L01 Rear Ballast

[TheOldHokie]

Just took delivery of a L3901 with LA525 loader and loaded R4s. Its clear it needs more ballast. Looking for wheel weight recommendations from folks that have put them on their tractor - OEM or after market sources. And yes - rear wheel weights - not alternative solutions.

Dan

 

[Mat8791]

Just took delivery of a L3901 with LA525 loader and loaded R4s. Its clear it needs more ballast. Looking for wheel weight recommendations from folks that have put them on their tractor - OEM or after market sources. And yes - rear wheel weights - not alternative solutions.

Dan

I am operating a similar machine. For me it was also the first problem to solve. Look did You considered using simply a box blade, instead of adding more balast? Because for me it worked quite well. In general those small compact tractors are not very wide and not so heavy, so for sure there will be always a problem with ballast. But if I compare operating FL with or without box blade, it's day and night.

 

[kubotafreak]

Widen the wheels and put 3 factory 66 lb weights on each side. You wont look back

 

[TheOldHokie]

Widen the wheels and put 3 factory 66 lb weights on each side. You wont look back

That's exactly where i am headed. So next question is how wide can you reasonably go with spacers. I have a lot of sidehill operation and the tread width on the R4s is not to my liking even without the loader.

Dan

 

[kubotafreak]

Try the widest position on the wheels with weight first. Dish caved outward. and the rim clamps closest to the outside of the rim, mounted outside the dish. I would try this before you get spacers. You make the rims too wide, you start messing up implement width/tire track.(you will be pressing down more grass than you cut) Make sure to get the carriage bolt very tight on the rim dish for the weights. The bolts work themselves loose at this point the most.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Try the widest position on the wheels with weight first. Dish caved outward. and the rim clamps closest to the outside of the rim, mounted outside the dish. I would try this before you get spacers. You make the rims too wide, you start messing up implement width/tire track.(you will be pressing down more grass than you cut) Make sure to get the carriage bolt very tight on the rim dish for the weights. The bolts work themselves loose at this point the most.

You cannot adjust tread width on the R4 tires - spacers are your only option. I am not a newbie to tractors and tread width adjustment. What is the maximum spacer width reasonable for an L01 with R4 rims?

Dan

 

[ayak]

I ultimately went with 3” spacers (on my R4s) since the resulting width was pretty close to R1s/rims set as far out as they’ll go.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Tread width on the R4's is not adjustable. If you want to go wider you must use spacers. The R4 industrial rims are not adjustable.

I ultimately went with 3” spacers (on my R4s) since the resulting width was pretty close to R1s/rims set as far out as they’ll go.

Makes sense. - that's a tread width of 51" plus another 8" out to out for the R4's. Should not be a problem for the axle bearings.

That is getting into my comfort range. My old Ford with 11.2x28 R1's is set at 72" and on grass it will slide sideways long before it rolls. Of course no loader to raise the CG

BTW - I just got the valve for the remotes - I will send you some pictures of what I have come up with shortly.

Dan

 

[kubotafreak]

You cannot adjust tread width on the R4 tires - spacers are your only option. I am not a newbie to tractors and tread width adjustment. What is the maximum spacer width reasonable for an L01 with R4 rims?

Dan

Sure enough. That is a new one for me, I thought the solids were only on turf and B's. After looking it doesn't even have the carriage bolt holes.

 

[BigG]

Why not drill holes in the rim and add the weights? I removed the weights from my old massive Ferguson and I’m going to add them to my order for tires on my L 2501

 

[TheOldHokie]

Why not drill holes in the rim and add the weights? I removed the weights from my old massive Ferguson and I’m going to add them to my order for tires on my L 2501

I just checked and indeed no holes for wheel weights in the L01 R4 wheels. Soneone at Kubota should be shot.

I think a sinple weight plate similar to what Ford used may be the easy way to go. Make it to match the Kubota lug pattern and your choice of aftermarket weights and off you go.

 

[kubotafreak]

What is the rated cap for those tires?

