Ballast 4720 Front Weights & FEL

ddivinia · Jun 6, 2005

I am taking delivery of my new 4720 on Wednesday. I am curious as to if I can run weights ont he front and the FEL. 90% of the time I will be mowing with it (MX6) and I might take the front end loader off. I guess I could just remove the bucket and leave the loader on and not mess with weights.

Comments, advice?

Thanks,
D.

beenthere · Jun 7, 2005

The FEL will 'fasten' or latch on to the front weight bracket, so no to your question.
You can probably worry about weight needed after a few hours of running the MX6. Before that, I wouldn't get too excited. But your idea of the FEL without the bucket would add more weight than needed, IMO.
Also, I don't think you will need front weights even without the FEL, but don't know that for sure.

timb · Jun 7, 2005

Look in your owner's manual under "ballasting machine". Deere uses an "Implement Code" system to make ballasting simple. Just match the implement code (which Deere uses to rate their implements based on both weight and balance). Your MX6 implement code should be around an "82" if I recall. The number of front weights to "properly" ballast your 4720 depends on the weight size (42 or 70 lb) and whether you use an I-Match frame or not (using an I-Match pushes the implement even further back, requiring slightly more front weight to balance.)

The MX6 is both heavy and long. The 4720 owner's manual recommends ten 70 lb front weights to offset the deck (12 with an I-Match). I'm not sure how many weights you can actually put on the 4720 stock, the 10-series large frames required an extension bracket to use more than six at a time.

A lot of people don't use that much weight on the front of their tractor to balance rear implements and seem to be happy enough with the balance and handling, but those are the official 'factory' recommendations.

rockyridgefarm · Jun 7, 2005

You can mow with the loader on. You can mow with the weights on. Just not both. Without either its likely to be wheelie time...

I have seen setups where the front weights were on a stand and you can drive up and connect them without all the lugging. That would be a great setup...

ddivinia · Jun 7, 2005

I will know tomorrow for sure - hoping for delivery in the AM.

D.

RedLeaf · Jun 7, 2005

Don't mow with both the weights and the FEL -- not necessary and the front tires will dig into the ground when turning leaving ruts. I found that you need some weight up front with the MX6 or you will have an extremely light front end (turning is a problem).

Since you have an MX6, I assume that you are cutting some pretty rough stuff. I find that the FEL is really handy to have on. It has helped pull me out of wet areas that would have been impossible in any other case. I also find that if you have both the FEL and the MX6 on and you are cutting over bumpy areas, you should be careful not to stress the front tie rods -- I have broken two tie rods when encountering holes in long grassy areas.

To protect myself from this, I drive with the FEL quite low to the ground (4" or so) and level. If I encounter a large indentation on the ground (in which the front tire sinks), the FEL ends up skimming along the ground and limits how far the tire sinks (protecting the tie-rod).

I have quite bumpy fields as I have a landscaping tree farm. The holes caused by digging the trees are filled immediately, but after a winter, there is normally a 6" indentation after settling.

ddivinia · Jun 7, 2005

Do you leave the bucket on the front end?

D.

Rayder · Jun 8, 2005

ddivinia,

I just replied to your grapple question, then I read this post. I usually keep my grapple on while mowing the fields ... the thing I find most handy about having the grapple on while mowing is I often run across something in the field that I don't want to mow over (usually a shovel, baseball bat, or whatever my kids or dogs decide to leave laying in the field - I ran over a ski pole last weekend because I didn't see it). So, rather than getting off my tractor and then figuring out what to do with the item, I pick it up with the grapple and keep on mowing. Yes, I know it sounds silly, but I'm lazy.

I find more uses for the grapple than the bucket so the grapple is on the tractor 90% of the time... but I always have one or the other on the tractor regardless of what I'm doing.