprise and confusion. Spitting. Sputtering. Trying desparately to get the thing back on before it empties....which I finally did somehow. I'm sputtering, cussing and trying to get the stuff out of my eyes. I still don't know what kind of fluid is in there.

No one was there to see it, but by this time I'm crawling out from underneath and starting to laugh at myself when my very disinterested teenage neice and daughter ride up on horses. They have the social decency to ask what happened but ride on by before I can explain.

Ever see the Three Stooges plumbing episode? That's all you really need for a mental picture.

Charlesaf3 · Apr 30, 2008

funny, that kind of was my mental picture

Not that I wouldn't have done the same thing! In the interest of fairness, there was the time I wired a new plug on an extension cord. Wasn't paying attention really, thinking about other things. Went to plug it in and was shocked, literally. I accidentally put a second male end on, and was holding it when I went to test the cord

The contractor I was talking to at the time said it was one of the happiest moments of his life.

offcamber · Apr 30, 2008

N80 said:
Well, it was everything you might imagine. My first big tractor project. I've got my hoses, antifreeze bottles, filling valve. I've got the tractor rear up on jackstands.

Of course with my wheels configured the way they are the valve is on the inside of the rim. And as fate would have it, I'm under the tractor on my back. I think I was looking to see where the oil drain plugs were for the upcoming 50 hour service. So while I'm down there I figured I'd go ahead and take the valve stem off.

Now I have NO reason to think there is fluid in the tires. I was told there was not. So I just spin the sucker off and then woosh. A literal geyser. Total surprise and confusion. Spitting. Sputtering. Trying desparately to get the thing back on before it empties....which I finally did somehow. I'm sputtering, cussing and trying to get the stuff out of my eyes. I still don't know what kind of fluid is in there.

No one was there to see it, but by this time I'm crawling out from underneath and starting to laugh at myself when my very disinterested teenage neice and daughter ride up on horses. They have the social decency to ask what happened but ride on by before I can explain.

Ever see the Three Stooges plumbing episode? That's all you really need for a mental picture.

It was probably the bio-degradable stuff made from Beats I think....it will burn if you get it in a cut or I bet in your eye but its not suppose to hurt people or animals like calcium Chloride...Important saftey tip....always check air pressure with the valves at the 12 O'clock position.

Turtro · Apr 30, 2008

offcamber said:
I don't know what a ballast box even cost...I have seen some homemade ones that will do that job but I agree a box blade is a nice way to go. TSC has a 4ft model thats only $400. If I am working the FEL hard I usually just put the BH on. but for the average/light FEL work, loaded tires and the Box blade work great.

A friend has a ballast box, he puts pee stone in it, which allows the water to
drain out easily

Gamer1524 · May 1, 2008

My dealer told me the same thing...do not foam fill the tires...would void warranty and be too heavy....not sure about that

N80 · May 1, 2008

The L4400 manual says not to load the fronts. As usual it does not give a reason.

Leon Wittner · May 1, 2008

I ordered wheel weights with my L-2800 but the rims had no holes to mount them so my dealer had tubes installed in the rear tires and filled them with Calcium Chloride. I agree that no additional weight is needed on the front since I have a FEL. When descending downhill with a loaded bucket I always use 4X4 since my rear tires will break loose and start to slide. I also have a BB or rock rake on the rear all of the time.