Wheel weight

[Mysfyt]

Need some rear ballast for my tractor and I don't want to make its footprint any larger because of some of the tight spaces I get into. So my wishlist goes like this: I like to fill up the center of the rear wheels with weights and I want them to be fairly easy to lift. My idea is for a mounting disc with a center pin so I can slide the weights on and bolt them up. The mounting disc is 1-3/4" thick x 13-1/2" so it will bolt up flat to inside the wheel. I had these water jetted with the inside hole slightly smaller than the 2-1/2 pin I'm going to use so I can machine it for a press fit. I had clearance holes for the wheel bolts so I can fit a socket through if I need to remove the wheel or torque the bolts later on. For the weights, I went with 1" steel plate x 16" diameter, total of eight per side. This should get me around 500 lbs per side plus I had the tires filled with Rimguard. The pictures show the mounting disc being machined for the center pin, indexing and tapping the holes for the mounting studs and the weight bolts, welding the pin in and the mounting discs after machining along with the individual weights. More as I go----

 

[ecbaatz]

Have you added fluid to the tires? That would be my first choice. Then the wheel weights.

 

[Mysfyt]

Yes, the tires are filled with Rimguard. Still need some more ballast for FEL work stability.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

That looks great! I would caution against the "press fit" idea though. They are going to get wet and rust and if you ever decide you want to take them off, they might disagree very strongly! Otherwise thats an awesome idea! Were the factory weights not an option or were they too expensive for what you got? I have rimguard in my 5083E and one set of 100lb weights and it is not nearly enough for front end loader work. I have been trying to come up with an idea for adding weight to it and this might be the answer!

I def want to see the finished pics!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

That looks great! I would caution against the "press fit" idea though. They are going to get wet and rust and if you ever decide you want to take them off, they might disagree very strongly! Otherwise thats an awesome idea! Were the factory weights not an option or were they too expensive for what you got? I have rimguard in my 5083E and one set of 100lb weights and it is not nearly enough for front end loader work. I have been trying to come up with an idea for adding weight to it and this might be the answer!

I def want to see the finished pics!

Here is the answer. 6 sets of wheel weights as well as all 4 tires filled.

 

[FTG-05]

Due to cost of steel and/or cast iron, I decided to go with a combination lead, steel and concrete wheel weights. About 260 lbs per wheel (I haven't weighed the 2nd one yet) plus I have 1" and 5/8" blind nuts for attaching weight training plates if I ever find any for cheap.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Here is the answer. 6 sets of wheel weights as well as all 4 tires filled.

Well, if mother JD didn't want a ridiculous amount for 100lb weights I'd be doing just that! My owner's manual also claims I can only put 2 weights on per side. If I had cast centers I'd be just about right. Even know with the 8' BB on the back, the rear end gets light! I broke the mounting pins on my 1700lb concrete counter weight so I'm SOL for the time being!

 

[Mysfyt]

That looks great! I would caution against the "press fit" idea though. They are going to get wet and rust and if you ever decide you want to take them off, they might disagree very strongly! Otherwise thats an awesome idea! Were the factory weights not an option or were they too expensive for what you got? I have rimguard in my 5083E and one set of 100lb weights and it is not nearly enough for front end loader work. I have been trying to come up with an idea for adding weight to it and this might be the answer!













I def want to see the finished pics!

Thanks! The press fit is just for the pin going into to the mounting disc. The reason for this is because if you have any play between the pin and disc bore, over time it will crack the weld on the backside. The weights themselves are sized to slide onto the pin with a minimal amount of play.

I coated them up yesterday and got one mounted on the left wheel. Should be able to wrap it up tomorrow and yes, more pictures forthcoming!

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Thats awesome. Does kubota not have a wheel weight option for your machine then?

 

[RDrancher]

Here is the answer. 6 sets of wheel weights as well as all 4 tires filled.

Brian, are those 100# each?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Brian, are those 100# each?

No, only 72lbs. That's why I needed so many.

 

[Mysfyt]

Thats awesome. Does kubota not have a wheel weight option for your machine then?

They do, but I wanted to max out the weight without going beyond the edge of the rim. Don't think i could get the weight i desired with the factory weights. I will be in the range of 500 lbs per wheel and the weight will be riding on the pilot hole of the wheel instead of on just bolts. Pictures of the final product tomorrow.

 

[Mysfyt]

The first picture shows the least fun job of this whole project, drilling holes through the wheel! No other way to do it except by hand, but we got through it. The second picture shows installing the mounting studs with Loctite plus punching the threads for a little insurance. You'll also notice the male pilot hub I machined to fit into the pilot hole on the wheel. Kubota didn't give me much to work with, only about .075" but it should work. The third picture shows the mount installed and torqued. The fourth and fifth show the weights installed and how they don't protrude past the rim.

Hoping to put it through some sea trials this afternoon and then retorque the bolts and nuts.

Bob

 

[RDrancher]

Very nice job on the weights! Looking forward to hearing how the extra weight works for you.

 

[Mysfyt]

Did some grapple work with it today and was pleasantly surprised with how it handled. Was noticeably more stable on the hill especially with the grapple full of wood. The FEL will be the better test in a few weeks.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Wow, that looks awesome. How much did that project set you back roughly?

 

[Mysfyt]

Wow, that looks awesome. How much did that project set you back roughly?

$900.00. Water jetting out the plates pumped the price up, but it saved me the hassle of drilling the holes and boring out the center holes.

Steel prices are down right now so it is a good time to make custom weights. 4' x 8' x 1" steel plate(1280 lbs) is selling for a little over $500.00.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

WOW, thats ALOT cheaper than I thought it would be! I think I need to look into this. The JD factory weights were running about a dollar a pound IIRC for 95lb weights.

 

[Mysfyt]

Buck a pound seems to be the going rate. You might be able to find a fab shop or service center to flame cut (cheapest) the discs for pretty reasonable. Circle cutting attachment on a O/A torch and a drill press would put you in the game.

 

[David Devuono]

I am not a big fan of tire ballasting for FEL work. It does zero to take the load off the front end. Its perfect for added traction when pulling impliments. When I look at commercial equipment, it either has a monster backhoe on the rear for ballast or an articulated steering system. If you do mostly field work and occassional loader work, its a good compromise. One only has to have a tractor with no or non-functioning power steering to understand the stress on the front end, steering componets. I have a MF165 with loaded tires and wheel weights. At about 1500lbs per tire it will pull a house but I still need to drop the loader, lift the front of the tractor, turn the wheels, raise the loader and then go in my new direction (hoping my power steering pump leak is solved lol)