Need weight on the front

[huntersprings]

Bought a 4x4 M4800 recently and used it with a box blade on a slope today. No FEL or any additional weight on the front. The front tires didn't seem to have enough weight to dig into a turn with the box off the ground. I had the rear tires filled with fluid but nothing to the fronts. The box isn't as heavy as the cutter is going to be so I'm concerned that there will be a problem with a heavier implement on a slope.
Should I fill the front tires or is that not recommended. What about wheel weights or suitcase type weight on the front? Any recommendations or experience?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I would use front suitcase weights, as you can adjust and move them for a FEL.

 

[FTG-05]

The manual for my L4330 says to not add liquid ballast to the front tires. I did it anyway (about 12 gallons of mixed RV antifreeze, WW and water). I've had no problems and it definitely made the tractor feel more stable going up and down the steep hill I live on.

I also have about 180 lbs of weight on the front rack. I think I can add another 30-40 lbs without too much problem. All this is in addition to the FEL that I keep on whenever the tractor is being used.

Good luck!

 

[cerlawson]

For short time extra weight, if you don't have any steel, other methods will work. 5 gallon plastic pails work OK if you then fill them with earth. Water weighs about 2/3rds that gravel or earth weighs. Scrap iron is even heavier, but would not have the volume per unit thereof. If you have a company in your area that repairs construction equipment, look for worn out rollers from crawler tractor the under carriage. You will pay less junk price per pound than buying suitcase weights from Kubota. Check earth moving contractor and his scrap yard.

 

[Bulldog]

I put suit case weights on my M9000. I went with a aftermarket brand my dealer sells instead of the Kubota brand. They were about half the cost and seem to work just as good.

 

[ShaunRH]

Well, old school thinking is to keep the weight off of the axle and bearings, thus weight the wheels with liquid or steel wheel weights.

However, Kubota must have a reason for not wanting to fill the tires or weight the wheels. My guess is that with an FEL on the tractor and weighted wheels, when the FEL lifts the tires off the ground it puts the stress on the axles and pivot, possibly through the front drive train, so they are saying 'don't do this'. It's rather flimsy logic as suitcase weights ALWAYS put weight on the pivot and axles... so I'm not sure WHY they don't want the filled wheels. Maybe too much rotating stress on the front drive train?

Anyway, I would actually put saddle weights on the tractor. They sit in the middle, attached to the frame. Since they are forward of the rear wheels they give you down force on the fronts but since they are middle weights, their stress is put down on the rear axle as well as the front. They aren't easy to find as they were generally custom made for a tractor and I've only seen them in person on one tractor. Not common at all. Utility wise, you could strap two PVC tubes with caps on them to each side of the frame and put utility chains in them and make the weight at least 'functional'. Just trying to think out of the box here.

 

[FTG-05]

I've never heard of tractor saddle weights before now.

Now I'm going to have to look under my tractor and see if I can add any weight under there.

Thanks!

 

[huntersprings]

Craigslist has 7 Kubota weights for $350. I'll still need the bracket to hang them on so I'm already looking at $400 - $500. The 7 weights probably weigh ~45 lbs X 7 = 315 lbs plus whatever the bracket weighs so 400 lbs tops.

If I fill the tires with RV fluid/water the chart reads that each tire should hold 13 gallons per tire at 8.3 lbs per gallon or ~110 lbs per tire which is half the weight the steel would add.

I like your thinking about improvising and building something to attach to the frame like a metal box that I could fill with something dense like crush n run gravel or chains/tools, etc. Maybe even fill the tires with fluid plus the box?

You guys have got me excited about this project. I'll post if I come up with something. Any ideas would be welcome.

Does anybody know a good thread on how to fill the tires myself?

 

[FTG-05]

Don't have the YouTube video handy since YouTube isn't working for me, don't know why.

But I do have the tool that allows you to fill the tires. I live about 8 miles from you (NW of Blanche), if you want to borrow, let me know. I also already have the hoses and pump as well. Only need the fluid and a five gallon bucket.

Good luck!

 

[ShaunRH]

I've never heard of tractor saddle weights before now.

Now I'm going to have to look under my tractor and see if I can add any weight under there.

Thanks!

They weren't common at all. It was generally used to increase the overall weight or to 'balance' a tractor that had issues. Most of the time they were custom made. I've never seen a tractor come out of the factory weighted like that.

Suitcase weights are very common.

 

[D2Cat]

"to 'balance' a tractor that had issues". I don't believe there is a tractor made that had issues so bad it needed saddle weights.

