
Rear Weights
![]() | blacksheep
Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 ohio ![]() |
2010-03-14 169222
Looking for some Pros and Cons on using weights on the rear wheels of tractor or going to a ballast box on the rear when using either pallet forks or loader bucket.Thanks
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Rear Weights
![]() | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon ![]() ![]() |
2010-03-14 169223
The JD manual for your tractor may require loaded tires in almost any configuration when used with a loader. That may be lawyer-speak for CYA but it is also a very safe way to go. That said, here are my thoughts.
Both wheel weights and a ballast box are fairly easy to install and remove. But they are expensive, probably won't add enough weight to fully ballast a loader, and money spent here literally buys dead weight that doesn't have any other use. Plus it takes up space when it's not needed.
A lot of guys think the money is better spent on a rear implement like a box scraper. A medium duty box scraper hanging further back than a ballast box has the advantage of leverage to give more effective ballast than a ballast box hanging closer to the rear axle and will have uses other than just dead weight for moving material, maintaining roads, leveling, etc.
But if you have to work in tight areas the box scraper will make it harder to maneuver.
What I did is to load the rear tires, which is all the ballast needed most of the time. When I need to carry full buckets of wet soil I add the box scraper.
....
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Rear Weights
![]() | auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto ![]() ![]() |
2010-03-15 169228
Assuming it's 4WD and you pumped up the fronts, the only thing I can add is to try it without weights just in case it's OK as is. As another option, some guys have a frame or scoop under the rear hitch that they load with rocks or cement blocks. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa ![]() |
2010-03-15 169229
I've got the regular JD wheel weights but they don't add much for what they cost. I agree a box scraper is a good way to add ballast plus it is a very usefull tool, mine is on most all the time. I've never been a big fan of loaded tires, just too many big mess experiences with flats on farm tractors. It is a cheaper way to ballast but doesn't give the option to lighten up a tractor when extra weight isn't wanted. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto ![]() ![]() |
2010-03-15 169236
My experience supports Hardwood (or not, depending on how you look at it). Bought turf-tired yannie in 1980. Had a farm-tire shop put liquid in the rears. After a few years one leaked. Tire guys installed corrosion-proof valves, no problems since. I've never had occasion to wish the rears were lighter, although when I was thinking of taking them for rim restoration, that thought did occur to me. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa ![]() |
2010-03-15 169258
Auer, if you'd like to contribute to my support I can send you my bank routing number. Hobby farming is an expensive thing you know. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | blacksheep
Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 ohio ![]() |
2010-03-15 169259
Thanks for the info guys, I have JD 4510 with 460 loader and have used the loader bucket with just 3pt attachment on the rear with out a problem. Just got the pallet forks saturday and thought I might want more weight on the rear, but JD weights are 154.00 a piece(110 lbs).I like the idea of the grader box on the back.Thanks again Pat ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | jasartain
Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Memphis, TN ![]() |
2010-03-15 169267
You could always put water in the rear tires. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada ![]() ![]() |
2010-03-18 169337
Have a look at My Pics for some alternate ballast ideas.
Pics #19 and #20 show a ballast tray that just bolts together and can hold 300 to 900 hundred pounds of cinder blocks or a water tank.
#3 and #7 show what you can do with used weight lifting plates. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | HardlyWarcan
Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5 Maple Ridge,B.C.,Canada ![]() |
2010-06-30 171993
I have a 3320 with cx300 loader good for 1800 lbs plus.
My tires are loaded - but - have tubes in them so the calseum (spelling?) will not eat the rims.
I was told your rear weight should be close to 2/3 that of which you wish to lift with the load - balance right!.
Tires loaded are 300 lbs each, so I needed more ... had and old 45 gal.drum torched acouple holes down low and welded a pipe in there then acouple 7/8 pins to the pipe ends (two points ),then welded from inside the drum a pipe to the inside pipe ,torched a hole 2/3 the way up the drum and made the 3rd point of a 3-pt hitch.
Stopped at Tim Hortins (for you fellows - Cristy Creams)picked up 2 doz. dounuts and headed to my local cement plant . NO problem!they filled it from the extra left in the trucks... came to 802lbs.
The next day I picked up my home build 8oolb balast box - cost under $40.00 CND.
I can lift to the capacity of the 300cx and not spin a tire ,full loads every time ,when it's not needed it's a whole 26 inch of dia. wasted space.
* last note * I mount my orchard forks on the 3-point and pick the drum up in the loader bucket, back under my 8 ft camper ,wrap a rachete belt just under the bed and to the frame of the fork lift and can wheel the camper around like nothing ... including putting it in the truck, two sleds and sled deck same thing,LOL!
That was cheaper then replacing the hydraulic jacks on the camper when they packed it in! ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan ![]() ![]() |
2010-06-30 172001
I know this post isn't new, but Franky I'd be happy to send you some support. Look for a package that has "athletic--small" on it addressed to you :) now how's that for support? No need to thank me tehehe ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa ![]() |
2010-06-30 172004
EW;
Well, so far I've never recieved any support along the line of revenue from you so that might be a start. My atheletic days are pretty well over, but my support days of most any type are coming on fast. Keep paying that social security tax son, us old folks need it bad.
How about being a good samaratin, if you have a post pounder for the skid steer go help the fellow with the bad post hole auger experience, those are the greatest thing since canned beer. That just might help you in the pearly gates when your time comes.
Happy Fourth of July. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa ![]() |
2010-06-30 172006
Meanwhile back at the ranch;
I'm still not a fan of anything liquid in tires for weight, somehow it always seemed to end up being a mess. Plain water will work but not in Iowa, some have used windshield washer fluid, even small lead pellets have been tried but I was told it wore the tires out from the inside. I still just use the cast iron rear wheel weights and the box blade, plus me. Rear ballast boxes from Deere are a waste of money, home made ones are fine but they have no other use. Rear ballasting likely can be overdone to the point of forcing the loader to do things it shouldn't, not to mention the extra stresses put on the little front axle and spindles. I haven't heard of one being broken but be carefull, the little Deeres were not meant to be bulldozers. ....
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Rear Weights
![]() | hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa ![]() |
2010-06-30 172007
Ok, I forgot about the box blade for rear ballast, it is one of your best friends for ballast plus all the other things it will do. Mine is on 90% of the time. ....
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