Front Weights

[Fragonard]

Are front weights a permanent fixture on tractors nowadays?
People never seem to take them off. Are they necessary for suspension?
For steering at 50k?
They must really accelerate tyre wear.

 

[Shutesy]

Not here, 3 tractors, 2 with front linkage and 1 with a weight box. Selection of front weights to put on the front linkages depending on the job being done. 45kg weights to go in the weight box of the 3rd tractor that get removed when its not either hedgecutting or fert spreading. Front tank used on front linkage of main tractor with mounted sprayer to save carrying a weight around, might as well carry extra water

 

[Cowabunga]

Depends on the tractor and the jobs it does and the season. 8X55kg plus a centre weight with jaw stay on my biggest tractor most of the time, although they may be removed from late May to September if its dry, for slurry and later silage carting. The second tractor may have weights for a month or so every couple of years. One has a loader fitted apart from when its buckraking, and the other almost never has weights on and if it has, they have to be off the biggest one.

 

[Sid]

have a front linkage weight block, 650 kg IIRC.
It only goes on when needed but there is a loader on the tractor and that gets removed when not needed. Both are easy to attach remove.

So in answer to the OP no we don't run with excess weight on the front

 

[nick...]

Plenty of people runnng about with 2500kg weights on front linkage all year round which is ridiculous.must cause axle and drive line problems.front axles are designed to slip but im sure there is no slippage with all that weight.maybe its just a must have,like twin beacons
Nick...

 

[Spear]

Hardly ever use front weights. Only if conditions are really bad when ploughing. Tractor handles 5f plough or 4 bags of fert in spinner without them.
500kg weight on front linkage if I do need them

 

[J 1177]

My nh has a weight pack that rarely gets used as its got the loader on for ploughing or drilling. I take it off for road work or ferting.
5130 has loader almost permantley attached as its a twit to remove. Massey has a pack of 12 55kg weights that i bought last week, they are on at the moment as iv been drilling with it

 

[Weare Cham]

Hardly ever use front weights. Only if conditions are really bad when ploughing. Tractor handles 5f plough or 4 bags of fert in spinner without them.
500kg weight on front linkage if I do need them

Wish I had a 1050. [emoji23] [emoji12]

 

[Spear]

Wish I had a 1050. [emoji23] [emoji12]

Valtra here [emoji6]

 

[Fragonard]

I thought they're a necessary evil for front suspension, or steering at high speed.
I see neighbours NEVER take them off.
Trailed sprayers or trailed drills or road work.
Big massive weight blocks on permanently.

 

[KB6930]

Weights are only ever on here when needed and only the bare minimum of weight at that 600 kgs for fert spreader where my neighbours run 1500 on a bigger tractor smaller spreader !

 

[Spear]

Certain makes are very light on the front.
My neighbour can only carry 2 bags of fert without weights with his 6080

 

[Cowabunga]

Plenty of people runnng about with 2500kg weights on front linkage all year round which is ridiculous.must cause axle and drive line problems.front axles are designed to slip but im sure there is no slippage with all that weight.maybe its just a must have,like twin beacons
Nick...

Front weights should not exceed that needed to ensure weight distribution when pulling in work of 40% front to 60% rear or what's needed for front end stability and steering control when the implement is raised. Any more than that amounts to extra unnecessary running cost in one way or another.

 

[Kevtherev]

More weight lugging=more fuel

 

[wuddy]

More weight lugging=more fuel

So that’s why most Fendts always have weights on so they produce more fuel!

 

[Lazy Sod]

There's a whole world of difference between lifting individual weights on and off compared to having the combined block on the front linkage.

 

[Spear]

There's a whole world of difference between lifting individual weights on and off compared to having the combined block on the front linkage.

Yep. Cost being one.

 

[B R C]

We only run front weight when needed, been on cultivating, spraying, fert, and rolling in the last 7 days weight on/off as req, only takes 2 mins, a lot quicker than the thing on the back takes.

 

[trook135]

Before I started specifying tractors with front linkage the 900kg would stay on all year round due to the pain in the arse to take it on and off! However now it’s on and off all the time and takes 30 seconds one man job, much better!!

 

[Grassman247]

Certain makes are very light on the front.
My neighbour can only carry 2 bags of fert without weights with his 6080

That’s strange, I’ve got a 6070 and carry 3 bags without front weights no bother