loaded front tires

[kmm]

Was wondering how many load/fill the front tires of tractors? I am associated with 3 tractors which all have the rears filled but none have the fronts? One is a JD 2640, IH 464D, & Farmall 140.

The one I was considering, which is the same one used the most is the IH 464D. When a disc harrow is used it does seem light on the front, but I have since added a weight bracket with some suitecase weights and have not tried it since.

What are the benefits and downfalls?

Thank you,

 

[glennster]

i dont load my front tires. if i need weight, i just hang weight on the front. i seem to get way more flats on the front tires as opposed to the rears, especially on the mowing tractors. (junk in the ditch, bottles ect).

 

[MarkB_MI]

My row crop Ford 4000 has ballast in front and rear tires. It's not that much extra weight (I think it's around 45 lbs per front tire), but it puts the weight down low where it's needed the most. (The row crop hundred series Fords sit very high.)

 

[Larry59]

So most don't load the front tires?

 

[Allan in NE]

Heck, I dunno.

I've always used suitcase front end weights so I could get 'em off there in a big hurry.

Only have just a few implements that need the front weight anyways.

Allan

 

[Steven f/AZ]

We use the suitcase weights - too many flats up front to be calling the tire truck every time to have the fluid pumped out and back in.

Also, my father-in-law used to run fluid in the front tires and said he would take out a set of wheel bearings every year --- switched to suitcase weights and hasn't had any further trouble.

 

[Vito]

Put a pair of front wheel or hanging weights.Much easier to deal with like the others have stated.
Vito

 

[rrlund]

I have WAY too many flats on the fronts to deal with that. They weather check,stems and stubble get in to the cracks and chafe the tubes. Sounds like a huge pain in the @ss.

 

[jim johnson]

Had a friend who did that but couldn't run in road gear because of the shaking. He took it out.

Jim

 

[Anonymous-0]

That doesn't make sense as the filled tires put less weight on the bearings than than wheel weights. Maybe if the tires weren't filled full could cause some problems at high speeds? Or the steering linkage was a little worn or out of adjustment? In my manual it mentions filling front tires, so it must be an accepted method to add front end weight. For some applications it might not be the best method. Dave

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have an Oliver 880 that my dad bought new in 59. He loaded the front tires because it was a little light in front with the semi mounted plow. First time it had a problem was two years ago when I punctured a tire.

 

[Mitch Furness]

Allan how long has that paddock been in pasture for? Do you graze it at all and when you have ploughed it like that what do you go over it with next, chisel plough or scarifier or what?

Cheers

Mitch

 

[Allan in NE]

Believe it or not, that mess was a wheat field the year before. The PO didn't believe in a plow so it hadn't been turned since around 1985.

I've still got something like 50 acres yet to upset and then I will have been across it all once with the plow.

Naw, I don't go thru all that mumbo-jumbo. Just pack it and plant it.

Allan

 

[RodinNS]

I've got the fronts loaded on two FWD tractors at the moment. It was done for additional weight because it was cheaper than cast at the time. I'm quite likely to get rid of the fluid before long though. It works fine, and it doesn't bother the tractor. I just want more flexibility to shed weight quickly. Can't do that with fluid...

Rod

 

[Steven f/AZ]

Allan, I've just always loved the look of a big tractor without a cab. All of them around ND seemed to have cabs from the factory, even many of the 656 and up had cabs on them. I'd just love to have a 1206 open station to play with...

And to reply to 135 fan about wheel bearing trouble with loaded tires - all I can think of is that it put more stress on the bearings when turning to have all that weight right on the tread... but who knows - he might have had less weight on with cast vs. the fluid.

 

[kyhayman]

I've never seen front tires loade with fluid, not saying it isnt done but in 20 years of farming and trading used equip plus 13 years of teaching ag mech shop I havent seen it. Suitcase weights, even front wheel center weights one but never fluid. Just not sure you could get enough in there to do a lot of good. My lightest set of suitcase weights is 4-100 pound weights. Mostly I put a full rack of 10 on.

 

[Dairy Farmer in WI]

man allan, that is one mighty lllllllllloooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg field. hope ya got something like a radio 'er soumpthin' to keep ya busy. or does bouncing accross the field keep your grip tight?
DF in WI

 

[Mitch Furness]

I cant quite see in those pictures Allan-what does the packing? Are they self mulching soils ie. do they break down to fine tilth pretty well once they are disturbed?

 

[Mitch Furness]

I get it, it is just the roller that does it?

 

[Anonymous-0]

My JD 830 from Saskatchewan had loaded front tires. Apparently it was done on the older larger tractors rather than purchase the front wheel weights. During the subsequent rebuild, drained it out and replaced the tubes. I would spend the money for suit case weights if they will fit.

 

[RodinNS]

The only reason I could think of that would cause more wheel bearing trouble is if somebody went to 100% fill on the tires. Doing that would remove the air cushion from the tire and then the weakest link would have to give when it hit a bump.... and that would probably be the wheel bearing. Otherwise I think that's just an old wise tale. I was warned and warned about hub seals leaking in the FWD's I have if I filled the tires. They've been filled for over 20 years on one tractor and the only seal failures were from twine, and not many of them....

Rod