Ballasting Information and Guidelines for Tractors with Single Tires

Basic Ballasting Definitions

Ballast is mass added to 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.

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 front and rear axles. For example, if front axle supports 40% of total static tractor weight, tractor has a 40/60 weight split. 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 correct total weight and static balance for that type of implement.

Major Considerations

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

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

3. Provide proper fore-aft balance to minimize occurrence of power hop in MFWD tractors.

4. Assure 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 or attachment to another it may be necessary to reconfigure ballast on tractor.