Many use saddle TANKS for fertilizer and chemical applications.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl...mount+tractor+saddle+tanks&rs=3&fr2=rs-bottom

 

[ShaunRH]

Saddle tanks are very common. Many AG units around here have them.

The weights apparently got called by the same name because they went on the same location on the frame. The ones I saw were bolted under the tractor between the frame rails.

The operator said it made the tractor more stable, lowering the center of gravity (it was slightly lower than the rear axle height). It looked like a bunch of torch cut flat weights on a mount. I just took his word for it.

I could see how it would add weight to the unit, but I never saw the sense in making a tractor heavier to make it heavier, I think we had that discussion about bale spears didn't we? LOL!

Here's an AC D-19 with external frame weights on it in the front saddle position.

 

[huntersprings]

Hey neighbor, FTG-05. Weird coincidence to connect on this thread. Can't see me needing tools like this more than once so I would be greatful to you if you let me borrow them for a day. I had the back tires filled for just under $400 and it stings a bit to think about dragging my tractor back to town. I'll send you a private message to get your contact info. Much appreciated.

 

[BLKSTi]

Keep us updated on how filling the front tires works for you. I have the same issue with lifting the front end with my mower on the back of my B.

 

[Diydave]

http://youtu.be/8gBlGCih1Gw

Many tractor pullers weld up weight racks in the middle of the tractor, just ahead of the rear axle, to achieve the right weight balance, to get the correct traction, to adjust for wetness of the track, or soil conditions they are pulling in. Tractors ain't picky about having another brand of tractor weights on them, iron is iron. If price is too much, use old barbell weights even made of plastic and concrete, the "rack" can be an old axle or heavy bar stock of the proper diameter to fit the hole of the barbell weight...

 

[huntersprings]

I filled each front tire with 8 gallons of RV antifreeze and 4 gallons of water. Should put near 100lbs in each tire. After watching a few videos I realized that I had most everything to do the job with. The adapter came from TSC ($10); the RV antifreeze from Walmart ($4 - $5 gallon); the pump and tubing I had was left over from a roof cleaning business I had started a few years back. Powered the pump with the battery from my 4-wheeler. I switched sides with the tires to increase width so it put the valve stem on the inside. Jacked the front up and was surprised how easy they filled. Took maybe 2 minutes per gallon with air bleed every gallon or so. Haven't been able to try it out yet because of the messy weather we're having.

 

[OldeEnglish]

Before I had a tire shop fill my rears with calcium, I consulted a local kubota dealer about rim guard. I told him I wanted the fronts filled too because my snowblower is too heavy for my tractor. What happens is that when I use the front blade in the float position the front of the tractor tends to lift the front tires from the ground. He advised me not to fill the front tires because it will put extra wear and tear on the gears. What gears, I don't know. He said he has a few guys in the maple sugaring business with M series tractors and they have their fronts filled to help climb up steep grades. The dealer said they have gone through a few sets of gears already because of it. How or why, I don't know, but I figure he must be telling the truth to turn down making a few extra bucks.... I don't know if it voids the warrantee but the first question he asked me if it was a new tractor. I'm guessing it may?

 

[huntersprings]

Before I made the decision to fill the front tires, I looked extensively for the reason not to do so. I found several post on OTT where people had posted that Kubota did not recommend filling the fronts but nobody seemed to know why. The Operator's manual states the following: "Do not fill the front wheels with liquid to maintain steering control." The reason I made the decision to fill the front tires was to maintain steering control when climbing a slope with weight at the rear.
I appreciate this forum because I can learn from other people's experience to help me make a decision. Has anyone that visits this site ever had a negative experience that they feel was directly related to filling their front tires with liquid ballast? Please let us know.
Thanks for all the responses and opinios so far.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have solid foam filled weighted front's, I can't say I have any negative issues with them.

Why did you widen the front?
With what I know about the front ends on these units it's really hard on the bearings and there really isn't much benefit to it.

 

[gpreuss]

I tried to swap the front wheels on my old L185DT, and nearly broke my wrists trying to drive and mow a clumpy field. It is very hard on the front rolling gear. My experiment lasted about an hour and a half... Power steering will isolate the shock from the driver, but it is still there on the front end.
I have thought that by adding liquid to the front tires you lose much of the cushion effect of the air inflation. Since Wolfman is not having any problems with solid foam tires, that probably is not the case.
I built a 260lb front bumper with one stick of 1x4 steel - cost about $200.
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7606&highlight=gpreuss