How much ballast do I need?

[ElJuncal]

Hi Everyone, yep, new tractor owner here and this is my second post. Forgive the dumb question(s) ... So, I've read through my Front Loader and Tractor operator's manuals ... and they do give some ballast guidance but ... I was hoping for something more specific. Or maybe I'm just over-thinking this.

My compact Kubota B2601HSD-1 has a LA435 loader on it with a quick attach and 'regular' bucket.

The dealer put ballast liquid in the rear tires. I also have the WB10 Weight Box.

Application: I want to move some dirt at my local motocross track ... making the doubles more doable for vet riders like me

Thus, do I need more ballast in my weight box (and if so - is there a ballpark rule of thumb for this) or will the ballast of the tires do the trick?

Thank you!

 

[MTGreen]

Your owner's manual for the loader should list recommended ballast for the loader tractor combo. If you don't have one the dealer can print that page or Kubota may have one available online

 

[WranglerX]

Basically with my sub compact (MF GC 1715) , I made a approximate 600 pound ballast, its a box 2 x 2 x 1 feet (4 cubic feet) and one square foor of concrete weigns in at 150 piunds...

No ballast...

With ballast, about 600 pounds (JD riding mower weighs in at 520 pound accord to JD documents)...

When making ballast be sure to put some sort of ring or lifting point in case you lose control of it and it falls over.... Also consider making some tool holders for shovels and rakes and such, maybe even chain saw.... Several threads of making and using ballast on site if you search them out...

Also keep in mind if tractor only has rear wheel braking, once rear wheels become light you lose braking....

 

[ElJuncal]

Yep, My Kubota Tractor Operator's Manual on page 44 addresses the topic of ballast ... but, unfortunately nothing specific other than a max weight for the Front of 275 lbs. Also it notes that the rear tires with a ballast account for somewhere between 119 and 172 lbs per tire depending on temp ...

In the Front Loader manual operator's manual, on page 18 it also addresses rear ballast ... with approx. weights for various implements and repeats the approximations of weight for liquid in the rear tires ...

Thus, I still don't know if I need more weight in my weight box when using the front loader (50" bucket) ...

So, do I just assume that I just use an equal amount of rear weight in my tires/weight box equal to the combined amount of weight of my frontloader/bucket plus expected bucket loads?

Thank you!

 

[ElJuncal]

Basically with my sub compact (MF GC 1715) , I made a approximate 600 pound ballast, its a box 2 x 2 x 1 feet (4 cubic feet) and one square foor of concrete weigns in at 150 piunds...

No ballast...

With ballast, about 600 pounds (JD riding mower weighs in at 520 pound accord to JD documents)...

When making ballast be sure to put some sort of ring or lifting point in case you lose control of it and it falls over.... Also consider making some tool holders for shovels and rakes and such, maybe even chain saw.... Several threads of making and using ballast on site if you search them out...

Also keep in mind if tractor only has rear wheel braking, once rear wheels become light you lose braking....

Ok, cool, thank you ... so approx. amount of ballast equal to the amount of load to be lifted in the bucket ... thank you!

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Your tractor weight and front end loader lift capacity (900lbs.) are very close to the Mahindra Max 24 that I have.
I use aproximatley 750 lb counterweight when doing most loader work. It works quite well.

 

[bcp]

Looking at several manuals over the years, recommended rear ballast was about 2/3 of loader lift capacity.

Loaded tired don't act the same way. They help keep the rear down, but they don't decrease front axle load like a rear ballast does.

Bruce

 

[LD1]

I agree with BCP, 65-75% of loader capacity for proper counterweight.

The loaded tires, while making the tractor more stable and increasing what it can lift up front, does nothing to take weight off the front axle and actually can increase the weight the front axle has to carry.

But with counterweight, length also plays a factor. Something in the form of an implement than hangs 3-4 feet off the back of the tractor doesnt need to weigh as much as a compact weight box to have the same effect.

Something around 700-800 pounds should do wonders on a kubota B-series

 

[ElJuncal]

Wow ... thank you to all who posted ... good stuff - much appreciated!!!

 

[newbury]

A Woods BH-70x backhoe weighs about 800 lbs. And with the stabilizers makes for a great ballast.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

The ballast recommendations you have been getting are spot on. One thing I would caution any new owner when doing loader work: keep the bucket low at all times. It's important even with an empty bucket as a raised bucket significantly changes the center of gravity, but you can tip over before you can react with a high bucket.

 

[SmallChange]

Others have already said similar things, but just to add a data point:

I think my NH WM25 is about the size of your machine. It has filled rears. But without something heavy on the rear, it handles funny with the loader full of dirt. The rears slip on dry pavement when I try to start moving in reverse going up a slight grade. I also feel a little bouncy action in the seat when I raise or lower the loader.

I bought a 150 lb ballast box and loaded scrap steel and concrete into it to bring it up to 800 lbs. With that box on, these handling issues go away.

I haven't balanced on my front wheels yet. Let's keep it that way.