loading front tire on 4wd

[jbreland]

I just discovered that my dealer loaded both the front and rear tires on my Kubota 4900 4wd. It seems like I recall hearing that the front tires should not be loaded on a 4wd tractor , is this correct?

Also is there a way to tell if my tires have tubes or not?
If they don't I don't think I like the idea of the water being in
contact with my rims causing rust.

I didn't ask the dealer to load them, they just did it on their
own. If it's got tubes I'm ok with it but if not I want it out
but don't know of any way to get it out without breaking
the tires down off the rims.

 

[slowrev]

Loaded front tires will put more strain on the front axle parts when using a loader. Air filled tires flex more absorbing shocks.
Ben

 

[slowzuki]

I've never heard of anyone loading the fronts... may make for a rough ride too.

 

[rambler]

The CC only rusts metal in the presence of O2, so if there are no tubes & they are filled, it is better to leave them as is. If removing the CC, you would _really_ need to scrub the rims down _real_ well, or the air in the rim would rust them over 20 years more than the CC at this point.

I would not want fluid in the front tires of a tractor with a loader. If you did not have a loader, it would be useful for traction & weight when using 3pt implements.

Guess it is your call on what to do, but if the fluid is removed, _really_ scrub those rims off well......

--->Paul

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I've never heard of anyone loading the fronts... may make for a rough ride too. </font>

The front tires on both my BX and B2910 Kubotas are foam fillled. Now the tire place I had them filled at used foam with some flex, and not "concrete"...and my Kubota dealer recommended him to me...but anyway, I am happy with the foam filled tires. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I have lots of loader hours on my B2910 and all seem fine to me. The little BX has no loader... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif ... but the ride seems fine there too.

On the smaller tractor I filled the fronts for side-slope stability. The larger once was because of puncture fears...after getting my first front puncture after about two hours of work.

I think the key with foam is to have some flex so you don't shock the drive train components too much, as was stated earlier in the thread.

Myself, I like the increased stability that loaded tires give, since the weight is down low where it does the most good.

Liquid in the back, foam in the front, and no tubes anywhere is what I have.

I sleep well at night and would not change anything... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ... except the rear fill material if I started getting rear flats...then I would transition to foam in the rears too...but flats in the rear have not been an issue for me... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tillboy2001]

I see a LOT of tractor pictures on this site of tractors with no rear wheel weights but they have loaders. I'm assuming these people are filling the rears with fluid? We opted for 220 lbs of weight on EACH rear wheel (externally mounted metal weights - see pictures in my signature). I just can't imagine this many tractors with no rear wheel weights using a loader. So I have to assume most of the people in these photos I'm seeing are using fluid.

We didn't want the fluid in case of flats and having a big mess on our hands. Plus, I don't know why anyone would be opposed to the external weights. They do the job and they look fine. I'd probably prefer the looks of the tractor better without them, but hey it's a tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[slowzuki]

I would prefer wheel weights but ours are calcium filled. There is 500 lbs per tire and it would be hard to get that in wheel weights.

I am used to the smoother ride of large ag tractors so I already find our new cut quite rough. I can't imagine it on foam filled tires!

 

[Darren]

I've got a L3710 with high density foam filled tires front and back. No problems. For highway travel, you can feel some difference. But ags weren't mean't for a smooth ride anyway.

I haven't noticed any problems during loader work. I don't think the fronts weigh more than fifty pounds each. If that's a problem for the spindles, Kubota is really shortchanging the design.

 

[RalphVa]

A guy I know with a Kubota loaded his front tires so he could offset the weight of a 5' bush hog behind it. He didn't have a FEL. His is about a 17 hp one. Don't remember the model. Think its a B7400.

Ralph

 

[BGL990]

I loaded the fronts on my 990. No problems at all. I wanted all the weight I could possibly get, for traction. I filled them to about 75%, the same as the rears. IMHO, the tiny bit of "spring" you might lose from a 75% fill won't hurt anything, even with heavy loader use. If you are that close to hurting stuff, you are probably going to hurt it no matter what. If you fill much more than 75% (just covering the rim), then you might have problems, but a "normal" fill should be OK.

Also, contrary to what some might initially think, the weight of a liquid fill does NOT put any extra load on wheel bearings or axles since it is essentially sitting directly on the ground.

If you want weight, I say fill 'em up!
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif


ps. I used auto antifreeze to fill my tires. (emptied the shelf of the cheap stuff 3 days in a row at the auto store /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I have no tubes and didn't want calcium chloride anywhere near my machine. With my location and use (no thorns, sharp rocks, etc), the chance of a puncture is almost 0%, so I'm not worried about a spill.

 

[WhiteRock]

I put 480# in each front tire, and 750# in each rear. I think the ride got better for me. The tractor effectiveness seemed like 50% increase. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

If I shift it out on the road, I can feel the weight via slower acceleration.

