Select Ballast Carefully

Match amount of ballast needed for each job. What is right for one job may be wrong for another job. Ballast for traction and stability.

Factors determining amount of ballast:

• Soil surface—loose or firm
• Type of implement—integral/semi-integral or towed
• Travel speed—slow or fast
• Tractor power output—partial or full load
• Tire size
• Type of front axle—2WD or MFWD

Ballasting Two-Wheel Drive

Add weight to front end if needed for stability. Heavy pulling and heavy rear-mounted implements tend to lift front wheels. Add enough ballast to maintain steering control and prevent tip-over. The ideal weight split is 30% front, 70% rear, of total tractor weight.

Refer to the implement operator’s manual, along with “Use Implement Codes” in this section, to determine the minimum number of front weights that are required for your tractor model.

Ballasting MFWD-Equipped Tractors

Ideal tire slippage for MFWD-equipped tractors is 8—12%. To reduce wheel slip to this level, more weight is needed on the front than with two-wheel-drive tractors. The ideal weight split is 40% front, 60% rear, of total tractor weight. In some cases liquid ballast will be needed in front tires to obtain this weight split.

If equipped with a loader, provide adequate ballast to rear wheels.

NOTE: Implement codes are used to determine proper ballast for stability and steering control. Refer to the implement code in your implement operator's manual, along with “Use Implement Codes” in this section, to determine the minimum number of front weights that are required for your tractor model. In some cases, additional front ballast is required for optimum field performance. If more assistance is needed, see your John Deere dealer.

Matching Ballast to Work Load

Use no more ballast than necessary, and remove ballast when it is no longer needed.

Rather than weighing tractor down to pull heavy loads, try to reduce load. Pulling a lighter load at a higher speed is more economical and more efficient.

Too Little Ballast		Too Much Ballast
1.	Excessive wheel slip	1.	Increased load
2.	Power loss due to churning soil	2.	Power loss due to carrying extra weight
3.	Tire wear	3.	Tire strain
4.	Fuel waste	4.	Soil compaction
5.	Lower productivity	5.	Fuel waste
		6.	Lower productivity

Ballast Limitations

CAUTION: Max tractor weight, with ballast, not to exceed 4950 kg (10980 lb).

IMPORTANT: Either liquid ballast or cast iron ballast can be added to front and rear tires.

Ballast should be limited by either tire capacity or tractor capacity. Each tire has a recommended carrying capacity which should not be exceeded (see “Wheels, Tires and Treads” section). If a greater amount of weight is needed for traction, a larger single tire should be considered.

	Max Axle Weight without Implement
2WD Front Ballast	1470 kg (3240 lb)
MFWD Front Ballast	1980 kg (4365 lb)
Rear Ballast	3960 kg (8730 lb)

Ballast can be added as either liquid or cast iron.

Checking for Correct Ballast

The best way to check for correct ballast is to measure amount of travel reduction (% slip) of the drive wheels. Under normal field conditions, travel reduction should be 10—15%.

Add more weight to drive wheels if slip is excessive. If there is less than 10% slip, weight should be removed.