Ballast Weight for a L3130

[LarryBud]

My Operators Manual suggest up 185 Lbs per wheel of wheel weights and the possibility of adding water / Calcium Chloride to the wheels. Nothing about a ballast weight on the hitch.

Does this information come with the FEL? What else am I missing?

Thanks

 

[BigG]

The wheel weights and or liquid ballast will improve the pulling ability and the stability of your tractor. Anything to lower the center of gravity improves the ability your tractor when working on slopes.

I would not use calcium chloride. Calcium is very corrosive and it will damage your rims over time. You can use plain water if it will not freeze in your area. There is a product called Rim Guard. It is commonly called beet juice. It is heavier then water and will not damage the rims. It is safe if you spring a leak.

Even if you add the wheel weights and liquid ballast you MUST still use a rear ballast when you are using the front end loader. The rear ballast will transfer some of the weight from the front axle to the rear axle. Since the rear axle is made to hold most of the weight this weight transfer will reduce the wear and tear on the front axle and also lighten the strain on the front tires.

A box blade, rotary cutter or ballast box is a good way to transfer the weight.

 

[LarryBud]

The wheel weights and or liquid ballast will improve the pulling ability and the stability of your tractor. Anything to lower the center of gravity improves the ability your tractor when working on slopes.

I would not use calcium chloride. Calcium is very corrosive and it will damage your rims over time. You can use plain water if it will not freeze in your area. There is a product called Rim Guard. It is commonly called beet juice. It is heavier then water and will not damage the rims. It is safe if you spring a leak.

Even if you add the wheel weights and liquid ballast you MUST still use a rear ballast when you are using the front end loader. The rear ballast will transfer some of the weight from the front axle to the rear axle. Since the rear axle is made to hold most of the weight this weight transfer will reduce the wear and tear on the front axle and also lighten the strain on the front tires.

A box blade, rotary cutter or ballast box is a good way to transfer the weight.

Thank you. Excellent information. I'm sizing up Ballast Boxes and trying to figure out how much weight to put back there? I do have a 6' Landpride Bush Hog ( not sure what it weighs ) on it now. I will be moving regular field dirt with the FEL. I was hoping the manual would give some clues as I try to balance the load.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Depending how often you need the weight....instead of a 'ballast box', consider a 'carryall' and a 'box of ballast'. A carryall allows you to EASILY remove the 'box of ballast'(slide off the forks...) in seconds. Most 3pt on/off operations can be a nightmare,so I built a custom carryall 2 decades ago.
Moving a mountain of compost doesn't really need the ballast unlike buckets full of gravel.....

I AGREE never ,ever add salt water to tractor rims !!! They ALL will rot out,only a matter of time.It's the 4th Law of Physics'..

 

[D2Cat]

Larry, welcome to the forum. I'm located about 15 miles West of Louisburg and can tell you using windshield washer fluid is an inexpensive, simple why to add weight to the tires. You just need to find the -20 fluid on sale. I found it at Walmart at the end of winter for $1 a gallon.

The RimGard is available from a dealer in Wellsville, last time I checked, but he will not sell it and you install it. So, he charges a road fee to get to your tractor, and install fee, and then the product fee. It becomes quite expensive.

Are you a fabricator, can you weld? If so, there are many options to fab a ballast.