Ford 4610 lass of traction

[GavinJ]

Hi
Our 2wd Ford 4610 (with loader) suffers from total loss of grip in muddy conditions. It is fitted with 16.9R30 rear tyres which are probably approaching 75% worn. Even with a concrete weight on the back it will not go places that our other tractors go easily but they do have narrower tyres. However i find it hard to believe that as these were standard fitment from the factory it is so bad. Also coming down slopes she just slides and another winter like this doesn't appeal at all. Wet slopes are quite common on a mid wales hill farm !
Should i change the wheels and fit narrower and taller tyres or replace with the same size and hope that the extra tread depth will improve things.

 

[Exfarmer]

Front loader, worn out tyres 2 wd i am afraid you can expect little else
new tyres and a bigger block on the back will help

 

[Boohoo]

As said, new tyres and more weight will definitely help. If you think it's just sliding around on the top and not biting in then 13.6r36 or 340/85r36 in new money, are the closest match for 16.9r30

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

worn tyres won't grip, and really speaking for the Welsh hillsides, a four Wheel drive would be better and safer, maybe need to think about changing the tractor for something more stable on banks, if your shifting round bales made by a contractor, the bales today weigh 50% heavier from New balers now than 20 years ago,

a Fendit 716 profi with loader would be about right for most on here, but an older 4wd about 70 or so hp would do your job,

 

[24/7 farming]

Filling bac tyres with water might help, we find it a massive help for grip on our 35.
u say muddy conditions, r u sure the weight on the back is not dragging in the dirt (ie not high enough off the ground), as this will take a fair bit of the weight of the bac wheels while also forcing them to drag the weight too

 

[Nearly]

A standard loader (to fit 3 or 4 cyl) put onto a 3cyl tractor will effectively have the front axle 6" further back than a 4cyl tractor so the rear wheels are never going to be in contact with the floor. You need a tonne on the rear arms to make any difference at all. Water ballasting will not do the same job.
We had the same problem on the same tractor.
Sell it to someone with a flat farm or buy a big weight.

 

[davidroberts30]

What pressure is in the rear tyres???

 

[ed574]

Had a similar thing with my 1490. It was on 7.50x16 tyres on the front which I upgraded to 10.00 x 16 and it helped a lot, as well as some 2nd hand part worn rears. It kept the front wheels from cutting in and therefore it was easier to keep the tractor moving. I don't know if you can fit 10.00s on the front of a 4610 but I think it was around £300 for both rim and tyre assemblies off Agriline.

However in the end I have sold it and bought a 1490 4wd. Much more capable and stable.

 

[GavinJ]

Thanks for the thoughts. It is not dragging the ground there is adequate clearance underneath and it slips even without anything on the front loader. Changing to 4wd is obviously the answer but looking for the right machine and the 4610 will be staying anyway as it has had an engine rebuild a few years ago and is generally reliable and useful in and around small buildings where the 4wd replacement would not be.
The loader is the old steelfab / ford / horndraulic converted to power loader many years ago so the weight is further forward than a modern loader but as i said even without using the loader she still spins. Even in the summer with a bale trailer on she was sliding down one bank where as another 2wd smaller tractor coped easily.
I am not sure what pressure is in the rear tyres but have considered water ballast but the sidewalls are badly perished now so replacements of some sort will be needed soon.

 

[Boohoo]

Thanks for the thoughts. It is not dragging the ground there is adequate clearance underneath and it slips even without anything on the front loader. Changing to 4wd is obviously the answer but looking for the right machine and the 4610 will be staying anyway as it has had an engine rebuild a few years ago and is generally reliable and useful in and around small buildings where the 4wd replacement would not be.
The loader is the old steelfab / ford / horndraulic converted to power loader many years ago so the weight is further forward than a modern loader but as i said even without using the loader she still spins. Even in the summer with a bale trailer on she was sliding down one bank where as another 2wd smaller tractor coped easily.
I am not sure what pressure is in the rear tyres but have considered water ballast but the sidewalls are badly perished now so replacements of some sort will be needed soon.

Those loaders are long which won't be helping any. I used to stack bales and load muck with one on a 4610 and stub axles didn't last long. They were designed to have the bucket between the loader arms but most attachments now sit beyond the end of the loader, making a long loader even longer.

 

[GavinJ]

Exactly. This has a headstock fitted to the original bucket mounting pins then the attachment BUT as I said this slides with no attachment on the loader. One day i will try taking it off and see what it is like but it is such a pain to remove

 

[Vincent]

New tyres are the best money ever spent I think. Expensive mind but worth it. I put new rears on the 3cx and the it even drives better now.

 

[GavinJ]

But am I better changing from wide to narrow?

 

[Vincent]

To go to narrow will you not have to change runs. I'd stay the same but new and then add weight.

 

[Nearly]

But am I better changing from wide to narrow?

No difference. Narrow ones will be a touch cheaper but you'll need new rims. Stick with 16.9 30's.
Watch out for some old implement for 3pt linkage or the old favourite 45 gallon drum filled with concrete.

 

[GavinJ]

Already using a 45 gallon drum with concrete and if it improves things I would happily change rims rather than spend on tyres and still have the problem. It seems to me strange that our other 2wd tractors which have narrower tyres go up the banks without any weight on the back hence the question.

 

[Nearly]

Already using a 45 gallon drum with concrete and if it improves things I would happily change rims rather than spend on tyres and still have the problem. It seems to me strange that our other 2wd tractors which have narrower tyres go up the banks without any weight on the back hence the question.

The problem is the weight of the loader lifting the back wheels off the ground.
Nothing wrong with a 2wd.
Bigger weight required then.

 

[Lowland1]

Probably best to buy a new Fendt. I could take the 4610 away for you

 

[GavinJ]

If you send me a new Fendt (a real working one not a model) I will discuss a deal on the 4610 but I really do want it to stay

 

[Sharpy]

Are the tyres cross plys ?