Buhler 2290, 2335, 2425, 2375, 2360 Calculation of Ballast, Shipping Weight and Fore/Aft Ratio, 159

SECTION 2 - OPERATION

CALCULATION OF BALLAST

The following information is provided as a guide for proper ballasting:

Shipping Weight and Fore/Aft Ratio

Generally the tractor will come from the factory with an approximate weight distribution of 65% - 67% on the front axle and 33% - 35% on the rear axle. Do not assume that every tractor will come from the factory with this weight distribution. Various options and wheel packages will significantly change the weight of the tractor. Determine the shipping weight BEFORE any ballast is added to the tractor by weighing the tractor on a scale. This is the most accurate method of determining actual tractor weight and ballasting the unit correctly. Possible locations of a scale of adequate size to weigh the tractor would be a feed/fertilizer store, asphalt plant, gravel quarry, grain elevator, etc.

NOTE: There is an additional method of calculating the shipping weight of the tractor using calculated weight from theoretical value charts located in the Section 5 of this manual. Weighing the tractor on a scale is preferred.

When weighing the tractor, pull the front axle on the scale first. Make sure the inside wheels of the dual or triple tires are fully on the scales and the outer tires are off of the ground. Since most scales are less than 3 m (10′) wide, driving the inner wheels up on wooden blocks will accomplish this. Repeat this procedure for the rear axle. Record the unballasted weight of each axle. Add the weight recorded for each

Example:

2335 Unballasted Shipping Weight

Front axle weight:	7,265 kg (16,017 lbs.)
Rear axle weight:	3,966 kg (8743 lbs.)
Total tractor shipping weight:		11,231 kg
Weight distribution		(24,760 lbs.)
front axle:		7,265⎟11,231
Weight distribution	(16,017 ⎟ 24,760)=65%
rear axle:		3,966⎟11,231
	(8,743 ⎟ 24,760)=35%

NOTE: The above example is not an exact shipping weight of a 2335. Weigh your specific tractor to get accurate figures to work with.

The optimum ballast to be obtained is to get the tractor weighted so that 50% of the load is being carried on each axle during field work. This makes each axle pull its share of the load so that one component is not overworked.

Operating Weight and Fore/Aft Ratio

Buhler Versatile has determined that Buhler Versatile 4WD tractors operate at top efficiency when ballasted to 43.1 Kg (95 lbs.) per engine brake horsepower. This is the total vehicle weight at which the tractor can pull an implement and propel itself without causing excess soil compaction. The following chart shows recommended operating weights based on tractor model by horsepower at 43.1 Kg (95 lbs.) per horsepower ballast.

axle together to get a total tractor shipping weight. Divide the individual axle weights by the total tractor shipping weight to get the front to rear weight distribution percentage.

MODEL

2290

2335

2360

2375

2425

RATED

HORSEPOWER

290

335

360

375

425

RECOMMENDED

OPERATING

WEIGHT AT

95 LBS/HP

12,500 kg

(27,550 lbs.)

14,440 kg

(31,825 lbs.)

15,515 kg

(34,200 lbs.)

16,160 kg

(35,625 lbs.)

18,315 kg

(40,375 lbs.)

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