My New J2023 Initial Review

[arnoldziffel]

I'd gently suggest a search elsewhere here on TBN.

I think others have stated that loaded rear tires are unable to lift any load off the front axle. Loaded tires can keep the tractor from wanting to tip forward when the loader is operating. A three point ballast box uses the rear tires as a pivot point and therefore the ballast box will lift load off the front axle.

Not debating, just trying to nail this down for the benefit of all. (I obviously was not a good student in certain science/physics classes.)

 

[Olympus]

I'll be filling the tires regardless. The bucket won't hold enough weight to damage the front axle anyway. If so, my manual would be more specific about ballast weights. I can see this as a concern for tractors with much larger buckets though.

In the case of my specific tractor, I believe fluid in the rear tires well be more than sufficient and a rear ballast won't be necessary.

 

[arnoldziffel]

A decision that suites you.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Bob77064]

.Congratulations on the new tractor.

 

[KennyG]

Loaded tires will help keep the back wheels on the ground which is a good thing. However to limit the weight on the front axle you need ballast behind the back axle.

 

[GManBart]

I'll be filling the tires regardless. The bucket won't hold enough weight to damage the front axle anyway. If so, my manual would be more specific about ballast weights. I can see this as a concern for tractors with much larger buckets though.

In the case of my specific tractor, I believe fluid in the rear tires well be more than sufficient and a rear ballast won't be necessary.

Entirely your call, but any way you cut it, using the FEL without any/enough weight on the 3pt will definitely cause accelerated wear.

Put it in perspective....your FEL has 1,670lbs of breakout force, which is 100lbs more than the base tractor weighs! Having ALL of that weight leveraged on the front axle is a bad idea. Conversely, there is really no downside to having a bunch of weight on the 3pt.

If your tires spun on soft ground, it's not a ballast problem, it's a tire type problem. R4s spin very easily on soft ground....even weighted down with 1,400lbs on the back of my 4047. My Massey, with no weight out back, and unloaded tires, but R1s will walk right through the same areas.

 

[Olympus]

I'll always have some type of implement on the 3pt regardless. I'm just not going to waste money on a ballast box and then have to hassle with unhooking what I have and the hooking up to a ballast box whenever I want to use the loader. My tractor won't be seeing a lot of hard use anyway.

 

[KennyG]

I'll always have some type of implement on the 3pt regardless. I'm just not going to waste money on a ballast box and then have to hassle with unhooking what I have and the hooking up to a ballast box whenever I want to use the loader. My tractor won't be seeing a lot of hard use anyway.

Exactly what I said when I got my 2320.I am building ballast now because I've lifted the rear (with box blade) so many times. It's easy to add when you need it.

 

[Green Power]

Good looking tractor Olympus! Congrats! Look what LS said on Facebook about your tractor. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=736958519672453&set=a.131288820239429.14775.117355061632805&type=1&theater

 

[Olympus]

Good looking tractor Olympus! Congrats! Look what LS said on Facebook about your tractor. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=736958519672453&set=a.131288820239429.14775.117355061632805&type=1&theater

I'm famous! I made the LS tractor Facebook page. Just goes to show you that they are keeping an eye on what's said on this forum! I'd like to see any other manufacturer that does that.