I can I use tractor with ballast in only 1 rear tire?

ctford · Jul 14, 2017

Hey ya'll,

Would it be okay to have the tire mounted and run one tire with ballast and one without?

Also would it matter if one was filled to 75% and I fill this one to 40%??

Had a tube pop on the back of my old Ford 2000. The fluid ate my rim up. So I got new replacement wheel and really need to get to the farm to get some work done.

Traction should not be an issue, mainly needing to bushhog a bunch of flat land. I'll fill with windshield fluid when I get the chance.

Thanks
ctford

NCWayne · Jul 14, 2017

I've seen tractors with one side full, and the other dead empty. In one case the owner had had the machine for years and didn't even know it.

We really don't have much steep ground around here so I don't know how it would act on a side hill, but you should be just fine on flat ground.

PJH · Jul 14, 2017

My father-in-law turtled a Minneapolis-Moline, and we blamed it partially on fluid in one tire and the other tire dry. He was plowing a hillside when he flipped it.

I'd prefer to have it balanced - one less thing you have to think about.

ctford · Jul 14, 2017

Thanks, My property is dead flat river bottom land. Closest thing you could call a hill is 2 miles away. I just gotta get it bush hogged and then I fill the tire. This weekend is suppose to be cooler and less humid so if I can get it remounted tomorrow i'll be hogging on sunday.

paul · Jul 15, 2017

Dad was too cheap to do things right, so we ran one that way for a few years. It works, but traction is aweful any time you need traction.

Paul

NEKS · Jul 15, 2017

Dad bought a new WD in 1951 and had them put fluid in the tires. Eight years later had a tire dealer come out and put new ones on. One was about full and the other one only had 5 gallons in it.
Want back to the tractor dealer and he paid for the fluid for the other tire.

ptfarmer · Jul 15, 2017

If you are only using it to bush hog on flat land you don't need the ballast. All the ballast is going to do is make it a real pain when you do get a flat.

ctford · Jul 15, 2017

(quoted from post at 02:05:39 07/15/17) If you are only using it to bush hog on flat land you don't need the ballast. All the ballast is going to do is make it a real pain when you do get a flat.

Looks like the old sodium chloride is good for killing the grass FOREVER in the yard and anywhere you rolled the tire to load it up. I have a 5" circle of brown followed by 3 foot strips of brown every 10 feet across the lawn! Looks like a passing one on the highway. Lesson learned.

Thanks guys!

jeffcat · Jul 15, 2017

As you said when you are done and get the chance, even them out.

Traditional Farmer · Jul 15, 2017

If all you're doing is bush hogging on flat land you don't fluid in either tire.

gene bender · Jul 15, 2017

Why use any balast if just bush-hogging ballast is for traction tillage.

buickanddeere · Jul 15, 2017

Extra spider gear wear.

showcrop · Jul 15, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:21:04 07/14/17)

(quoted from post at 02:05:39 07/15/17) If you are only using it to bush hog on flat land you don't need the ballast. All the ballast is going to do is make it a real pain when you do get a flat.

Click to expand...

Looks like the old sodium chloride is good for killing the grass FOREVER in the yard and anywhere you rolled the tire to load it up. I have a 5" circle of brown followed by 3 foot strips of brown every 10 feet across the lawn! Looks like a passing one on the highway. Lesson learned.

Thanks guys!

I had a flat while haying once, and had the tire Co. come out to repair it. The tech of course spilled some CaCl. I was surprised at how fast the grass grew in again. CTFord, maybe you mean Calcium Chloride.

JDEM · Jul 15, 2017

I have been using my Ford 641 with one rear tire loaded and one empty for 10 years. Never bothered a thing. Both were
originally filled with beet juice (AKA "Rim-Guard). I had to fix a flat and drained one.

Traditional Farmer · Jul 15, 2017

Good point and why lug around a lot of extra weight when its not needed just creates wear and tear on the tractor drive train and takes more fuel.

Dick L · Jul 15, 2017

I have two tractors that way now. One is my little loader tractor and the other is my Allis C with the belly mower. Normally you wouldn't know it. When I hook a chain to something heavy and one tire spins I start to think of awful unkind words to call myself. After I get a bigger tractor those thoughts start to dissipate until the next time. I kinda live under moto that never do today that you might be able to do tomorrow.

^D

teddy52food · Jul 15, 2017

If doing a lot of plowing, the left side could be filled more for better traction.

Determined · Jul 15, 2017

I have had many over the years that only had one filled or one 1/4 full and the other 3/4 full never really caused any big problems.

Changed out a set on the front of a 1070 I recently acquired one was dry the other was filled.
Probably not a coincidence that the wheel bearings on the side that had the filled tire needed to be replaced at the same time.

sotxbill · Jul 15, 2017

will not hurt a thing... obviously one tire will have more traction than the other... so a right side tire being filled would be better as its the tire that gets the most power.... but, no,, go shred and have a great time.

Billy NY · Jul 15, 2017

On the flat, for the work you intend to do with it, should be no trouble at all.

I've had about the same thing happen and needed to do the same work.

Like most tractors if working on a side slope or anything of the like and you encounter soft conditions, traction will be an issue and you will get stuck easier if the lighter wheel is on the high side. That did happen to me when I got too close to the old field edge and where the marsh starts. Was a bit soft but being uneven and the high side being lighter made all the difference, where before I'd get through on the 1st pass and know I'd better not go through there again.

If it has a loader and you lift something heavy, its also worth considering, you will definitely notice the difference and it could be a lot less safe than it was with both loaded.

jddrawbar · Jul 15, 2017

Ballast is also for ride quality.......on my rocky ground it makes a huge difference.

JMOR · Jul 15, 2017

(quoted from post at 09:50:57 07/15/17) I have had many over the years that only had one filled or one 1/4 full and the other 3/4 full never really caused any big problems.

Changed out a set on the front of a 1070 I recently acquired one was dry the other was filled.
Probably not a coincidence that the wheel bearings on the side that had the filled tire needed to be replaced at the same time.

robably coincidence. Bearings do not carry the ballast weight, you know.

old · Jul 15, 2017

As long as you stay on ground that is pretty flat your ok but if you get on a hill side with the filled tire down hill it can cause you to lay the tractor over due to the lighter tire being up hill and the fluid filed tire being down hill I learned that on my Ford 841S and had one tire filled one not and almost lost it on a hill side. But my dad did not tell me he had not had to one tire filled or I would have done what I did different

I can I use tractor with ballast in only 1 rear tire?

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