Front Tire Ballast

[Pirate]

I have a new Bx1870 w/48" MMM. It seems the front end might be a tad light when going up my hills mowing, or at least it seems that way after first use. I am debating suitcase weights for the front but honestly I would prefer just filling the front tires (75%) with washer fluid. I know it's not a lot but a little bit should help. It seems to me it would be less abuse to the front end to have the weight in the tire instead of on the axle. I have read tons of posts and most deal only with rears while my issue is strictly keeping the front end down. Thoughts? Thanks.

What are the odds of the front end lifting off the ground with nothing on the 3pt?

 

[RaydaKub]

I have a new Bx1870 w/48" MMM. It seems the front end might be a tad light when going up my hills mowing, or at least it seems that way after first use. I am debating suitcase weights for the front but honestly I would prefer just filling the front tires (75%) with washer fluid. I know it's not a lot but a little bit should help. It seems to me it would be less abuse to the front end to have the weight in the tire instead of on the axle. I have read tons of posts and most deal only with rears while my issue is strictly keeping the front end down. Thoughts? Thanks.

What are the odds of the front end lifting off the ground with nothing on the 3pt?

My BX is quite a bit older, but I can't imagine how you would lift the front end just going up a hill with a bare tractor and mmm. I'd take it over.to the hill and park it. Slowly dismount and see if you can lift 1 front wheel. If you can't I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Pirate]

Trying to pick it up on a slope is an excellent idea. Thanks. I mowed the area in question today and it seemed ok. I am used to going up and down the slopes with my other machine which as a FEL and always has. I found that I do need to ballast the rear tires and will do promptly as going over a small root seemed to lift it too much.

 

[robertm]

OP, get your butt-o-meter re calibrated. Unless you are driving up a wall, the front end isn't coming over unless you have a large implement hanging off the back.

 

[Pirate]

Does anyone know how many gallons of fluid should be used in a 24x12 tire? That size seems to be missing from the charts.

 

[94BULLITT]

I leave 3 55lb weights on the front for mowing on steep hills.

 

[AStanton]

I once considered foaming the front tires of my B3030 to avoid having flats. A service man at my Kubota dealer didn't recommend it. He felt the added weigh in the tires would increase wear on the steering components.

 

[Pirate]

I once considered foaming the front tires of my B3030 to avoid having flats. A service man at my Kubota dealer didn't recommend it. He felt the added weigh in the tires would increase wear on the steering components.

It just seems it would be better on the machine to have the tires filled than to hang weights on the wheels or front frame.

 

[RBA50]

Don't know about the BX series, but the Owner's manual and workshop manual for my B2320 both say never load the front tires. Have to believe the Kubota engineers know something about their tractor's design for them to make that statement. Might want to check your manual.

 

[Pirate]

I bought a set of rear weights. When I got them home, the instructions said to not over tighten the bolts holding them on or the plastic would break. I thought this was a crappy design so I took them back. I purchased a small valve stem to hose adapter and 18 jugs of washer fluid. It took a real long time, about 2 hours per time, to nurse the fluid in but I finally finished. It made a major difference in how it feels on the hills. Picked up a set of suitcase weights for the front. When climbing the hills, the front tires seems to just not have enough traction, like they were hovering over the ground in some cases. I will install them today, starting with probably just two weights to see how it feels.

I still can't come to grips on what the difference is between having 160lbs of suitcase weights on the front of the tractor is going to be better than having liquid filled front tires at maybe 40 or 50 lbs each. It would seem that there would be less weight on the axle bearings with liquid filled tires than with having weighted tires. Maybe someone more educated than me can try and explain it to me.

 

[Mikeeemo]

The main reason to not load the front tires, is wear on the 4wd components. The front wheels turn a fraction faster than the rears do. I loaded my front and rear tires (L4400DT). Leave it in 2wd on hard surfaces and you will be fine.

Remember, you are assuming responsibility for any damage, if your still under warranty or care.

I run a 6' brush cutter that weighs about 1000lb. With the loader off, it got light on the hills while mowing.

 

[skyhook]

I'm no expert, but I think Kubota assumes, if you put weight's on the front, you will do so
on the back. This will put stress on ( BX series or smaller engines) the transmission and engine.
Causing overheating problems, etc., I personally don't see it giving problems on steering components
or the 4X4 itself. remember, these machines don't go fast, and if you stay in 2 wheel drive
and only use 4X4 when needed, I don't see a problem, if you feel the trans and engine can
handle the extra weight, go for it.IMO

 

[Gary Fowler]

IMO, putting liquid in the tires vs hanging the same amount of weight on the frame is less stressful to the tractor in all cases. If Kubota engineers told me that I could hang 200# or weight on the front but couldn't put water in the tires as an option rather than the weight, I would call him an idiot to his face and maybe a few other choice words.

The tires on a BX are so small that they aren't going to hold a lot of water so the weight will be minimal even in the rears.

 

[jeff9366]

Filled front tires put terrific strain on the steering.

 

[Pirate]

I only use my 1870 for hilly mowing which means it is in 4wd almost all the time. I decided against filling the fronts as mentioned, they are real small and the weight offered wouldn't matter. I put on 3 suitcase weights on the front and with the filled rears, it now feels great where I mow. No more front end popping up, etc. The only logical thing I could find re: not loading front tires was from upward thrust, not downward. If the front end pops up at all, having weighted front tires suspended could put strain on components. Who knows. Anyway, I have it set up real nice now. Now, anyone want to talk about 2" spacers for the rears?

 

[94BULLITT]

I only use my 1870 for hilly mowing which means it is in 4wd almost all the time. I decided against filling the fronts as mentioned, they are real small and the weight offered wouldn't matter. I put on 3 suitcase weights on the front and with the filled rears, it now feels great where I mow. No more front end popping up, etc. The only logical thing I could find re: not loading front tires was from upward thrust, not downward. If the front end pops up at all, having weighted front tires suspended could put strain on components. Who knows. Anyway, I have it set up real nice now. Now, anyone want to talk about 2" spacers for the rears?

I'm not sure if you can use 2" spacers with a 48"mmm.

 

[dragoneggs]

I haven't had the need (urge) to add weight to my front end but I have to think that putting some dead weight on the front of the tractor frame fwd of the front axles would be far more efficient (C of G) and easier, not to mention the ease of reversing your decision if you want to remove it. I must be missing something here.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Filled front tires put terrific strain on the steering.

Have you looked at the tires on a BX, I doubt they would hold 3 gallons of liquid, even if they held 10 gallons (no way ) that would be no more strain on the tires and steering than the difference in having a 100 pound driver vs a 250 pound driver.

 

[skyhook]

Have you looked at the tires on a BX, I doubt they would hold 3 gallons of liquid, even if they held 10 gallons (no way ) that would be no more strain on the tires and steering than the difference in having a 100 pound driver vs a 250 pound driver.

I agree, I remember when i had a L2550, only 25 horsepower, and it had 16" front tires,
too bad they downsized the front's now.
Dragoneggs has the right idea, meguiver some sort of removable front weight,
I would think at least 300lbs, to make a difference.IMO

 

[Pirate]

I'm not sure if you can use 2" spacers with a 48"mmm.

Technically, yes, there is room with the 48mmm. My dealer and I discussed and they said absolutely do not use them. Talked to one seller of spacers about how many he sells for BX. He claimed that the majority of his business is Kubota dealers and the majority are for BX. An extra 2" doesn't seem like a lot considering some are selling 3"+ spacers. I wouldn't put any on the front, maybe the rears. Going for max safety here due to my hills and the way I mow.