I don't understand the additional FEL stress, I just don't see it. The tire still flex. You will definitely get more traction and possibly pull harder on the axles. But I wouldn't expect more than the axle is designed for.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I just discovered that my dealer loaded both the front and rear tires on my Kubota 4900 4wd. It seems like I recall hearing that the front tires should not be loaded on a 4wd tractor , is this correct? )</font>
I've always heard the same thing, 4WD no loaded fronts, 2WD can load both F/R. I don't know. I have no loaded tires, just add an implement on the back to ballast the loader, and if needed, add concrete blocks in the loader to ballast against the BH while carrying something heavy in it's jaws.
You don't say what the dealer loaded it with, but usually a water/antifreeze combo won't rust your rims, as the antifreeze has anti corrosion ingredients. Windshield washer fluid same thing. Plain water, or water and calcium chloride usually are put in tubes. You should be able to tell if you have a tube by looking at the valve stem. Most of the CUTS with no tubes will have a metal valve stem. Although, some do have rubber ones. I think you should be able to let some of the air out with the tire in the air (not enough to let the load out) and move the valve stem around a bit and tell if it's a tube or not. The tubless valve stem shouldn't have any play in it.
John

 

[jwstewar]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Plain water, or water and calcium chloride usually are put in tubes. )</font>

I'll tell you Dad's philosphy on this. He has been doing tires (mostly ag & large commercial) for over 45 years /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif When we've talked about loading the tires on my little NH 24 he said the tube is a money maker for the tire shop - can't plug the tires. Have to pump the liquid out & in - makes for a pretty nice service call sitting there watching the pump run. His other comment was - especially with CC - keep the rim covered. If it can't get to the air, it can't rust. I haven't loaded mine yet, but I'm getting ready to and I'm going with windshield washer fluid. Less chance of hurting the grass/animals if I were to get a flat. I will be going tubeless and actually filling the tires to probably about 90% - his recommendation - at least for my situation.

 

[slowrev]

My rear tires currently have calcium chloride/water in them. I plan on refilling them with RV antifreeze when I do any service work on them. Non toxic and not nearly as corrosive as the calcium stuff. Rims will be brushed/rust converted/ well painted too during the conversion. Of course if I could find about 1000 lbs or so of wheel weights cheap /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I will lose a bit of weight though as the antifreeze will not weigh as much as the Calcium/water mix. the cost of the materials is about the same if you buy the RV antifreeze in bulk.
Ben

 

[BGL990]

<font color="blue"> ( I just discovered that my dealer loaded both the front and rear tires on my Kubota 4900 4wd. It seems like I recall hearing that the front tires should not be loaded on a 4wd tractor , is this correct? ) </font>
<font color="purple"> I've always heard the same thing, 4WD no loaded fronts, 2WD can load both F/R. I don't know. </font>

Has anyone ever heard a reason for this??

Personally, I think it must be an old wive's tale (maybe old farmer's tale? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

The only reasoning I can think of is the additional traction gained by the front wheels when loaded, combined with the fact that the tractor will generally have some built in driveline lead (front's turning slightly faster than rears) results in more stress on the driveline. To that, I say not likely. Having a good load in a FEL will put a lot more weight on the front wheels and give them better traction than the weight added by fluid filling. Once you drive a few feet, the driveline will be bound up as tight as it's ever going to get, so if the traction/driveline stress theory were correct, having a FEL would be worse than loading the front tires.

If anyone has heard an actual reason why the fronts shouldn't be filled on a 4WD tractor, I'm interested in hearing it.

 

[SkyPup]

We've had water in the front AG R-1 tires our Massey Ferguson 1030 4WD for over twenty years now, has always worked just fine in addtion to the 250 pounds of lead weights on the front to keep it from pulling a wheelie. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Just don't fill the tires greater than 70% full of liquid and you'll be fine.

 

[doggle]

loading front tires is a good idea ........mainly because it reduces wheel "hop" when doing fel work.......that's harder on driveline than anything else

 

[Gil Case]

I loaded my fronts with foam since I got a lot of front end hop with the Back Hoe going up hills- puckered me up some. Added 100# each. I have had no problems since. I have a little Kioti ck20hst and they beefed up the 2465 BH so it made the front end light even with the fel on. Plowed all winter with it, but have not had it road tested yet to see if the ride is worse or not.

 

[Tul01]

Resurecting an old thread here. I'm thinking about loading the front tires on our Montana 5740C 4wd. When I'm doing loader work it seems to want to push on the front tires sideways(I've almost rolled them off), even in 2wd with max psi. I don't turn in 4wd. We had our rears filled last year and they are much stiffer on the sidewall now. I was thinking this may help. The shop manual says front and rears can be filled to 50%. 2 questions
-does fluid in the fronts help with the stiffness
-I have seen a post for a pump or valve to do it yourself, but can't find it does anyone know where I can find one. I would like to put w/w in the fronts. We have calc and tubes in the rears.

Thanks Brent

 

[kencunningham]

Yes it will help stiffen the tires, the fluid will not compress under load like air will. I would think you could fill the front right up to the valve stem, just like the back ones, but there may be a reason that you cant that i dont know about. Maybe the fronts need that extra cushion effect to help with stressing the loader or frame?