Ballasts on subcompact tractors/ loading tires.

[Jboyorak]

Good morning,

I tried to search but I couldn't find my answer. I own a GC1723 MF subcompact tractors, and have been getting conflicting information on the benefits of tire ballasts for it.


Multiple MF dealers have told me that it's not worth the trade off. One dealer mentioned the wheels can have a tendency to spin in the tire, another said it doesn't make much difference and using proper ballasts on the front and rear attachments is the way to go. I also have been in situations where there isn't enough power from the tractor to push me up an incline, and I would assume that a weighted tire/wheel is going to create more resistance.

When shopping for equipment, the Kubota dealer offered to fill the tires for free without me even mentioning it, which makes me assume that this is very common and must serve a purpose on the subcompact lines. I see many other subcompact owners load their tires as well.

Is loading our tires on the subcompact line actually worth the time and energy?

 

[shooterdon]

I have loaded tires and ballast. I do not mow....weight is my very good friend.

 

[PILOON]

You goofed, should have taken the tires loaded from that dealer.
Sure an under inflated tire might spin on the rim but that's rare.

I'd venture to guess that 90% of tractor owners add weight be it in the tires or on the 3 point.
Heck many that do snow add rimgard as well as chains plus carry a snow blower.

 

[MF RED in MT]

Jboyorak,

Welcome to TBN.

I believe any tractor dealership that is not willing to assist their customers with "Rimguard" tire ballast need to correct their thinking and help the customers.

I had my 4 tires filled with this beet juice from a local Rimguard approved tire shop about 10 years ago and the tractor does feel more stable with my cab.

I know that my small tires do not add much weight with the filled tires, but I had all 4 tires filled anyway.

I also have a plastic rim insert that is filled with concrete that adds a little more weight.

If I felt I needed more, then I think I would look into extending the wheel base with after market wheel spacers.

These dealers would rather try to sell you fixed weights front/rear and just take more money out of their customers pockets.

Here is the link to Rimguard for you to gather more information:

Good luck,

KC

Rim Guard - The Original Liquid Tire Ballast

 

[5030]

You goofed, should have taken the tires loaded from that dealer.
Sure an under inflated tire might spin on the rim but that's rare.

I'd venture to guess that 90% of tractor owners add weight be it in the tires or on the 3 point.
Heck many that do snow add rimgard as well as chains plus carry a snow blower.

I'm in the 10%. I don't believe in loading tires at all because of what I do with mine. Compaction from loaded tires on hay ground is a big no, it crushes hay plants for one and can rut hayfields for another. Last spring bought a used M9 and first thing I did was have the farm tire service come out, suck the ballast out of the tires, dismount them both and replace the tubes. Never had a traction issue using the units around the farm and if I lack tractive effort, I slip them into FWA and in an extreme case, lock the front wheels or the rears, I have differential locks on both ends. I rarely use them. In fact I rarely use FWA. On both my units, the rear centers are cast iron and the wheels, tires and centers weigh almost 900 pounds each.

 

[jeff9366]

The tires front and rear on a subcompact tractor have so little internal volume that filling them with liquid does not make much difference. Filling two rears adds only about 130 pounds. (slight variation in tires)

Adding iron wheel weights to the rear wheels will be more effective.


Most effective of all is to carry Front End Loader (FEL) counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch. As TPH counterbalance extends beyond the rear axle cantilevered counterbalance is more effective pound-for-pound than rear wheel ballast at holding down rear end due to LEVERAGE of counterbalance.



What shortcoming on your GC1723 is making you second guess yourself?

 

[kenmbz]

There are times when I would like filled tires for carrying large objects, even with the BH on, or for pulling roots etc.
I would worry about lawn damage with heavier wheels, since I need to go across grass to get to my woods and most areas where I use the tractor.
Where are you located? Do you have mostly hills or flats? Lots of woods or open fields.
Carry a lot of heavy objects in the FEL?
Th next upgrade for me is probably wheel spacers as I have a lot of slope on my land.

 

[i7win7]

I have a 23hp BX with FEL unloaded tires goes everywhere I want. Use it to mow, till and roll lawn. Also have 26hp B with SSQA FEL loaded tires and use it for everything. If I encounter something that requires real power (ie pallet with 1 ton of weight) I have to drag out the old Ford 4000 also loaded tires. The lighter BX is 1st tractor used in spring to prevent lawn damage. Is it too early to consider used compact tractor or 50-70's era utility tractor as backup equipment?

 

[Jboyorak]

Thank you for the responses everyone.

The tires front and rear on a subcompact tractor have so little internal volume that filling them with liquid does not make much difference. Filling two rears adds only about 130 pounds. (slight variation in tires)

Adding iron wheel weights to the rear wheels will be more effective.


Most effective of all is to carry Front End Loader (FEL) counterbalance on the Three Point Hitch. As TPH counterbalance extends beyond the rear axle cantilevered counterbalance is more effective pound-for-pound than rear wheel ballast at holding down rear end due to LEVERAGE of counterbalance.



What shortcoming on your GC1723 is making you second guess yourself?

I am not really having any issues that I know of. But, I am so new to tractors, I don't know if I'd even know if I was having problems. I have seen a lot of people load their subcompacts tires, and been questioning if I'd actually benefit from it or not.

 

[jeff9366]

I am not really having any issues that I know of. But, I am so new to tractors, I don't know if I'd even know if I was having problems. I have seen a lot of people load their subcompacts tires, and been questioning if I'd actually benefit from it or not.

The fundamental importance of TRACTOR WEIGHT eludes many tractor shoppers. Neophyte tractor shoppers are often intimidated by instability of tractors with small front wheels and large rear wheels, therefore frequently purchase tractors too light, too small for long term satisfaction. Often subcompacts are gussied up with wheel weights, SSQA FEL bucket and grapples, bucket hooks, work lights, etc. making a subcompact into a big-boy's tractor in the newbie's mind. The options are lipstick on a baby pig.

Bare tractor weight is the tractor metric that best defines tractor capability..

Five reasons owner/operators trade up from Subcompact Tractors:
More tractor weight.
More FEL lift capacity.
More ground clearance.
Three-range (3) HST (Lower LOW, Higher, HIGH) ~~ rather than two-range (2) HST.
More tractor power.



Within subcompact and compact tractor categories, a significant tractor capability increase requires a bare tractor weight increase of 50%. It takes a 100% increase in bare tractor weight to elicit MY-OH-MY!