Ballasting Information and Guidelines for Tractors with Single Tires

Basic Ballasting Definitions

Ballast is mass added to a tractor chassis and/or wheels to:

• Increase total weight and/or

• Influence weight distribution between front axle and rear axle (static balance). Static means that front and rear axle loads are determined when tractor is parked.

The static weight distribution between front and rear axles is sometimes called weight split. It is expressed as percentages of total tractor static weight supported by the front axle and by the rear axle. For example, if the front axle supports 40% of the total static tractor weight, the tractor has a 40/60 weight split. The percentage of front axle weight is always stated first in this form.

A tractor properly ballasted for a given type of implement (towed, integral or semi-integral) has both the correct total weight and static balance for that type of implement.

Major Considerations

The amount of ballast required and especially the locations of ballast weights depend very much on type of implement being used and operating speed.

Ballasting is required to:

1. Assure that front axle carries sufficient weight for steering security and stability with field draft loads as well as transport in the field and on the road.

2. Provide sufficient traction to efficiently pull high draft loads.

3. Provide proper fore/aft balance to minimize occurrence of "power hop" (uncontrolled, rhythmical bouncing under high load) in MFWD tractors.

4. Assure that rear axle carries sufficient weight for traction, braking and stability when a loader or other front implement is attached to front of tractor.

When changing from one implement to another, it may be necessary to reconfigure ballast on the tractor.