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.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I would agree with @GrumpyFarmer in regards to checking the manual. (always a good idea)

However, I would also be a liar if I told you that I checked my manual before I installed my BH with loaded tires.

I suppose I never even considered it.

Especially with all the talk about adding "ballast boxes” and stuff, can the BH be all that much different?

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Tyre ballast is sitting on the ground and is not really putting extra strain on the rear axle.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Tyre ballast is sitting on the ground and is not really putting extra strain on the rear axle.

Good day. I tend to to agree with that, excepting when backup in use and the supports / legs lowered and the rear end is off the ground. At that point the rear axle:legs would be carrying the weight Of the tire, wheel, ballast, etc.

I still don’t know if that is the reason, but I would say it is somewhere between it’s not needed, affects ride/handling, or extra stress/wear on the machine. (I guess it there could be a translation error with ‘excess weight be wasteful’, but I doubt that it.)

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Yes, extra weight is strain on the drivetrain when moving, this is independent of the position of the weight. Same as towing a trailer. When lifting the wheels the strain on the rear axle bearings is way lower compared to the tractor sitting on its wheels. Extra strain on the backhoe legs, I can't say anything about that. But if 250kg extra will do damage, they were to weak to begin with.

 

[socal996]

Thanks to all for the replies. At Grumpy's suggestion I did look at the manual. It's a little weak (if I'm reading it right) in this area, but does say to adjust the ballast when adding other implements. That's much easier said than done.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Thanks to all for the replies. At Grumpy's suggestion I did look at the manual. It's a little weak (if I'm reading it right) in this area, but does say to adjust the ballast when adding other implements. That's much easier said than done.

But this is front ballast when adding heavy implements at the back, isn't it?

Rear wheel ballast only has an effect with front load (loader, etc.), apart from more traction it does nothing for implements mounted at the rear.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Thanks to all for the replies. At Grumpy's suggestion I did look at the manual. It's a little weak (if I'm reading it right) in this area, but does say to adjust the ballast when adding other implements. That's much easier said than done.

Again I am not the manual nor do I offer a warranty to others. I tend to agree with @Hugo Habicht regarding the design/durability of the legs. In my uses it believe handling and ride is the higher risk, but I don’t know that to be true.

for me it’s not reasonable to adjust the amount of tire and wheel weight balance for my tasks/implements thru out the day. I made the judgement that I prefer the extra ballast and I mainly operate in L anyway.

I think a great solution would be a dedicated TLB (L47 or M62 with no tire ballast) in addition to the ballasted MX!