 

[TheOldHokie]

What is the rated cap for those tires?

6130# per tire.

Correction - looked up the wrong model. That is the 6 ply rated tire. Kubota supplies a 12 ply rated tire good for 9190#

Dan

 

[kubotafreak]

6130# per tire.

Correction - looked up the wrong model. That is the 6 ply rated tire. Kubota supplies a 12 ply rated tire good for 9190#

Dan

Holy smokes, Little overkill. Must be an actual skid steer tire. I see spec goes up to 60 lbs for the 12 ply. I bet you guys only run 20 psi air...

 

[TheOldHokie]

Holy smokes, Little overkill. Must be an actual skid steer tire. I see spec goes up to 60 lbs for the 12 ply. I bet you guys only run 20 psi

Old age is killing me. I am going to have to correct my correction - I had it right the first time:

• Rears 15-19.5 6 ply Titan Trac Loader , 6130# @ 30 max PSI
• Fronts 27 x 850 - 15 6 ply Titan Trac Loader, 2480# @ 45 max PSI

Per Messicks pre-delivery checklist rears loaded with mystery fluid and 18 PSI at all four corners. I have not verified that pressure.

Per the operators manual I can add 3 x 28 kG (185#) additional rear wheel weights per side. How to affix those weights is another mystery - no mounting holes in wheel and a valve stem guard to contend with. I will give my friendly salesperson a call to see what he says they can do and at what price.

Dan

 

[kubotafreak]

Either way you got plenty of tire... I checked the wholegoods listing and it just mentioned it wasn't compatible on some turf or r4 wheels.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Either way you got plenty of tire... I checked the wholegoods listing and it just mentioned it wasn't compatible on some turf or r4 wheels.

Tires were never my concern but hanging wheel weights is. I looked at the L8066 parts list yesterday and it was pretty clear you needed bolt holes in the wheel to mount the first plate. It also looked like the plate was dished to match the R1 wheel and not going to fit the R4 wheel no matter how good you are with a drill. Apparently Kubota doesn't have a wheel weight option for the R4 machines. Another surprise for the casual reader of the operators manual. Too bad my friendly salesperson didn't mention that when we discussed tire options.....

Dan

 

[BigG]

Tires were never my concern but hanging wheel weights is. I looked at the L8066 parts list yesterday and it was pretty clear you needed bolt holes in the wheel to mount the first plate. It also looked like the plate was dished to match the R1 wheel and not going to fit the R4 wheel no matter how good you are with a drill. Apparently Kubota doesn't have a wheel weight option for the R4 machines. Another surprise for the casual reader of the operators manual. Too bad my friendly salesperson didn't mention that when we discussed tire options.....

Dan

I had the same concerns about drilling the holes in the rims for the wheel weights. I think I will dismount the tires and lay them flat. I will then lay the wheel weights in place and drill through the holes and use the wheel weight itself as the guide. Remount the tire and then hang the weights.

 

[kubotafreak]

This is that weight on a 24" rim. The same disk that would come with the r1 for your tractor. Mine was a 3560 and it shared the same disk for the r1/r4 same as r1 for the 3901. As long as the interior diameter can facilitate the weight it would work. I don't think a 19.5 would have enough room...

 

[TheOldHokie]

I had the same concerns about drilling the holes in the rims for the wheel weights. I think I will dismount the tires and lay them flat. I will then lay the wheel weights in place and drill through the holes and use the wheel weight itself as the guide. Remount the tire and then hang the weights.

This is the kind of stuff I thought I would avoid by buying a new tractor. Apparently Kubota is not going to be any help in this regard so its back to the drawing board. .

I just had a closer look at the wheels and the centers are dished inward so you need a scheme that will accommodate that plus spacers if you want them . At this point I am contemplating 1-1/2" thick x 12" round steel/iron plates. at roughly 60# each. The first plate would bolt to the hub using lug adapters similar to these. Then the second plate would bolt to the first and the third to the second just like the factory kits. No modifications needed and easy to make, install, and remove as needed.

Dan