Hello all. I have just made my first tractor purchase and I will be getting my brand new L2501 DT delivered next Friday. My dealer is loading the rear tires for me and I have a Land Pride BB1260 box blade. My question is, how much additional ballast do I need for loader work, if any? Thanks in advance, and I am so stoked to get my new Kubota!!
Brand new owner. Ballast?
- Thread starter Luckyman84
- Start date
Ballast behind the rear tires takes some load off the front axle. Loaded tires add stability, but take nothing off the front axle.
How much you need on the back I don't know. But I usually like have my box blade minimum and preferred the weight of the backhoe when doing a lot of loader work.
First thing is to have enough weight to keep the rear tires on the ground. Ballast in the rear tires helps to do this, and is important. It also helps with cross slope stability.
Extra ballast behind the rear axle takes load off the front axle and also helps keep the rear tires on the ground.
Maybe someone with the same tractor can give more specific answers...
How much you need on the back I don't know. But I usually like have my box blade minimum and preferred the weight of the backhoe when doing a lot of loader work.
First thing is to have enough weight to keep the rear tires on the ground. Ballast in the rear tires helps to do this, and is important. It also helps with cross slope stability.
Extra ballast behind the rear axle takes load off the front axle and also helps keep the rear tires on the ground.
Maybe someone with the same tractor can give more specific answers...
Congrats on your new tractor! Mine was delivered yesterday with rimguard in the tires also....dealer said as long as I have a boxblade or similar equipment on the back that I should be good to go with loaded tires. Playing with it will teach one if that 's the case. Too wet out there right now for getting some chores done here.
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
The owners manual for the LA525 Loader:
I am not sure where you will find a box blade that weight 990 pounds
I am not sure where you will find a box blade that weight 990 pounds
Thank you guys for the feedback. I am hoping that between the BB that weighs about 350lbs and the loaded tires that it should stay planted pretty well. My concern is that when I drop the BB that I may need a ballast box or something. Are any of you fine folks owners of a 2501?
je1279
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
LX2610 w/ 60" MMM, LP 72" Snow Plow, EA Wicked 55" Grapple, and Woods 60" BB
Start with your box blade and go from there. A ballast box is a nice compact way to add ballast for loader work if additional ballast is required.
Last edited:
i7win7
Well-known member
Equipment
BX2370, B2650 grapple, tree puller, trailer mover, 3 point hoist, mower, tiller
Simply go have fun with your new L2501. Start slow and learn the answers you are looking for......you will find some folks are talking the extreme capabilities of the fel....not always the case for sure....take a deep breath and enjoy your new tractor. It's all about having fun!
Fun is something I will definitely be having. This is the result of nearly three years of saving and well over 30 years of wishing. I appreciate the feedback.
While I don't have the L, I have the ever popular B2601, I do have the BB1260 as well along with loaded tires on Wheel Spacers. For what it is worth, I did a reasonable amount of FEL work last year with both dirt and stone and the loaded rear tires and the BB1260 provided plenty of stability and I worked with many full buckets of loam which is fairly heavy.
As others have stated, start with the BB and the rear tires and go from there.
As others have stated, start with the BB and the rear tires and go from there.
I usually keep the backhoe on my L2501. I have never had any ballast issues with the backhoe installed. It weighs close to 900 lbs, I did have it off last year and had the tiller on the tractor. It weighs 600 lbs. I was pulling up an old plum tree with the root grapple and experienced the back end come up off the ground, I also have loaded tires.
je1279
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
LX2610 w/ 60" MMM, LP 72" Snow Plow, EA Wicked 55" Grapple, and Woods 60" BB
Another thing to check in your loader manual is what is the max rear ballast they recommend. For my LX2610 it's the weight of a backhoe (880 lbs). It even specifies not to have loaded rear tires with the backhoe on. The LA525 manual lists some crazy numbers though as @BigG mentioned so I'm not sure how helpful that is.
I have an L2501HST with loaded tires. The only attachment I have at the moment is the rotary cutter with the RCR1860 hanging from Pat's quick hitch (4") longer lift arms and my big O' butt in the seat I have still lifted a rear tire when on a slight downhill grade. I will be making a ballast block in the near future because of this.
My ballast box is my second most used attachment. It goes on and off several times a week.
I went with lead to keep it compact. Mine weighs in at about 800lb. I can also mount it backwards on the QH to get it even tighter to the back when needed.
I went with lead to keep it compact. Mine weighs in at about 800lb. I can also mount it backwards on the QH to get it even tighter to the back when needed.
ken erickson
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
I have a L2501 HST with filled tires and have now done loader dirt work and grapple work dealing with cut, dead and dying trees. I have operated with just rear tire ballast with satisfactory results but adjust my loads and working speeds.
For the most part tire ballast and a small box blade have been adequate to keep the rear tires planted but that being said you can never be too careful! I have picked up one or both rear tires doing grapple work but that normally involves a situation that the tractor is already less than level. I like to think I operate my tractor with a abundance of caution but things can turn sour in a hurry.
nbryan
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
The BB1560 on my B2650 is heavy enough to keep the un-filled rear tires planted on the ground with a maxed out load on the pallet forks. If my FEL is struggling to lift a load with its relief valve is starting to engage, the rear won't lift, using the BB.
ken erickson
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
I took this short video right after I put my new L2501 to work at my land. The operator is a young man who works for US Fish and Wildlife as a biologist and has tractor experience and has had safety courses that allows him to run heavy equipment for his employer. If you look closely at around the 1 minute mark you can see quite a bit of daylight under the right rear tire! He had more confidence in the stability , even with loaded tires than I would have had, lol.
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Get a ballast box or something on the rear hitch. You are putting extra stress on the front axle that can damage your tractor over time. It is a matter of physics. Make the rear axle the fulcrum not the front axle. Even if the rear tires do not come off the ground you may be overloading the front axle and tires.