Tire Ballast vs rear ballast

Some people on YT seem to think that rear ballast is the answer to keeping the rear wheels on the ground when lifting with front bucket. That will work, but it does nothing to remove the weight off the front axle. I made 6 concrete weights, 75# each. My little guy's front bucket is rated a little over 1700#, a ¼ yard bucket. It can lift that and more. I can lift enough to pull the rear wheels off the ground.

The hoe weighs only 3100# and lets say I can lift 1900# and it lifts the rear wheels. Physics says all the weight of the tractor plus the 1900# is supported by the 2 front wheels, 5000# total. Adding ballast to the rear tires does nothing to remove the 5000# off the front axle. Yes, rear ballast will keep the rear tires on the ground, but no weight transfer.

My 450# bar bell weights will transfer the tractor's weight off the front tires and move all of it to the rear tires. I'm sure some will argue this fact, but pic says it all. By extending it more, it will also transfer some of the front bucket weight too. I just have to remember to pull the bar bells in before I dump the front bucket or I get a free ride. It's was a little scary at first, but the ride is over as soon as the back hook hits the ground.

Sometimes when I working away form the bar bells, I'll grab a log or something to add ballast.

Neighbor had me make him a 55 gallon drum full of concrete and attach it to a 3 pt hitch so he can lift round bails of hay for his cows.

Physics lesson is over for the day. Try it before you knock it.

Physics at work! What will happen to the frame of your tractor with a full load in the bucket, and all that weight on the 3 point arms?

First of all my terramite has no 3 pt. I wouldn't spend a dime on a 3 pt hoe or a bolt
on loader. I've owned it for 7 years now, yet to damage it by lifting anything. I give
it a workout. The terramite is built in the USA from the ground up as a hoe and it's no
fun to remove loader or hoe.

My neighbor has a large massey with a 3 pt. His can handle the 1100# ballast just fine.
I'm sure smaller tractors couldn't handle 1100#. He can lift 1100+# bails with front
loader just fine. His only problem is when the cow lot is wet and muddy. Without rear
ballast, his front wheels sink in the mud.

whats the point? Anyone that has been around a farm knows about rear and front weights-- you either got them or you ain't

You missed my point, not wheel weights, rear ballast behind the axle to transfer center of gravity off the front end.

Another way of saying the same thing is that weight applied directly at the axle (wheel weights or liquid) applies no moment about that axle so no weight is transferred from anywhere else on the machine. Weight applied behind the rear axle will exert a moment which lightens the front end and transfers that weight to the rear, just like when trying to lift something too heavy on the 3-point and having the front end come off the ground. The physics are the same regardless of whether the tractor has a front-end loader or not.

That's what I've been saying all along. The rear axle has to become the fulcrum for the leverage.

Why play around with a 1/4 yard bucket? Add a ton to the back and put a full yard bucket on. Or even two ton and a two yard bucket. Don't just play around, put physics to work and git er done!!

Why play around with a 1/4 yard bucket? Three reasons; most of my work is yard work. A
bigger hoe will leave ruts. Second reason, I can't stand the smell of diesel exhaust,
gives me an instant headache. Third, my little toy is MADE IN THE USA ,very simple to
work on, and only sub compact gasser I could find at the time.

It does everything I need. If I ever thought I needed a bigger one, I would own one in a
heart beat.