Buhler 2335, 2425, 2290, 2375, 2360 manual Too Little Ballast, Too Much Ballast, 157

SECTION 2 - OPERATION

Every tire contact on every surface will produce some amount of wheel slip. If there were no wheel slip, significant drivetrain wear would be present and damage to the tractor may occur. Ballasting the tractor and operating with the proper size and inflated tires will maintain wheel slip at a manageable level (8%-15%).

Measuring Wheel Slip

Tractors that are equipped with an optional Tractor Performance Monitor will measure wheel slip automatically and inform the operator if the wheel slip is at an unacceptable level based on a preprogrammed value set by the operator. For more information on the wheel slip feature on the Tractor Performance Monitor, see “Tractor Performance Monitor” earlier in this section.

If the tractor does not have the optional Tractor Performance Monitor, wheel slip can be measured as follows:

1.Put a reference mark on the side of the tractor rear tire.

2.Operate the tractor with the implement in the ground.

3.While the tractor is moving, have an assistant put a marker on the ground outside the implement width where the reference mark on the tire comes down to the ground.

DANGER: MAKE SURE THE ASSISTANT IS CLEAR OF THE IMPLEMENT AND TRACTOR DURING WHEEL SLIP MEASUREMENTS.

4.Continue to move along with the tractor and count ten wheel revolutions. Put a second marker on the ground outside the implement width where the reference mark on the tire comes down to the ground for the tenth time.

5.Lift the implement out of the ground. Put the tractor in position and put a new reference mark on the rear tire aligned with the first ground marker.

6.Operate the tractor, with the implement raised, from the first ground marker to the second ground marker. Count the number of wheel revolutions between the two ground markers.

7.The tire will require fewer revolutions to cover the same distance because of less slip. The following table will determine the percent of wheel slip from the number of wheel revolutions:

Revolutions of Wheel	Slip %
9-1/2	5
9	10
8-1/2	15
8	20
7-1/2	25
7	30

When you have too much ballast installed on the tractor, you will see the clear shape of the tire bar in the ground which is an indication of no slippage. With too little ballast, the tire bar marks will not show because of the tire slippage.

Too Little Ballast

1.Excessive wheel spin

2.Power loss

3.Tire wear

4.Excessive fuel consumption

5.Lower productivity

Too Much Ballast

1.Increased drivetrain load and power operating cost

2.Power loss

3.Tire strain

4.Soil compaction

5.Lower productivity, i.e., more power required to move the overloaded tractor, allowing less power available to pull the implement.

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