Tires Wheel Spacers and weights for a new BX2370

[Samwise]

Greetings All-

Very informative and courteous bunch of forums. This is my first post. I've been lurking and reading quite awhile now. I live with my family in North San Juan, CA, close to Grass Valley in Nevada County on ~3 acres.

I'm going to bite the bullet and get a new BX2370 shortly. At 56 years young its time to spare the back. Just a couple of things to finalize before placing the order. This will be a basic machine with 54" MMM and FEL. After some thought I'll stick with turf tires - better in snow I hear and better for my yard. Yes the R4s do look more tractorish. I will not be hauling my tractor - our RAV does have a 3500# towing capacity but without trailer brakes and only a 4x8 trailer its just not going to work (part of that decision was after reading some threads on the forum). Even the 6x10s I could rent only have a 1500# cargo capacity.

So- anything I want done by the dealer needs to be done at time of purchase. The dealer suggested, as many on the forums here have, to get a third implement like a box blade to balance the FEL. Unfortunately my yard is so tight in places I have very little room to maneuver - so I'll have to go with the ballast box. Should I consider having my tires filled? Front and rear or just rear? The dealer here fills just with plain water. That _might_ be OK but if left out all winter things could freeze [now I do realize that we do not get cold like back east, but we will drop below freezing a few days each winter]. How about corrosion?

Also what about wheel spacers and wheel weights? If I get both the tires filled and wheel weights would I need a ballast box?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[stoyan79]

Turf tires are worse in snow, but I don't think you'd care since you are in Cali.
R4s are good compromise between turf and R1s. This is why they are so popular.
I would not fill the tires, ballast box or rear blade is better choice.
You absolutely need a counter weight for the loader, BXes are very tipsy.

 

[varmint]

Some of us would say turfs are good in snow, so go figure? I would not fill the rears, certainly not the fronts, and never with plain water. Stoyans right about needing weight- I think most flexible is the ballast box, since there may be times when just your 3 pt implement is enough. Weights are another choice, but not so easy to install/remove on a whim.

 

[AStanton]

Sam,
I would agree with the post before me. I too like turf tires for mainly lawn work. Wheels weights are easier to maintain than a filled-loaded tire. If you do opt to fill the tires, I would stay away from water and use either Rim Guard or foam. My dealer's service department recommended against filling front tires--they said it can cause wear on the front end.
If you have a good dealer/salesman, they should be able to give you the correct advice based upon their experience.
I would advise you to get the tractor home, work it, then see what accessories you really need. Maybe you could negotiate into the sales contract one free trip back to the dealer for any upgrades within 6 months.
Good luck with your new tractor.

 

[TripleR]

We have a BX2200 and BX2660, both with FEL and 60"MMM, one has windshield wiper fluid and the other wheel weights; can't tell which is best. We use ours in the hills and use a box scraper or rotary tiller for counter balance when using the FEL. We've found that while filled/weighted tires are not essential, they are more stable and work a bit better when carrying a heavy load.

We also added wheel spacers last year just as a precaution though we've never tipped one, it sure makes them feel more stable and ride a bit smoother.

We've found weight on the 3PH essential with or without weight on the tires; tire choice is a never ending debate.

 

[radioman]

I disagree with turfs in snow. I have turfs on my BX and like it in the snow. most of the time I am clearing the snow anyways so the tires are always in the cleared spot and it has all kinds of traction with no real issues. everything always has a pro and con. as for water in tires ...NO! use something more professional like tubes with cal cl (the heaviest) or straight beet juice with brands like rimgaurd. It will have more weight then plain water. plain water will rust rims. I feel the front does not need to be loaded at all its so small and filling it will give you little cushion for fel work. Just fill the rears. you will be happy for counterweight with fel work. For most FEL work, I do not use rear counterweights, but there are certain times when I am maxing out the load in bucket and I want to raise it high, having counterweight is awesome. It gets rid of most of the pucker factor. having something to throw on the 3 pt is great for this purpose, but over 50 percent of time I leave it off. I have used my BH, tiller, backblade for extra weight when needed. Otherwise I just leave it off since my rears are filled with rimguard.
If you can foresee using the ballast box to carry stuff on the job, then by all means get it for weight too.
I cant comment on the weight weights- I was going to order them too, but decided against it till I played with it. I just ended up filling rears and looks better that to me. As for wheel spacers - get it only if you have hilly terrain - I put my BX on side of ditches mowing with no wheel spacers, but I leave my BH and FEL off when mowing and I dont feel I need the spacers. I feel its the operator skill and speed that determines if it going to tip or not. But - to each their own. I do wish sometimes I had spacers as BX is tippy with FEL loaded on side hills, but managed just fine. Its not a tracksteer - so dont drive it like one.

 

[Pepsiboy]

Greetings All-

Very informative and courteous bunch of forums. This is my first post. I've been lurking and reading quite awhile now. I live with my family in North San Juan, CA, close to Grass Valley in Nevada County on ~3 acres.

I'm going to bite the bullet and get a new BX2370 shortly. At 56 years young its time to spare the back. Just a couple of things to finalize before placing the order. This will be a basic machine with 54" MMM and FEL. After some thought I'll stick with turf tires - better in snow I hear and better for my yard. Yes the R4s do look more tractorish. I will not be hauling my tractor - our RAV does have a 3500# towing capacity but without trailer brakes and only a 4x8 trailer its just not going to work (part of that decision was after reading some threads on the forum). Even the 6x10s I could rent only have a 1500# cargo capacity.

So- anything I want done by the dealer needs to be done at time of purchase. The dealer suggested, as many on the forums here have, to get a third implement like a box blade to balance the FEL. Unfortunately my yard is so tight in places I have very little room to maneuver - so I'll have to go with the ballast box. Should I consider having my tires filled? Front and rear or just rear? The dealer here fills just with plain water. That _might_ be OK but if left out all winter things could freeze [now I do realize that we do not get cold like back east, but we will drop below freezing a few days each winter]. How about corrosion?

Also what about wheel spacers and wheel weights? If I get both the tires filled and wheel weights would I need a ballast box?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Sam,
I have a 2008 BX2350 with FEL, MMM, and rear tiller. Also have R4 tires with the rears loaded. DO NOT put just water in them. It will be a disaster. My dealer would not load them, so I took them to my car tire guy and he loaded them with ethanol antifreeze. Cost me about $25 per tire. You will need the extra weight with the FEL. Also, I have the 2 inch wheel spacers on the rears so I can use chains in the winter. HOWEVER the spacers need to come OFF to use the MMM. The tires will not clear the mower deck with spacer installed.

I wish I had gotten my BX years ago to take care of my 2 1/2 acres. I have really abused this thing and it just stands there and takes it. I'm sure you will a lot of use and pleasure from it.

Dave

 

[xzcVAbc5]

I'd go with wheel weights before filling the tires. Were you to get a hole in a tire it's a much bigger PITA factor. Turfs would probably work great for what you're trying to do. If you need more snow traction you can always add some chains.

 

[rick480]

My turfs have excellent traction for plowing snow. I have filled rears but they aren't enough when lifting a bucket full of dirt or rock, also need something on the 3 point or you will be up on your nose.

 

[dodge man]

I filled my tires about 5 years ago with Rimguard. Its a beet juice byproduct and heavier than water. Most of the time I don't need any other counter weight on the back. When I do I have a home made ballast box I use but its rare I need it.