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A guide in ballasting tractors is to use the kind of ballast needed for a particular job-light, medium or heavy ballast. Start the process of ballasting with the lightest ballast that may do the job. Then add ballast as needed to get performance desired.
NOTE:
Correct weight balance must be maintained when adding or removing ballast for best tractive performance.
Ballast levels are based on the following travel speeds:
| Light |
Medium |
Heavy |
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8.8 km/h or more
(5.5 mph) |
7.2 - 8.8 km/h
(4.5 - 5.5 mph) |
less than 7.2 km/h
(4.5 mph) |
More or less weight will be needed, if different travel speeds are used. Higher speeds do not require as much weight. The final indication of correct ballast is slip measured in the field.
NOTE:
Radar is recommended to continually monitor slip. Checking slip manually is possible but will only show slip in one area of the field. Field
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conditions vary and maintaining the correct average slip is necessary to obtain optimum performance.
Optimum tractive performance of 2-5 percent slip is recommended. Add more weight if slip is excessive. Remove weight if there is less than minimum percent slip.
If implement pull at full load is 8.8 km/h (5.5 mph) or more, tractor may operate unballasted. Medium ballast is a better choice, if operating at full load between 7.2 and 8.8 km/h (4.5 and 5.5 mph). Heavy ballast should only be used for the few implements (such as deep rippers) which require full-load traction below 7.2 km/h (4.5 mph).
IMPORTANT:
To extend drivetrain life and avoid excessive soil compaction and rolling resistance, avoid adding too much ballast. Never add ballast that results in continuous full-power loads below 6.6 km/h (4.1 mph).
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