Front ballast/weight

[BillH-HT]

I've started using my tractor (a YMG1800) more this Spring and I finally had my first mishap on it. I'm needing to mow steeper slopes and I _finally_ found out how steep a grade it would go up:

<IMG src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/wilga_photo/Misc/tractor_mishap.jpg"><s>

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Whew. No harm done: I bailed out, rolled and scrambled out of the way. Cut the motor, called a neighbor to help me get it back on all four. We pulled the nose of the tractor down with a piece of chain and I'm guessing it took 60 pounds or less pull. The nose was definitely light and wouldn't stay down while it was on the slope.

The equipment on the back is a 48" Sitrex mower, not a heavy piece of gear. The weight I have in the front, under the battery, is a piece of steel 9x7x4" weighing in at a calculated "less than" 70 pounds. I've since gotten a 4' piece of rail that I'm bolting to the front bumper; I'm figuring this added nose weight will be around 180 pounds. I'll test it on "moderate" slopes before I get into trouble...

I wonder if I should add more weight to the front?

Thanks,

--Bill

 

[Desert Dave-HT]

Bill, I'm glad everything turned out OK. Lucky you were cutting straight up the hill. I had kind of the same thing happen but with a dune buggy. Wish I had a picture of it. We all laugh about these things.....later. You may rethink just adding a permanent heavy rail for the added weight though. Look into suitcase weights instead. Or something else you could make up that is removable. No use in carrying a bunch of extra weight all the time when you could add it only when you need it.

 

[PaulW-HT]

Now go put a ROPS on it too! That may save your life next time <E>:shock:</E>

 

[Norm-HT]

200# is maximum recommended weight for front of similar sized YM2000.

 

[norfolktoad-HT]

Fit either front wheel weights or "suitcase" weights. No point in ballasting the front wheels as little water can be put into a 4.00 12 tyre. I have 2 weights of a MF 135 for my 1610 which keeps the tractor balanced with 250 litre sprayer on the back.

Norm are you saying no more than 200lb on the front frame?

Mike

 

[BillH-HT]

Yep, I've been looking for a used ROPS for the tractor-- "new" isn't in the budget right now.

I did get the 4' piece of railroad rail attached today and it maked a lot of difference. And I'll look into weight options later on.

I've always been cautious about mowing while running on a side slope, even added a Tiltmeter to give me (a nOOb) more of a feel-- having a set value has helped get my "seat of the pants" calibrated. And this incident taught me more about working up and down slopes.

Live and learn, and keep on living... <E></E>

--Bill

 

[Norm-HT]

<QUOTE author="norfolktoad"><s>

</s>Fit either front wheel weights or "suitcase" weights. No point in ballasting the front wheels as little water can be put into a 4.00 12 tyre. I have 2 weights of a MF 135 for my 1610 which keeps the tractor balanced with 250 litre sprayer on the back.

Norm are you saying no more than 200lb on the front frame?

Mike<e>

/e></QUOTE>
Correct, suitcase weights on the front bumper.

 

[alan-HT]

You want the minimum that will keep the steering effective, and that depends mostly on the rear implement, making it trial-and-error. Going heavier than that reduces traction (in a 2WD) and can stress the front end.