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% (4 o’clock valve stem position). Specific information on use of liquid ballast is given later in this section.

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.

RXA0112535-UN-14DEC10

Suitcase Weights on Front Support

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 two forms — suitcase weights and a large block weight.

Each suitcase weight weighs 50 kg (110 lb). Up to 24 can be installed on front weight support or a support on front hitch support.

Standard Weight Support Front weight support effectively add 134% of their weight to front axle and subtract 34% from rear axle due to leveraging.
Front axle multiplier = 1.34	Rear axle multiplier = 0.34
A 124 kg (274 lb) weight support adds 1.34 x 124 = 223 kg (492 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.34 x 124 = 42 kg (93 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 = 1.37	Rear axle multiplier = 0.37
A 365 kg (805 lb) hitch weight support adds 1.37 x 365 = 500 kg (1102 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.37 x 365 = 135 kg (298 lb) from the rear axle.

Front Suitcase Weights Front suitcase weights mounted on a front weight support or front hitch support adds 144% of their weight to front axle and subtract 44% from rear axle due to leveraging.
Front axle multiplier = 1.44	Rear axle multiplier = 0.44
A 50 kg (110 lb) suitcase weight adds 1.44 x 50 = 72 kg (159 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.44 x 50 = 22 kg (49 lb) from the rear axle.

Large 900 kg (1984 lb) or 1150 kg (2535 lb) Block Both the 900 kg (1984 lb) block and the 1150 kg (2535 lb) block on either a standard front weight support or front hitch adds 144% of its weight to front axle and subtracts 44% from rear axle due to leveraging.
Front axle multiplier = 1.44	Rear axle multiplier = 0.44
One 900 kg (1984 lb) or 1150 kg (2535 lb) block on the standard front support adds 1.44 x 900 = 1296 kg (2857 lb) or 1.44 x 1150 = 1656 kg (3651 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.44 x 900 = 396 kg (873 lb) or 0.44 x 1150 = 506 kg (1116 lb) from the rear axle.
Large 1500 kg (3307 lb) or 1800 kg (3968 lb) Block When directly mounted on a front hitch, multipliers are:
Front axle multiplier = 1.46	Rear axle multiplier = 0.46
The 1500 kg (3307 lb) or 1800 kg (3968 lb) block on the front hitch adds 1.46 x 1500 = 2190 kg (4828 lb) or 1.46 x 1800 = 2628 kg (5794 lb) to the front axle and subtracts 0.46 x 1500 = 690 kg (1521 lb) or 0.46 x 1800 = 828 kg (1825 lb) from the rear axle.

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.

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.
	Ground Engaging Hitch	Carrier Hitch
NET Weight added to front axle	492 kg (1084 lb)	388 kg (855 lb)
NET Weight subtracted from rear axle	80 kg (198 lb)	90 kg (198 lb)
NOTE: The front hitch removes 80 kg (198 lb) or 90 kg (198 lb) from rear axle due to leveraging.

Front PTO

When tractor has a front PTO, additional front axle 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 PTO installed NET amounts of weight changes are used in determining axle loads.
NET Weight added to front axle	225 kg (497 lb)
NET Weight subtracted from rear axle	38 kg (83 lb)