Running in 4WD

tsafa

Member

Equipment
Kubota L3800, FEL, F550 Dump, 10K Trailer
Nov 3, 2013
152
0
16
Tobyhanna, PA
Yep! It's one of those things dealers never mention. But very important for any loader work!!!

Nice work!
I don't know why a dealer would withhold such information. They might manage to sell more ballast boxes... which I would have bought had I not had time to think this over on my own and consider other solutions on my own.

The only thing I can think that it might have been hard to sell me on the idea that I needed both to ballast the tires ($500) plus put a ballast box in the back ($500). I might have though he was taking me for a ride had I not handled the tractor without weight in the back.
 

Bluegill

New member

Equipment
L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
4
0
Success Missouri
I don't know why a dealer would withhold such information. They might manage to sell more ballast boxes... which I would have bought had I not had time to think this over on my own and consider other solutions on my own.

The only thing I can think that it might have been hard to sell me on the idea that I needed both to ballast the tires ($500) plus put a ballast box in the back ($500). I might have though he was taking me for a ride had I not handled the tractor without weight in the back.
Most dealers and tractor folks will tell ya loaded tires are all ya need, but they are so wrong! :eek:

The info is in the FEL manual, but seems nobody reads em.
 

chuck172

New member

Equipment
L3200, ford4500tlb, ford8n
Feb 12, 2014
38
0
0
honesdale, Pa.
I've been reading more and more about ballast and counterweights. I have a brand new L3200 with loaded tires. How much rear counterweight should I shoot for?
 

Benhameen

Active member

Equipment
2012 Kubota L3800 HST W/FEL and 1963 JD 2010 row crop utility
Jan 27, 2013
693
116
43
Southern IL.
I've been reading more and more about ballast and counterweights. I have a brand new L3200 with loaded tires. How much rear counterweight should I shoot for?
If you have the FEL manual there's a section in there about it. I believe it says 600-900lbs and the backhoe attachment weighs 1650lbs, I'm in the process of building mine and it's going to be around 1000lbs. If you have an implement that has any weight to you can use that.
 

chuck172

New member

Equipment
L3200, ford4500tlb, ford8n
Feb 12, 2014
38
0
0
honesdale, Pa.
I just looked through the FEL manual, and I can't for the life of me find the counterweight recomendation.
 

Bluegill

New member

Equipment
L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
4
0
Success Missouri
I've been reading more and more about ballast and counterweights. I have a brand new L3200 with loaded tires. How much rear counterweight should I shoot for?
I've experimented with this. No weight on the 3 pt and the tractor sucks at loader work. 400-500 lbs is a huge help. 600-1000 lbs makes this size rig a true work horse, puts the right amount of weight on the rear axle & takes considerable weight off the front axle.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,615
6,643
113
Sandpoint, ID
For your size of tractor like Bluegill says 600-1000 will work great!
 

rparkinson

Member
Aug 23, 2012
297
0
16
Northport Maine
I poured a cement block that is 950-1000 lbs. and it works great. Nothing fancy just built a box out of some scrap OSB and shoved a drawbar through it and some plate steel with a hole in it for the top link. tossed some rebar in, some old chokers in it, some scrap metal I had... an old vise that was broken.. works great. What a difference.
 

Balvar24

New member

Equipment
L3800 HST, 5ft Rotary Cutter, 5ft Box Blade, Pallet Forks, 72" Rotary Tiller
Feb 18, 2014
56
0
0
Rock Ridge
I've experimented with this. No weight on the 3 pt and the tractor sucks at loader work. 400-500 lbs is a huge help. 600-1000 lbs makes this size rig a true work horse, puts the right amount of weight on the rear axle & takes considerable weight off the front axle.
I've found a 6' rototiller is about right for ballast. ;)
 

1coolbanana

New member

Equipment
Kubota BX1860
Jan 9, 2014
119
0
0
Australia
What would be the weight recommendation for my little L1-22 for loader work?
Im carrying a 400 lb box blade already and the loader is fairly small and only rated at 250 kg (550 lbs?)
Tyres are filled already.
Cheers
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,615
6,643
113
Sandpoint, ID
What would be the weight recommendation for my little L1-22 for loader work?
Im carrying a 400 lb box blade already and the loader is fairly small and only rated at 250 kg (550 lbs?)
Tyres are filled already.
Cheers
Based on the size of your tractor, I would say your about right, my guess would be some where in the 400-600lb range.
 

Balvar24

New member

Equipment
L3800 HST, 5ft Rotary Cutter, 5ft Box Blade, Pallet Forks, 72" Rotary Tiller
Feb 18, 2014
56
0
0
Rock Ridge
Had a chance to use that tiller yet?
Yep. Turned a new garden Saturday, then mixed in some horse poop.

Had to go pretty slow on the first pass, but it worked like a champ.

Worked as a balast while scooping the poop!
 
Last edited:

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,621
3,457
113
SW Pa
Yep. Turned a new garden Saturday, then mixed in some horse poop.

Had to go pretty slow on the first pass, but it worked like a champ.

Worked as a balast while scooping the poop!
OMG I cant even see the ground yet let alone use a tiller,:eek:, if this keeps up Im gona have to plant my taters in some plastic barrels, rebuild the green houses and figure out some way to heat them just to get some lettuce to grow
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,615
6,643
113
Sandpoint, ID
Yep. Turned a new garden Saturday, then mixed in some horse poop.

Had to go pretty slow on the first pass, but it worked like a champ.

Worked as a balast while scooping the poop!
My ground is under over a foot of snow! :D
 

Longmeadow Farm

New member
Nov 25, 2012
11
0
0
Fonda, New York
I use my 4wd as a chore tractor feeding large round bales and cleaning up around the barns all winter long. It is never out of 4wd, except when I'm moving/hauling large round bales on pavement. The tractor just will not work on ice and snow in 2wd.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,615
6,643
113
Sandpoint, ID
Satuday was dry and 50F out. Sunday we got 1" of ice and about 3" of snow. It's still here.
The difference is I haven't seen ground since November. :eek:
Normal for us, snow hits and that's it till spring! ;)