Ballast Types

Cast iron wheel weights and front suitcase weights are 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 tractor more susceptible to power hop. If liquid is used in rear tires, all tires on axle must be filled to 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 of this Operator’s 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 use of a hoist or forklift. Removal of inner rear wheel weights should not be required after initial installation at factory or dealership.

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

Front Weights are available in two forms — suitcase weights and a large block weight.

Front Weights

RXA0134998-UN-08AUG13

Suitcase Weights on Front Support

Each suitcase weight weighs 43 kg (95 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 adds 134% of its weight to front axle and subtracts 34% from rear axle due to leveraging.

Front axle multiplier = 1.34

Rear axle multiplier = - 0.34

A 124 kg (273 lb.) weight support adds 1.34 x 124 = 166 kg (366 lb.) to front axle and subtracts 0.34 x 124 = 42 kg (93 lb.) from rear axle.

Front Hitch Support

When suitcase weights are mounted on a front hitch with support as shown, 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 front axle and subtracts 0.37 x 365 = 135 kg (298 lb.) from 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 43 kg (95 lb.) suitcase weight adds 1.44 x 43 = 62 kg (137 lb.) to front axle and subtracts 0.44 x 43 = 19 kg (42 lb.) from rear axle.

Large Block Weights

RXA0118626-UN-13JUL11

Large Block Weight (1800 kg shown)

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 standard front support adds 1.44 x 900 = 1296 kg (2857 lb.) or 1.44 x 1150 = 1656 kg (3651 lb.) to front axle and subtracts 0.44 x 900 = 396 kg (873 lb.) or 0.44 x 1150 = 506 kg (1116 lb.) from 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 front hitch adds 1.46 x 1500 = 2190 kg (4828 lb.) or 1.46 x 1800 = 2628 kg (5794 lb.) to front axle and subtracts 0.46 x 1500 = 690 kg (1521 lb.) or 0.46 x 1800 = 828 kg (1825 lb.) from rear axle.

Rear Wheel Weights

RXA0118628-UN-13JUL11

Wheel Weight

Rear wheel weights are available in 70 kg (154 lb.), 72 kg (159 lb.), 205 kg (452 lb.), 625 kg (1378 lb.), and 900 kg (1984 lb.) sizes.

NOTE: 7R tractors have two starter weights: 70 kg (154 lb.) weight is used with 900 kg (1984 lb.) and 72 kg (159 lb.) is used with 205 kg (452 lb.) weight.

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

NOTE: See Rear Wheels, Tires, and Treads Section in this Operator’s Manual for restrictions due to vehicle configurations.

Front Hitch

RXA0133387-UN-26JUL13

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. Front and rear axle weights shown in Unballasted Tractor Weight Charts in this section of this Operator’s Manual are based on tractors with front weight support. With a front hitch installed instead of a front weight support, NET amounts of weight changes are used in determining axle loads.

	Ground Engaging Hitch	Carrier Hitch
NET Weight added to front axle	492 kg (1085 lb.)	388 kg (855 lb.)
NET Weight subtracted from rear axle	80 kg (176 lb.)	90 kg (198 lb.)

NOTE: Front hitch removes 80 kg (176 lb.) or 90 kg (198 lb.) from rear axle due to leveraging.

Front PTO

When a tractor has front PTO, additional front axle weight must be included in calculating total axle loads. Front and rear axle weights shown in Unballasted Tractor Weight Charts in this section of this Operator’s Manual are based on tractors with front weight support. With front PTO installed NET amounts of weight changes are used in determining axle loads.

NET Weight added to front axle. ..............	225 kg (496 lb.)
NET Weight subtracted from rear axle. ..............	38 kg (84 lb.)