Ballast Rear loaded tires

cubowner · Feb 21, 2011

I just recently purchased a Kubota BX24 Tractor Loader Backhoe. I explained to the dealer that I want to sometimes use the loader on the machine without the backhoe. Using the loader without the backhoe is not a issue But my question is the rear tires are loaded and the dealer is telling me that having the tires loaded is enough ballast to use the front end loader without any other form of ballast. I beleive I need a ballast box but the dealer says differently. Any input please help.

whistlepig · Feb 21, 2011

Having the tires filled will make the loader good for most applications. I added a ballast box this year after using my tractor three years with out one. It makes the loader work go much faster.

tsteahr · Feb 21, 2011

I have a similar size machine and I had the same concern. Against dealer suggestions I had him order a ballast box. By the time it came in I had decided I did not need it after all, the dealer was right. Loaded tires are enough most of the time. And when you are going to be maxing out the loader and need more then install the back hoe. But for 90% of loader work with these little machines, the loaded tires are enough. Use 4wd when on slopes.

I suggest you wait a little while, use the machine as is. Get a few hours of loaded work as is. If after a while you still feel you want then box then by all means. I suspect however you won't end up needing it.

TripleR · Feb 22, 2011

I can use my BX2660 with weighted rear tires, but I get better overall performance with something on the 3-point hitch too.

bstrom · Feb 22, 2011

The ballast box or heavy implement on the three point also takes some weight off the front axle, which is a good thing, something loaded tires don't do. I use both the box and loaded tires.

lzicc · Feb 22, 2011

I was going to get my tires loaded and the salesman that I bought the tractor at just didn't seem like he really cared for loaded tires. I asked him about that and his opinion was once the tires are loaded, you can't remove that weight where a ballast box you can. He felt it was allot of added stress to the machine seeing as the weight is there all the time. I also thought about having to remove a loaded tire. It would weigh so much. I do like the convince of loaded tires though, but never got them done. i may make my own ballast box for when the hoe is off.

k0ua · Feb 22, 2011

Ok I will throw my 2 cents in. I have both loaded tires and a ballast box, here is why. I have 750 lbs on the 3pt. and with the loaded tires, it is about right to counterbalance what the loader will do. Now when I mow, on these extreme slopes we have around here I feel much better with the loaded tires, as it is a lot less tippy. I am not saying this is what everyone should do, but it is the right thing for me and my circumstances. As an another example, I keep the FEL on for when I mow, and back down some of these horrid slopes I need the weight in the front end to get back up with the mower on. Sure, a set of weights on the front would work, but I dont have any. Besides the FEL comes in handy while running the rotary cutter to push over brush and feel for rocks. Now if I was mowing on flatter better ground, then the FEL would be off for sure while mowing. What I would do is put on the ballast box, and see how things went, and if it was still tippy in the operations you want to do, then load the tires, That way you have not done anything (semi) permanent and can figure out how you should proceed.

James K0UA

KBL3830 · Feb 22, 2011

I'm not sure how loaded tires or wheel weights add a lot if stress on the tractor. The additional weight isn't "on the tractor" it's on the ground so there is no additional down pressure on the bearings. I'm sure there is some additional bearing stress when you start moving, when going up hill, breaking, etc but nowhere near as much as a loaded tph putting ALL the additional weight down on the rear bearings. IMHO I'd go with loaded tires for convenience, manuverability and less stress overall.

elmsdaletractor · Feb 22, 2011

I have always used loaded tires. Any extra weight required is usually met easily by my arse in the seat!

Evil the Weasel · Feb 22, 2011

Stability != Ballast

pdowling1 · Feb 22, 2011

I have a green ballast box I use when I want to get serious with my loader. It makes a TOOL out of what is otherwise a TOY! It amazes me how much better the loader works with that weight on the back. I don't know how much it weighs, but it is a LOT.

Usta · Feb 22, 2011

I say try it for a while and see what you think. You will probably like whatever you get used to.

