Ballast Types

Cast iron wheel weights and front suitcase weights are the preferred form of ballast. Liquid ballast in tires should be avoided if practical since it has a stiffening effect that causes rough ride and makes the tractor more susceptible to power hop. If liquid is used in rear tires, all tires on the axle must be filled to the same level which should not exceed 40% fill (4 o'clock valve stem position). Specific information on use of liquid ballast is given later in this section of manual.

In some cases it may be necessary or desirable to remove either front or rear ballast. A front hitch facilitates this for front ballast. Installation and removal of rear weights on outside of wheels requires the use of a hoist or forklift. Removal of inner rear wheel weights should not be required after initial installation at factory or dealership.

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Front Ballast Types and Resulting Weight Transfer

NOTE: Depending on the mounting position used (hitch, hitch frame or front support), the effective weight added to the front axle will be greater due to a leveraging effect caused by the weights distance in front of the axle

Front Weights are available in 2 forms - suitcase weights and a large block weight.

Single Suitcase Weights of 50 kg (110 lb) each. Up to 20 can be installed on front weight support or a support on front hitch.

Standard Weight Support

Front suitcase weights mounted on a standard front weight support effectively add 150% of their weight to front axle and subtract 50% from rear axle due to leveraging.
   
Front axle multiplier = 1.50 Rear axle multiplier = - 0.5
   
Each 50 kg (110 lb) suitcase weight adds 1.50 x 50 = 75 kg (165 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.5 x 50 = 25 kg (55 lb) from the rear axle.
   
Front Hitch Support

When suitcase weights are mounted on a front hitch with support as shown, the multipliers are:
   
Front axle multiplier = 1.75 Rear axle multiplier = - 0.75
   
Each 50 kg (110 lb) adds 1.75 x 50 = 88 kg (194 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.75 x 50 = 38 kg (84 lb) from the rear axle.

 
RXA0078571

Suitcase Weights on Front Support

RXA0078574

Suitcase Weights on support on front hitch

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Large 900 kg (1984 lb) or 1150 kg (2535 lb) Block

One 900 kg (1984 lb) or 1150 kg (2535 lb) block can be installed on the front weight support or on a front hitch.

Standard Weight Support

The block on a standard front weight support adds 150% of its weight to front axle and subtracts 50% from rear axle due to leveraging.
   
Front axle multiplier = 1.50 Rear axle multiplier = 0.5
   
The 900 kg (1984 lb) block on the standard front support adds 1.50 x 900 = 1350 kg (2976 lb) or 1.50 x 1150 = 1725 kg (3803 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.5 x 900 = 425 kg (937 lb) or 0.5 x 1150 = 575 kg (1268 lb) from the rear axle.
   
Front Hitch (Direct Connection)

When mounted on a front hitch as shown above, multipliers are:
   
Front axle multiplier = 1.57 Rear axle multiplier = 0.57
   
The 900 kg (1984 lb) or 1150 kg (2535 lb) block on the front hitch weight support adds 1.57 x 900 = 1413 kg (3115 lb) or 1.57 x 1150 = 1806 kg (3982 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.57 x 900 = 513 kg (1131 lb) or 0.57 x 1150 = 656 kg (1446 lb) from the rear axle.

 
RXA0078582
RXA0078584

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Rear Wheel Weights are available in 75 kg (165 lb), 205 kg (450 lb) and 635 kg (1400 lb) sizes.

Each weight applies total weight to rear axle and none to front axle.

RXA0078586

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Front Hitch

When tractor has a front hitch, additional front axle and rear axle loads due to its weight must be included in calculating total axle loads. The front and rear axle weights shown in Unballasted Tractor Weight Charts are based on tractors with a front weight support. With a front hitch installed instead of a front weight support the NET amounts of weight changes are used in determining axle loads.
   
NET Weight added to front axle 476 kg (1049 lb)
NET Weight subtracted from rear axle 79 kg (174 lb)
   

NOTE: The front hitch removes 79 kg (174 lb) from rear axle due to leveraging.

 
RXA0078578

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