Weighting rear tires and ballast box

[Kevin1]

I intend to use a ballast box for the 2380 with FEL, should I also weight the rear tires (with fluid) or is this overkill? Dealer told me no need to with a ballast box.

 

[85Hokie]

I intend to use a ballast box for the 2380 with FEL, should I also weight the rear tires (with fluid) or is this overkill? Dealer told me no need to with a ballast box.

You gonna have the ballast box on 24-7-365?

Fill the tires....period, easiest and smartest thing to do. Each of those tires will only hold about 8 gallons per, which will be somewhere between 65 and 80 pounds per tire.

UNLESS you are cutting grass all the time in damp areas, you will see NO ill effects of having the rears filled.

 

[skeets]

Nope fill those bag girls and if you can find a set of wheel weights your good to go,, there is no reason for a ballast box unless you have a FEL, or maybe a snowblower hanging out there. Filled tires and weights will handle 99% of anything you have hanging off the front end. I have a BX as well and live in the hill country, and have never sought the need for a box.

 

[dirtydeed]

I had a BX23 (TLB) and did not fill the tires, but I had rear wheel weights on it. I think they were approx 75 lbs each. Most of the time it had the hoe on as well unless I mowed with it. Then both ends came off.

Filling your tires won't hurt a thing (until you get a flat). If your dealer won't do it, you can handle it yourself. There are several youtube videos on how to do it yourself relatively easily.

 

[Kevin1]

99.9% of the intended use will be working with the FEL. I am not mowing at all with the machine. In the future I will briefly put a plow on the back for grading my land or a post hole digger. Plowing snow not an issue where I live. Mostly just working the loader. Sounds like ballast box and loaded rear tires is the configuration that will work best for me.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Hey neighbor you are about 2 hours away from me.

Yes fill the tires, many options to do so.

I built a carry-all to use for a ballast and many other things. You can search by my user name and see it if you would like. I use 5 gallon buckets filled with bricks and blocks then added cement to each to fill in voids gives me about 80# per bucket I sit on the carry all when doing loader work.

I use the carry all alot around the farm it is very useful and serves two purposes. Weight and carrying stuff like wood, hay, mulch, garden stuff, etc.

 

[85Hokie]

Hey neighbor you are about 2 hours away from me.

Yes fill the tires, many options to do so.

I built a carry-all to use for a ballast and many other things. You can search by my user name and see it if you would like. I use 5 gallon buckets filled with bricks and blocks then added cement to each to fill in voids gives me about 80# per bucket I sit on the carry all when doing loader work.

I use the carry all alot around the farm it is very useful and serves two purposes. Weight and carrying stuff like wood, hay, mulch, garden stuff, etc.

I second the carry-all, beats the hell out of a ballast box when it comes to being versatile.

 

[Lencho]

I waited a few years before filling my rear tires. With the backhoe as ballast there was no need for more weight. Then I got a box blade, subsoiler, chipper/shredder and with these lighter rear implements I needed extra weight - the tractor felt less stable and I had less traction with a full bucket and pushing into dirt or gravel to fill the bucket.
I filled the rears with 14 gallons of antifreeze each and see no downside. I like the heavy and low boxblade as counter weight for FEL work as well. I tried that alone for a while but filled rears perform better. I do not have a ballast box, but always keep something hanging off the back. My old school tractor has no power steering so it is very noticeable if the front end is overloaded.

 

[dirtydeed]

99.9% of the intended use will be working with the FEL. I am not mowing at all with the machine. In the future I will briefly put a plow on the back for grading my land or a post hole digger. Plowing snow not an issue where I live. Mostly just working the loader. Sounds like ballast box and loaded rear tires is the configuration that will work best for me.

With your intentions, I'd suggest a rear box blade instead of a ballast box. It will pull double duty for you.

 

[Kevin1]

With your intentions, I'd suggest a rear box blade instead of a ballast box. It will pull double duty for you.

Looks like the Land Pride BB0548 and King Kutter would be a good fit. Great advice. Thanks.

 

[jmf78]

With your intentions, I'd suggest a rear box blade instead of a ballast box. It will pull double duty for you.

Agreed. Might as well get something to pull double duty.

I've considered filling my tire but my primary use is mowing and i do have some soft spots in my yard that i intend on getting fixed. Would filling my tires help with traction when plowing snow?

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[bherron1]

Another vote for the box blade makes a world of difference. I fill the bucket and box at the same time and move twice as much dirt. My ripper tine home made cultivator works just as well and will bust up hard packed dirt if need be while filling the bucket from the last pass. Looks like the dealer filled my tires before delivery as well, found out when I pulled a rear and tried to pick that sucker up, whew.

 

[everettapples]

Good Boxing Day folks
Im new to the forum and not sure how to start a thread and post this mesage
Im attempting to install after market rear window defrosters in a M6800 cab.
Has anyone had experience with the location of key switched power source?
Hopefully somewhere in the headliner there is a pre-wired connection from a relay
Thanks
Chuck

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Looks like the Land Pride BB0548 and King Kutter would be a good fit. Great advice. Thanks.

I bought the Land Pride BB1248. A little more robust, heavier, taller and Kubota Orange too.

 

[Kevin1]

I bought the Land Pride BB1248. A little more robust, heavier, taller and Kubota Orange too.

I agree, the 1248 with a QH05 quick hitch will provide about 340lbs of ballast and provide significant capability. Any idea what the total length will be with loader and box blade? I will already need to put ROPS down to get in my 3rd bay in the garage, might have to remove box blade due to length.

 

[miro]

Filling the tires is good, but for sure, don't let this happen to you

http://www.mytractorforum.com/32-massey-harris-massey-ferguson/1216433-tire-rim-corrosion.html

That calcium is bad stuff. OK for the environment once diluted (fertilizer) , but tough on metals of any sort.
Only found out AFTER THE FACT - almost everyone I spoke to said - oh yah - that stuff is bad if it leaks.

Anti-freeze has corrosion inhibitors, so that's better.

miro

 

[Rdrett]

I have a L2501.
I had filled tires and a box blade and on the hills I work I found that completely inadequate.
I then installed 3 sets of rear wheel weights 6 weights at 60 pounds each.

With the box blade, filled tires and rear weights it is a lot more stable working steep hills but I believe that is still inadequate. I believe the rear box blade does not weigh enough and I am considering purchasing a ballast box.

I can confirm that a box blade and filled tires by itself is inadequate as rear ballast working a front loader on anything besides completely level ground.
With my L2501 filled tires and box blade the tractor was dangerous working the hilly terrain I work.
The rear weights really helped but I am still going to get a ballast box for when I work hilly terrain.

 

[Missouribound]

Rear ballast performs a very important function when using a FEL. It turns the rear axle into the fulcrum of a lever and takes weight off of the front axle which helps steering and keeps the lift more manageable. Tire ballast does not take any weight off of the front axle.

 

[Jpatrick]

I use a box blade as ballast, too. With the loader, it works both ways, because when I'm using the blade, the loader is also ballast.

As with anything, there are limits. You probably don't want to fill the loader with rocks, drive sideways on a hill, and have the loader 5 feet off the ground.