My experience and what I got used to.
On my BX 2660 with loaded rears, I usually have a ballast box on (full of sand) if I am doing any loader earth moving project.
One day after I thought I was done, I removed the ballast box. I then desided to dump some large stumps over a steep bank and did not want to bother hooking onto the ballast box.
What a difference!!! When I stopped at the top of the bank with a full bucket of stumps, the rear tires felt extreamly light. Actually kinda scared the bejesus outa me. Probably would not have even noticed if I was not used to having the ballast box.

cubowner · Feb 22, 2011

I'm going to order the ballast box. After doing some research from Kubota the manufactuer does not recomend to have the tires loaded with the backhoe in place. Also I found out on a BX24 having the tires loaded only gives you 83lbs per tire of ballast. So guess i'm getting a box

rdsaustintx · Feb 23, 2011

cubowner said:
After doing some research from Kubota the manufactuer does not recomend to have the tires loaded with the backhoe in place.

Well done. I just read the whole thread to see if anybody mentioned that.

aa2tn · Feb 23, 2011

To my knowledge, loaded tires add NO stress whatsoever to the machine! All the weight is on the ground only. So the only reason I can see to not load the tires is to have a lighter machine that will be easier on the lawn, etc.

jmanatee2 · Feb 23, 2011

cubowner said:
After doing some research from Kubota the manufactuer does not recomend to have the tires loaded with the backhoe in place.

rdsaustintx said:
Well done. I just read the whole thread to see if anybody mentioned that.

Why would this be? I was considering loading my tires on the L39 however, the manual does say, and I quote...

"Add weight to rear wheels if needed to improve traction or stability. The amount of rear ballast should be matched to job and the ballast should be removed when it is not needed"

"The weight should be added to the tractor in the form of liquid ballast"

"When the BT1000 backhoe is installed to the tractor, rear ballast should be removed"

I thought that loading the tires did not add any weight to the tractor. The weight is sitting on the ground. Why would they want the ballast out when not needed?

Why when the backhoe was on? The ballast would help with digging because you could apply more bucket force down.

What are the negatives to ballast (other then rusting a rim)

jim442 · Feb 24, 2011

Sounds like rear ballast may not necessarily mean loaded tires?
When they say "liquid ballast" I would assume that was tires, sounds like a clarification is needed.
When the tires are loaded more strain will be put on not only bearings but the drive shaft and universals. The extra weight of the backhoe plus the loaded tires may be too much for the driveline.

cubowner · Feb 24, 2011

My manual actually says to remove liquid ballast from tires when the backhoe is installed.

bstrom · Feb 24, 2011

on these small tractors like the Kubota B's and Bx we are not talking about much weight when you load the tires. I think my B2620 loaded tires weight add about 300 to 400 lbs to the tractor weight. It's nice to have that little extra weight to make the tractor feel more solid and help with picking up loads with the loader. It seems ridiculous to me that little weight would stress the tractor even with a backhoe on. I've got a couple friends that weigh 300lbs, guess I can't allow them to drive it,:laughing:

Grandad4 · Feb 24, 2011

jmanatee2 said:
Why would this be? I was considering loading my tires on the L39 however, the manual does say, and I quote...

"Add weight to rear wheels if needed to improve traction or stability. The amount of rear ballast should be matched to job and the ballast should be removed when it is not needed"

"The weight should be added to the tractor in the form of liquid ballast"

"When the BT1000 backhoe is installed to the tractor, rear ballast should be removed"

I thought that loading the tires did not add any weight to the tractor. The weight is sitting on the ground. Why would they want the ballast out when not needed?

Why when the backhoe was on? The ballast would help with digging because you could apply more bucket force down.

What are the negatives to ballast (other then rusting a rim)

The answer is maybe not what you might expect. It's because of the design limits of the ROPS (at least, that's what I was told). Backhoe + loaded tires = greater rotational momentum in a rollover situation, creating the possibility the ROPS would not halt the rollover under some conditions.

I think Kubota says the same thing for all of their models. Maybe that's just a conservative manufacturer being overly cautious and protecting themselves from lawsuits. I guess an alternative would be making the ROPS a couple feet taller or whatever.