MX4900 Ballast with Backhoe

[socal996]

Quick question for the group,

I have a MX4900 that I'm planning to ballast with beet juice in the rear R14 tires. I believe each tire will need 61 gallons which will add around 1340 pounds to the rear.

I may in the future add a BH92 backhoe, is there any reason not to add the tire ballast if there might be an added backhoe? Backhoe wouldn't live on the tractor but would be swapped with other implements.

Cheers

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Good day.

i am not the manual, but I think always important to check the manual.

that being said, as I recall (I don’t have manual with me or I would check), I believe there was a note that not to use ballast if adding a BH…I think I read and checked that, but I would not bet on my memory.

I think the question is why would manual say that? The manual doesn’t say why. Is it because with BH on no need additional weight? Or is it could affect handling? Negative characteristic on an incline? Or extra stress on the machine itself? Maybe one of experienced members will chime in and give some suggestion as to the ‘why’ or ‘why not’.

I have a MX fitted with tire ballast and wheel weights (that doesn’t make it correct, check manuals), and it is set up for a BH. I have a hilly property and it doesn’t take much for the steering to get light IMO when BH on. I rarely have mine on, and for majority of use i have prioritized having filled tires and weights as for my uses the MX isnt much good without proper ballast if using loader IMO.