BX25: Fill rear tires or not?

Habeas Kubotas · Dec 8, 2012

Greetings:

I'm new as a poster but a longtime reader who, like many others, has benefitted tremendously from the wealth of information available on this forum. So, thanks for what you've already taught me, and for what I hope you'll teach me in response to this question. I've searched the forum for other information on this, but didn't turn up anything that I'd call conclusive (or sufficiently so to prevent me from posting anyway).

I just made a deal to acquire a used BX25, which will be a step up from my current BX1860. Having enjoyed good results with filled rear tires on the BX1860, I went ahead and arranged to have the rears on the BX25 filled as well. Then I got home, settled in for some quality time with the manual, and discovered the admonition that "liquid ballast in the rear tires should be removed" when using the backhoe. The idea of loading and unloading tires every time the hoe is used is totally impractical to me, so I'm now faced with a choice between (a) following the manual, which I expect will detract from loader work with the backhoe off and may adversely affect traction while mowing, etc., or (b) ignoring the manual advice and pressing ahead with filling the tires. My questions are:

1. Does anyone know the actual rationale for the don't-load-the-tires instruction?

2. If you have a BX25 (or 24 or 23), are your rear tires filled, and if so, have you encountered any adverse effects?

3. For anyone experienced with Kubota wheel weights, are they a decent substitute for filled tires, not just with loader work but also with keeping a low center of gravity for hillside mowing?

I'll be grateful for any light you all may be able to shed on this.

4520 islander · Dec 8, 2012

I would go with wheel weights, it takes more hp to turn a filled tire, then wheel weights.

BIG DOOLEY · Dec 8, 2012

Could possible have to do with the down riggers lifting capacity and additional weight caused from digging?
Surely is not added weight to the rear axle.
With the rear loader you will have ballast, unless manuverabilty is a problem with the loader on.

BXinNH · Dec 8, 2012

I have a BX24 with rear tires filled by the dealer when it was new. I read the same thing in the manual and still don't know the logic behind not filling the tires. I have not had any problems in the four years I've had it. FWIW. Good luck with your BX.

JOHNTHOMAS · Dec 9, 2012

Had a BX25 with non loaded tires and currently have a B2620 FEL BH with non loaded tires. With BH on there is no need for extra weight. With BH off, which for me would be rare or will be off to attach bush hog mower, or tiller or plow or boxblade or over seeder which any of them would provide the weight needed for FEL work and with out fel work no need for extra weight.
If it's already added I wouldn't worry to much and doubt I'd remove it but if I could call and tell them to not add tghe fluid, I would because I can't see any need for it. Buy almost any implement for rear weight if you think you need it.

rbarker · Dec 9, 2012

Habeas Kubotas said:
2. If you have a BX25 (or 24 or 23), are your rear tires filled, and if so, have you encountered any adverse effects?

I have a BX25 now and previously a BX2200 with Woods groundbreaker backhoe. Neither tractor has filled rear tires. I use it to mow the lawn all summer and I didn't really want the extra weight. I guess I can't really compare since I never tried one with filled rears but there has never been a time in my 11 years of ownership when I said to myself "gee, if only I had filled those rear tires..." If I'm using the loader I always drop an 3ph attachment or the backhoe on for counterweight and have found that to be adequate.

GolfAddict · Dec 9, 2012

I have a BX24 with about 650 hours now, probably about the last half of those were after I filled the rear tires. Since you already know what a huge difference that makes I don't need to go into the advantages of having them filled. I've never understood exactly the reason for not filling the rears with the backhoe installed. The added weight of filled rears is directly on the ground, not the axle.

I suppose it is more work for the tractor to move around the extra weight of the liquid in addition to the hoe when you have the heavy backhoe on, but it has more than enough power for that, especially since you can always switch to Low range where needed. The only other thing I can think of is that the weight of filled rears and the back hoe together can certainly cause it to leave deeper wheel impressions on the ground.

I personally would never go back to unfilled rears. I should also say though that the majority of the hours I spend using my BX24 is without having the backhoe installed. It's so easy to remove and install as needed that I only have the hoe mounted when I actually need to use it.

radioman · Dec 9, 2012

Habeas Kubotas said:
My questions are:

1. Does anyone know the actual rationale for the don't-load-the-tires instruction?
I really dont know either. it's been driving me crazy too. Its the most ridiculous thing I ever read in any manuals.
2. If you have a BX25 (or 24 or 23), are your rear tires filled, and if so, have you encountered any adverse effects?
Nope. none. nada.

3. For anyone experienced with Kubota wheel weights, are they a decent substitute for filled tires, not just with loader work but also with keeping a low center of gravity for hillside mowing?
I can attest that filled tires DOES help the BX on hillsides mowing. I mow my ditch sideways at a steep angle - not up and down.

I'll be grateful for any light you all may be able to shed on this.

A little background: I have my BX24 for over 4 years and counting. When I first got it, my tires were not filled and after 4 seasons, I decided to get them filled. The filled tires really helps with traction plowing snow. really helps with lower COG. really helps with BH off and full load of materials in FEL. I used my BH to do alot of digging with filled rears and the outriggers just works fine. I think that line in the kubota manual about "removing liquid filled ballast before using BH" is a bunch of hooey, the most baloney statement I ever read in my life(pardon my french)

. I asked the same question here in TBN, others did too and NOT a single reason why to do so.

idaho181 · Dec 9, 2012

Had the Beet Juice put in my rear tires on my L4600 in October when I bought it. Using it on my place where I have a lot of slopes and very uneven ground it seemed to be very stable. It been used primarily for moving and spreading 2 inch rock on the roads using the 72 inch bucket. I went with the Beet Juice after talking with my neighbors with similar ground conditions. The guys with tractors the same size or somewhat larger than my L4600 have been using the juice in the wheels for years. The larger JD tractors with more weight aren't using it. I will be pushing snow this next week and we will see if the traction is Happy Happy Happy.

radioman said:
A little background: I have my BX24 for over 4 years and counting. When I first got it, my tires were not filled and after 4 seasons, I decided to get them filled. The filled tires really helps with traction plowing snow. really helps with lower COG. really helps with BH off and full load of materials in FEL. I used my BH to do alot of digging with filled rears and the outriggers just works fine. I think that line in the kubota manual about "removing liquid filled ballast before using BH" is a bunch of hooey, the most baloney statement I ever read in my life(pardon my french) . I asked the same question here in TBN, others did too and NOT a single reason why to do so.

thavil · Dec 9, 2012

My BX24 has had filled rears from day one and will always have them filled. As others have mentioned, no issues at all with the outriggers lifting the tractor with them filled.