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 | Jim Youtz
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2000-03-12 13695
I would like to get some front weights for my tractor for those times when I'm using a heavy rear implement or plow. Priced some suitcase weights and they are not real cheap. Looked at the rear wheel weights made from round gym weights (posted on Mike's Kubota Tractor page). This seems like such a good idea and easy to make. I'm wondering if you can weight the front wheels like this. You see rear wheel weight but not front wheel weights. Can this be done instead of suitcase weights or will it mess up the front steering or axle? Also what is the primary use of rear weights - when using a front loader or other front implements or ?
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2000-03-13 13698
Purpose of rear weight is to balance a front implement, such as a loader or to add traction. Adding weight to the front does add to front end wear, but it might be needed for ballast or for more traction in 4wd. If there's a loader and extra front ballast isn't needed all the time, it might be easier to pick up a loader bucket of dirt.
Somebody posted last fall that they bought suitcase weights only to find that the loader wouldn't clear the weights. Clearance would be a good thing to check. ....
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| Jim Youtz
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-03-13 13712
Thanks for the info Tom. I don't have a loader. That's why I'm wanting to use front weights to counterbalance a heavy rear implement. I would like to hear what anyone thinks about the idea of putting the weights on the front wheels instead of suitcase weights. ....
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| Kruser
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2000-03-13 13716
Jim... Like you, I thought the suitcase weights (New Holland) were a little pricey, but I decided to get them, rather than some type of wheel weights, because they're easily removable. My tractor is mainly for mowing, where extra weight is undesirable, so most of the time the weights are not used. But I can add weight to either the front or the back as needed. (Front has a built-in bracket for a couple of the weights, for rear I got a small 3-pt carrier that will hold up to seven. It's a N-H part, but would fit any cat-1 3-pt.) Yes, you do have to remove the front ones to use the loader because of clearance. ....
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| MichaelSnyder
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 0
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2000-03-16 13820
Jim,
IMHO, I would discourage mounting weights to the front rims. Looking a little deeper into things, you mentioned that you need to add front weights for rear ballasting purposes. No mystery here, simple law of balancing applies. 100lbs mounted to the frame will always provide 100lbs of opposing force to the opposite end of the frame. However, in this case because the front axle has a pivot point, it will act like a fulcrum. Therefore, if you divide the 100lbs onto each wheel...it is very possible for the rear of the tractor to only see 50lbs of additional opposing force... Reason being, and similar to what you would see at a tractor pull, although hopefully exaggerated. When the front end starts to "lighten" under load. Your front axle will start to pivot, eventually, and God forbid.. to where the weight inside one front wheel is mearly resting on the ground, while the other is slightly airborne. Hence the opposing force to the rear is approx 50lbs. Not until both wheels are in the air will you regain the 100lbs of opposing force..at which point I would hope you discontinue what you are doing. I'm sure some may think I'm going over the edge, but urge you to prove it to yourself with one of your kids tractors. If you hold one front wheel down while pushing down on the rear, the resistance isn't seen until the front limit of the pivot point is reached. Let us know how you make out, and Lots of luck :) ....
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