To Ballast or not to Ballast-That is The Question

Good morning folks,
I will try not to get too wordy but I have searched the site and see there are scattered posts here and there about ballast, but no dedicated thread. There are helpful opinions both supporting the need to use rear ballast boxes/rear mounted weight, as well as just as many suggesting it is not necessary. Since this seems to be a very debatable subject, I was hoping folks could provide their opinions here in a new Thread dedicated to Ballast. Here is the scenario:

I am new to tractors and just got my very first one (as some may have seen). It is B2601- with a loader (LA434), A 63" front mounted snowblower and a 60" HLA Attachments Root Rake/Grapple. (It's awesome - I can't stay off it)

I did a lot of research- internet / dealerships, YouTube etc and when I finally got down to purchasing my equipment, the Dealer suggested I fill the back tires with beet juice- which I did.

As we went through the implements I wanted to purchase, I requested a Ballast Box- the dealer told me I did not need a ballast box. In short, he said the implements are sized to the tractor and its capacities and that normally I should not need any ballast behind the tractor when using the loader or snowblower etc. The rear tires are filled to provide extra weight and stability and short of any odd scenarios, or if I find for example, that I am slipping on steep hills while snowblowing the driveway in the winter, I should not need to put any weight on the back. Hence, he did not try to sell me a ballast box.

Since then I have received some great support and advice from many folks on the forum- many suggesting I need/must put ballast on the rear to offset weight I put on the front. I also consulted my Owner's Manual (as was suggested by one of you) and the manual has very little on ballast and does not spec that it is required or provide any specs on how much etc, but recommends filling the rear tires and that rear ballast should be used temporarily when necessary and then removed from the tractor. It is literally one sentence in the Manual.

In both the Owner's manual and the Loader Manual, they talk about the lift capacity of the loader (maximum weight etc) but neither manual mentions anything about the need to add rear ballast when using the Loader.

I have read the links provided by some of you and comments and at one end of the argument, there is information about the "pivot" point created by weight, and that it should not be put on the front axle (and the absence of ballast behind the rear axle will create this condition), to the other end of the debate in which the opinion was that putting a ballast box behind the rear axle creates undue strain on the rear axle and should not be used.

Just spoke to my excavator this morning. Seized the opportunity and asked him the question, and he told me unequivocally, that I do NOT need to put ballast on the back of the tractor when using the loader etc in the front. He said it was unnecessary and the implements are sized to the tractor. He is a 2nd generation excavator and has various sizes of tractors from small to huge CATs.

My dealer is also a 2nd generation farm equipment outfit and said it was not needed.

So, new guy here and still not sure which view to adopt.

I would love to settle this debate. The forum is open....please share your views
Cheers and thanks!

Makes sense. I can't argue that one for sure. Lol. But just don't understand why the dealer said it was not necessary and the excavator said it was not needed.

Well, you folks are all great _ really appreciate the feedback and your know-how. You were right. All of you.

Appreciate the geometry info as it makes alot of sense (although I wasn't much of an academic) and loved the ham story BTW. Classic. If it were in my house, my Gramma would have only had half the ham cause that was all we could afford back then. But, it would be the best tasting ham you ever ate for sure.

So the mystery is solved. I had a dump truck load of gravel delivered this morning to grade my driveway. And the answer is unequivocally -

YES- I need a ballast box.

Any loads I scooped with the tractor. the tractor worked great- really happy with this machine.

However: when I scooped little loads, I was able to go and dump and everything seemed fine but when I scooped a good size load into the bucket, and was driving over the uneven terrain with the tractor, it became very unstable and one of the rear wheels would lift off the ground as I drove over little bumps almost every time, and I could almost feel like I was lifting in my chair as it bumped along.

Thanks folks. Problem solved. Ballast for sure. Have a great week! I will now. Got lots to load ahead of me.

Ramos said:

Glad that you have seen the wisdom in the proceeding posts and tied it into your recent experience with the gravel hauling.

Before you spend bucks on a ballast box, consider any other implement needs you may have. A box scraper could be mighty handy for spreading that gravel and is comparable in weight to the ballast box, if you buy the right one. A pound is a pound. Up to you what form it comes in. Just something to consider.

Click to expand...

Good advice- and better use of my $$ I think. Thanks

Kennyd4110 said:

The John Deere loader manuals cover rear ballast and it's necessity extensively yet the Kubota manuals do not. Seems crazy to me.

Just the mere fact that you've already experienced the rear tire(s) raising should be proof enough to you. Remember also that you front axle pits side to side, so if a rear tires lifts and the bucket is raised, your only inches away from a rollover.

Here is a link to the JD 200cx operators manual as an example: http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMW54456_19/?tM=HO


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Required Minimum Tractor Ballast

CAUTION: To help prevent the possibility of personal injury or death caused by tractor/loader roll over, DO NOT operate tractor/loader unless it is equipped with proper ballast.

The amount of ballast listed in the chart is the minimum required for normal loader operation. For some operations, additional ballast may be required to maximize stability.

IMPORTANT: When adding ballast, do not exceed maximum tire carrying capacity shown on sidewall.

REQUIRED MINIMUM BALLAST FOR 2210 AND 2305 TRACTORS
Option
Ballast1
1
Fluid-filled rear tires and one wheel weight per wheel and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
REQUIRED MINIMUM BALLAST FOR 2320, 2520, 2720, 4100, 4110 AND 4115 TRACTORS
1
Fluid-filled rear tires and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
2
Three rear wheel weights per wheel and 350 kg (772 lb) of 3-Point Hitch Ballast2
If loader is equipped with pallet fork attachment, 85 kg (187 lb) of additional ballast is required.

1 Ballast given is required with minimum rear tread setting.
2 See ADDING BALLAST TO 3-POINT HITCH in this section.

OUO6077,000199F-19-20080201

Click to expand...

Yes I was surprised too. Also, very surprised my dealer didn't insist on it. I did read the info you took the time to send me the other day and the article at the link you sent, and did see the Manual excepts that 85Hokie sent yesterday. But was balancing that against my dealer's direction.

To be honest, and perhaps I just misunderstood the manual, but I thought it provided those examples of implements as an FYI as to how much each one weighs but I didn't connect that there was an inferred requirement that I should use them as ballast as it is not explicit in the manual as it is in the John Deere one. I also note that Manual says the 3 pt hitch can take a maximum of 660 lbs.

Anyways bottom line is, as I understand it, in general if I put 400 lbs on the front , I need 400 on the 3 pt hitch. If I put 600 on the front, I need 600 on the 3 pt hitch.

Just glad I didn't get hurt or hurt someone else and didn't roll the tractor. Very important lesson learned.
Cheers and thanks