Ballast Why no ballast in rear wheels of Cab Tractor

[Anonymous Poster]

I am amazed at the information that has and is being shared on this site. The comments I read here helped me to decide on the 3710HST that I bought last September. One issue that I have seen no specific discussion about is filling the rear wheels with ballast on a Cab Tractor. The operators manual on page 57 states "Do not fill tires with water or solution if the tractor is a CAB model". I find the rear end to be quite light when operating the front end loader and would like to fill the rear wheels with calcium. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rbargeron]

I am amazed too - I can't imagine how having a cab is related to ballast. A rank guess would be that somehow the rating of the tires is mixed up in the overall weight, including the max 3 pt hitch loads contemplated in the design. But if that's what is driving the recommendation against ballast, they ought to spring the extra few bucks for better rear rubber when they put a cab on.

This is quite weird - hope someone can shed some light.

Take care - Dick B

 

[b249]

Loveman & Dick B,

This was covered not too long ago; I think in the safety section. Do a "search" in that section.

Briefly, the consensus was that the cab structure was not engineered to support the additional weight of tire ballast if the tractor rolled over. Remember to wear your seatbelt!!

Hope this helps,

b249

 

[EdKing]

Here is a link </font color=blue> to a thread that discussed this earlier, I don't now if there was any resolution.

 

[rbargeron]

Hi Ed - thanks for the link - I feel pretty dumb for not thinking of the cab's crush strength in a rollover.

As an operator (not a manufacturer trying to limit liability) I think I'd put ballast in anyway so the likelihood of a rollover is reduced in the first place.

 

[beenthere]

Interesting thought, and wonder if the logistics of that thought includes any additional weight in the form of a ballast box or wheel weights? Is the Cab structure in lieu of the ROPS and weaker than the ROPS?

 

[EdKing]

<font color=blue>Hi Ed - thanks for the link </font color=blue>

No problem. I though it was kind of short sighted of Kubota not to make the cab strong enough to support loaded tires. Makes you wonder what happens if you have a heavy implement on.

 

[MikeF]

I have a 4310 HSTC with FEL and my dealer installed ballast in all four tires! Until I recently bought a skid loader I used the loader on the tractor alot for my manure hauling business, and I can assure you the filled tires are the reason I never wound up on the roof! Just my 2c worth MikeF