Dumb question: Why do you need Ballast?

[newdeal]

I have been doing quite a bit of reading and I heard people talk about ballast when using the front end loader. I know Deere makes a ballast box, not sure what kubota has but I am thinking like many have said a box scraper on the back would add some nice ballast. In my mind its because as you put weight on the loader it will tend to lighten the rear tires and since the front tires will dig in it will reduce traction. Or is it due to a roll over risk if you try to lift something too heavy up front? Just wondering because I am planning to get a 2360BX and just didn't know how much loader work you can do without ballast and what the ballast is trying to prevent

Also how big of a box scraper can a bx2360 pull (to work the driveway and fill in pot holes as well as work some soil which in my area is clay)

 

[coreshot]

When you have a full FEL, the tractor becomes very front heavy. It only takes a small bump or off camber situation to make you feel like you are going to tip over (sideways). Keep your FEL as low as possible when hauling, and be ready at all times to drop it to the ground if you feel tippy. Ballast keeps your rear end firmly planted on the ground.

I keep my back hoe on my unit, and it is very good ballast. A box blade can do the same, especially if you add some weight to it. I don't like ballast boxes because that is all they do, add weight. You can get that weight with other attachments that are actually tools serving a purpose. You can also add wheel weights to your rear wheels, and never have to think about it again. Filling you tires with foam or liquid is excellent also.

 

[sal64]

traction and stabiliity weight on rear weels is best.

 

[rbargeron]

..... In my mind its because as you put weight on the loader it will tend to lighten the rear tires and since the front tires will dig in it will reduce traction. Or is it due to a roll over risk if you try to lift something too heavy up front?..........

Your reasoning is exactly on point. Ballast stabilizes the tractor under varying front load, both for rear traction and tip resistance. People with flat land think about this less, but those with hilly uneven land think about stability all the time. Filling the rear tires with heavy liquid and spacing them out wider are both beneficial. A heavy rotary cutter back there does a good job, even if it can sometimes get in the way. The box blade idea is good too.

 

[TripleR]

Agree with previous posts, I use wheel weights on my BX2660 and liquid on everything else in addition to a BB or something heavier. I have used FEL sans ballast, but do not recommend it.

As to the second part, my preference is for a four foot on a BX. It will handle a five foot, just not quit as well and is easy to snag.

 

[milkman]

I have my rear tires filled to provide traction and it is also weight down low that helps with stability. When I'm using the FEL, I add weight to the TPH, that adds even more traction and provides a counterweight for the load in the FEL. Two different reasons to use weight, I could add wheel weights to hold the rear down when the bucket has a heavy load, but that does nothing to counteract the extra weight on the front axle.

 

[rdsaustintx]

Beyond stability, rear (3ph) ballast when using the FEL avoids overloading the front axle.

 

[bstrom]

Don't be too quick to reject the ballast box either because you can put a lot of weight in there with cement blocks and gravel/sand or rocks and keep things quite close to your back end if you have tight spots to work in with the loader. Try maneuvering in the woods with a box blade hanging off there. Also some of us put PVC tubes down in there to hold rakes, shovels, etc. I also have a milk crate sitting on there (just below the lip and on top of the gravel) to hold my chains, chainsaw helmet or rock hammer and chisel or whatever else I might be using on that job. Got all these ideas from this forum.

 

[Reg]

Beyond stability, rear (3ph) ballast when using the FEL avoids overloading the front axle.

I don't know how you get to that conclusion.
It allows (ENCOURAGES ?) a bigger load on the front axle by providing stability.
It is a balancing load behind the front axle to balance the FEL's load in front of the front axle.

Net result is more load on the front axle.

 

[milkman]

Logic just eludes some people.:confused2:

 

[bstrom]

Well the balancing load is behind the rear axle. If you take a toy car (I just happen to have one on my desk and push down on it's rear bumper behind the rear axle the front wheels come up into the air. The weight is lifted off the front axle. Same principle with the three point hitch weight I believe.

 

[LBrown59]

In my mind its because as you put weight on the loader it will tend to lighten the rear tires and since the front tires will dig in it will reduce traction. Or is it due to a roll over risk if you try to lift something too heavy up front? Just wondering because I am planning to get a 2360BX and just didn't know how much loader work you can do without ballast and what the ballast is trying to prevent

The top priorty priority of ballast is to counter rollover risk.
A side but less important benefit of ballist is a traction aid.

1*It only takes a small bump or off camber situation to make you feel like you are going to tip over (sideways).
I keep my back hoe on my unit, and it is very good ballast. A box blade can do the same, especially if you add some weight to it.
2*I don't like ballast boxes because that is all they do, add weight. You can get that weight with other attachments that are actually tools serving a purpose.

1*Even a ground hog hole can cause a roll over even on flat land level land.
2*Get an implement forget a ballast box.

1*I have used FEL sans ballast, but do not recommend it.
2*As to the second part, my preference is for a four foot on a BX.

1*Not the way to go.
2*I think the manual says 48'' MAx.

 

[IdahoTractor]

Beyond stability, rear (3ph) ballast when using the FEL avoids overloading the front axle.

If the front axle is overloaded, then the FEL is being used far beyond its rated load capacity (ballast or no ballast).

 

[Ken45101]

If the front axle is overloaded, then the FEL is being used far beyond its rated load capacity (ballast or no ballast).

On a properly designed tractor, I doubt that you can overload the components with dirt, gravel, etc. Now if you loaded up the FEL with lead or gold :confused2: it would be a different situation. Still, at that point you would probably lift the rear end off the ground.

Many times while digging with the FEL, I've lifted the rear off the ground a bit before easing off (particularly when catching a rock). I assume the tractor is properly designed to handle such a situation without overstressing it.

Of course, proper design more likely comes with a quality tractor than with something super cheap.

Ken

 

[CurlyDave]

A backhoe is particularly good as ballast, since you can extend the hoe to the rear to increase the distance of the center of mass behind the rear wheels, and you can swing it to the uphill side on a side hill situation.

Throttle the engine way down and don't be jerky in trying either of these. Especially the sidehill swing.

I have tipped over to the front while going downhill with a heavy weight and it is not even a very exciting thing with the bucket carried low.

 

[newdeal]

Yeah I guess carrying the bucket low is key to trying to avoid turning a scary situation into a deadly situation

 

[Reg]

Well the balancing load is behind the rear axle. If you take a toy car (I just happen to have one on my desk and push down on it's rear bumper behind the rear axle the front wheels come up into the air. The weight is lifted off the front axle. Same principle with the three point hitch weight I believe.

That experiment is not in the range of interest.
IOW You won't get enough weight far enough back on a tractor to get the front wheels significantly unloaded when the FEL is at/near to overload.

Enjoy your day with your toy car on your (toy ?) desk.

 

[TripleR]

Well the balancing load is behind the rear axle. If you take a toy car (I just happen to have one on my desk and push down on it's rear bumper behind the rear axle the front wheels come up into the air. The weight is lifted off the front axle. Same principle with the three point hitch weight I believe.

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is." - Yogi Berra

 

[Rockyridge]

It is also my understanding that you need to keep in mind that a tractor is more stable going up and across a hill than going down and across a hill.

Going up and across a hill the lower back wheels with more of the weight on them will keep you from tipping better than the lower front wheel when going down and across a hill because the front axle, with the more of the weight on it, can pivot. Because the front axle pivots it does not provide horizontal stability until it reaches the maximum pivot point and by then it may be too late.