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Dirthog

01-21-2004 16:11:47

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I have a MF65, it has both cast weights and fluid in the rear tires. The tractor seems too heavy at the moment. Would I be better to do away with the calcium and just use the weights or should I take the weights off and run the calcium ? I don't like the idea of having the calcium but if theres no leaks I guess I shouldnt have to worry about corrosion. If I do remove the calcium should the tubes be fine if I use new valve stem cores ? Thanks in advance.

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Chris

01-22-2004 08:50:56

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

Well..when we use to pull tractors it was painfully evident that the iron wins everytime. Loading tires actually puts weight between the traction lugs which does nothing for traction. Putting weight in the center(iron) pushes the lugs into the ground.

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Dirthog

01-21-2004 23:22:17

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

Thanks for the input, I think for now I'll take the iron off and go without the calcium come spring time.
Ah the joys of living in the great white north, just heard noises coming from my basement, come to find out my water line is busted at a elbow right where it enters the house. It would of been a bad, bad mess if I didnt notice it till morning. The water hydro excavated just enough dirt so as I could stick a sharpened stick (my old lady suggested a couple tampons, being totally serious !) into the broken elbow to stop the flow till day light. Once again a sharpened stick saves the day !

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John

01-22-2004 08:05:37

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Re: Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 23:22:17

My sister sent me a e-mail the other day of a guy that had a broken water pipe. Should have saved it.

It was a picture of a garage with two cars (unheated or no heat turned on). The family was gone for the holidays to visit. While they were gone a water pipe busted in the celing of the garage. By the time they got home the whole garage including the two cars in it were covered with about a foot of ice.
While it was funny to see a picture of it I'd say he was one unhappy camper.

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thurlow

01-22-2004 14:56:26

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Re: Re: Re: Ballast in reply to John, 01-22-2004 08:05:37

Think this was Allan's garage; he must be sick after all the work he has put into it. Sorry, Allan, just feeble (very feeble) attempt at humor. Never posted a picture on here before; just seeing if it will work..... ....

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buickanddeere

01-22-2004 05:14:26

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Re: Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 23:22:17

Where are you located, we 'frozen chosen" are rare on the board? I can't even think of a comeback about the female plumbing.

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Dirthog

01-22-2004 09:10:10

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Re: Re: Re: Ballast in reply to buickanddeere, 01-22-2004 05:14:26

Extreme N.E. PA. We get lake effect snow and it snows here alot. Not in great loads but the sun literally never shines round here. Chosen Frozen ? I'm gonna be buying me a couple acres somewhere down south and play around on my tractor, if it wasnt for the kids I'd be loading up the MF and headin south right now. I'm ready to sell my 35 acres and buy about 15 or so in a warmer clime. Thanks guys. Bob

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buickanddeere

01-21-2004 21:21:53

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

According to Firestone labratory results. A 2WD bias tired tractor should weight 115-145 lbs per pto HP and tow draft loads at 3 to 5MPH. A small low HP tractor that's over ballasted, geared down and slowly pulling an oversize load is just plain wrong.Causes extra wear, increased soil compaction and wasted fuel. Exceptions for mounted front or rear loads of course. A tractor can't put power to the ground pulling an implement when it's diverting HP to haul dead weight around.

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Dieselrider

01-21-2004 19:54:49

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

I guess I go against the grain here as I like the ballast in the tire. Mechanically I cannot see where there would be any pressure on the wheels or bearings from fluid in the tires as the fluid is always on the bottom. I also like the heavier tractor for traction, but thats just my $.02

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kyhayman

01-21-2004 18:57:57

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

IF I was going to take one off I'd drop the fluid. When we mowed highways we ran iron weight with air in the tires, seemd to have fewer flats. With that said it would be easier if you dont like it to pull the iron. How about dropping the iron and seeing how you like it, if you do put it back on and pull the fluid perminantly.

I 'respectfully disagree' on pulling the weight, I'm the 'ballast king', but I do fit the catagory that Indy described with big loads of hay. I spend a lot of time on a lot of hills and want anything I can get holding me down plus move a lot of rolls double wide and stacked on twin 20' wagons (about a thousand a year). I bought a tractor with radials and didnt realize that they didnt have fluid in them (they really pull good) until I was trying to pull a load on frozen ground.

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Nebraska Cowman

01-21-2004 16:43:57

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

I had an Allis 185 with a cab on it and 18.4 X 30 loaded tires. It wouldn't pull itself out of a hole. I was using it for haying and pulling a 4 row planter and pumping the calcium out "made a tractor of it" Yes, I am a firm believer that you get too much weight.

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Indydirtfarmer

01-21-2004 16:30:29

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Re: Ballast in reply to Dirthog, 01-21-2004 16:11:47

It all depends on what you're going to be doing with your tractor. I have, among others, a 2440 Deere. It's 60 HP, and wieghs in at about 6000lbs, with me on it. It had fluid in the rear tires when I bought it. It hit the scales at 7400 lbs. I use it for baling hay, pulling a 4 row planter, running a 6' rotovator, and bush hogging. It was just too heavy. I posed the question on here, sometime last summer, about taking the fluid out of the tires. I got many a warning about how unhappy I'd be with it. Well, 6 months later, I wouldn't put the fluid back for anything. The tractor handles all the chores I need of it, and is MUCH easier to haul on a trailer. Add that to the fact that I don't have the stress on the rear wheel bearings and axles, and I don't worry about having flat tires with fluid leaking everywhere. If you're going to be plowing, or pulling heavy wagonloads of hay, you might want to think about taking the wieght off. Otherwise, you won't miss it. JMHO. John

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Van

01-21-2004 18:04:57

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Re: Re: Ballast in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 01-21-2004 16:30:29

Indy, I agree with you to a point, however loaded tires do not put much stress on bearings as the weight is "unsprung" if the extra 1400 pounds was on the tractor frame, yes it would put more stress on the bearings.
Van

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Indydirtfarmer

01-22-2004 04:52:16

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Re: Re: Re: Ballast in reply to Van, 01-21-2004 18:04:57

Any wieght you put on the wheels, ends up putting stress on the axles, and the axle bearings. If you add 750 pounds to the center of the wheel, it won't have the same adverse effect as adding it to the outer perimeter of the wheel. (Iron wieghts, vs. fluid wieght) Granted, most tractors are designed to handle that wiegh, it just extends the life of the bearings, by not applying all the load they can handle. I have 2 nearly identical tractors setting in my barn. One is a 1956 Ferguson 40, that my uncle bought new. The other is a 1957 Massey Ferguson 50, my father bought new, 6 months after my uncle got his 40. The 50 never had fluid in the rear wheels. The 40 had fluid from day one. I'm currently resoring both of them. They both have about the same amount of hours (With-in 100 hours) The 40 has MUCH MORE wear in the rear end, and rear wheel bearings. It needed brakes long before the 50 did also. While that's not "iron-clad evidence" It's good enough for me. Here's another thing to look at. I have piut together a stainless steel chemical pump, and the hoses needed to pump fluid in and out of tractor tires. The entire package set me back less than $75. I can add fluid when needed, and take it out the rest of the time. It takes about an hour a wheel. The only time I need wieght in my tractor tires, is in the spring when I'm doing what little plowing I still do. The rest of the year, I'd rather have a lighter tractor. John

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