Ballast L3130 Ballast in rear tires.

[smittyd3]

If I want to get the liquid out of my rear tires, (they came from the dealership with a mixture of antifreeze and water) can I have the valve stem positioned at the bottom of the rim and take the valve core out and let what will come out?

 

[Bird]

That would let the bulk of it out, but the only way I know to get it all out would be to remove the tire from the rim.

 

[smittyd3]

Thanks Bird,

Well I'm going to let it out soon. I have a water valve in case I need to put it back in.

 

[farmerEd]

If you don't have tubes I think it would be best to take the tires off and clean the rims like Bird said. If you have tubes just let out the bulk of the liquid. I've heard of folks getting one of those cheap drill pumps and rigging a piece of small tubing to go down into the tube and getting most of the rest out but I've never seen it done.

 

[smittyd3]

Thanks FarmerED,

I may try the drill pump, but first I just want to see how the tractor handles without the ballast. Do you have ballast in your 3130 tires?

Thanks,

Smitty

 

[farmerEd]

Yeah, the guy I bought it from had filled the rear tires. I haven't decided yet if I'll leave it or drain it. My L3130 is 2WD and I don't have a loader so the extra weight may be an advantage. One of the best explanations I've found on ballast is at:
Ballasting Ag Tires

One of the charts shows a basic guide for optimum Lbs of tractor weight/ PTO HP at different operating speeds for 2WD tractors. I tend to run my tractor around 3-4MPH most of the time so around 120lbs/ PTO HP seems to be about right which is pretty close to where I'm at right now.

 

[smittyd3]

Thank you FarmerEd,

I appreciate the chart, it's great. In the next week or two, when I get a chance I'm going to un-ballast the rear tires. If I need to put it back it I'm going to use the chart you sent me.

Thanks again,
Smitty

 

[_RaT_]

Smitty, I think at the very least it's worth a try. I drained mine after trying it out. I already had 300 hours without ballast, but decided to try it. I put in straight water, drove around for 50 hours or so and decided I liked it better without the ballast. I always have by boxscaper on to counter the loader, it weighs almost 1000lbs. I like how the tractor is more "nimble" when mowing. What I mean is it not only goes uphills easier, but it turns better. I think it will be interesting to hear if it makes any difference on a little smaller tractor. Rat...

 

[farmerEd]

I've been looking for a set of R1 AG tires on rims for my L3130. What I'd really like to do is take the ballast out of the turf tires I have now and use them in the winter when I do most of the mulching in the orchard. I really try to watch compaction and I don't like the idea of an extra 800lbs of weight on the soil if I don't need it. I'd put the R1's on in the spring for plowing and bushhogging the pastures and fill them with water then let it out in the late fall and put back on the turf tires.
I found a pair on ebay but they were for an older L-series tractor. I called the guy selling them and he was a tractor dealer. He said the older rim pattern wouldn't fit the new Grand L series. Does anyone know if this is right?

Smitty, I saw you're in Wrens. I used to be a county agent in Emanuel county back when Ray Hicks was just starting in Jefferson County. Do you know if he's still there? He had a young guy on his livestock judging team named Smitty that used to kill us at competitions. That's not you is it?

 

[smittyd3]

Thanks for the reply _RaT_,

I've been planning on getting a boxscraper so if I let the ballast out and it's a little light, I'll get one sooner.

What you told me sounds good.

Thanks,

Smitty