Adding weight

[rvparkownr]

I am still getting used to my new Silver Eagle and find the more hours I get on it the better I like it and the more I see the thinking behind the design. Its a great mower for my application, about 5-6 acres with lots of obstacles to work around but I am finding a simular problem that I encountered with my old Snapper ZTR. On turns on uneven ground I am getting some rear wheel spin. On my old mower I attributed it to the lightness of the machine and smaller rear tires. My DC dealer tried to sell me a commercial model that was heavier and with a wider rear axle but I simply do not think I need all the bells and whistles or extra $2500 expense. He says that in order to do "it" right I need to go with the bigger machine.

My question is this. Being around farm and construction equipment all my life, has anyone tried adding calcium chloride balast to the rear tires of a DC to add additional weight to the rear end to increase tire to ground contact?

Terry
Sallisaw/Fort Smith West KOA
Sallisaw OK

[DC Service]

You have to be careful adding weight to a Silver Eagle.The wheel motors are not rated to handle extra weight.You should have listened to your dealer and upgraded to a commercial model.Perhaps you can upgrade(trade in your unit)
on a heavier duty unit.It would be worth the upgrade If you are planning to keep the unit for a long time.The Silver Eagle is a good unit for mowing grass,but did you consider other chores like hauling firewood,plowing snow,
moving dirt in a cart,etc?You can probably get a good price for your unit as it is a new unit,but by the time you spend the money on upgrades to your unit,
It would be cheaper in the long run to just bite the bullet and go for a better model.Good luck! :confused:

[rvparkownr]

I really only need it to mow grass. We don't get snow here, at least not enough to worry about and I have other ways of hauling firewood ect.

I'm guess I wasn't convinced then or now that a wider heavier machine would be any different in the long run because they both have solid frames. I'm not the one with the long experience with these types of machines the way you guys are. You will have to help me understand how anythime you have 4 wheels on the same plane and traveling and turning over undulating ground how the rear wheels will not lose or at the very least reduce contact as different tires on the machine are constantly changing their contact pressure as the weight shifts.

Maybe I missed something but I spend about 10-12 hours a week on the machine and thought this was designed to fit this type of acreage. I just couldn't see spending the extra $ for a commercial machine designed to run 10-12 hours a day.

I like the machine, its got some great features but like anything else I'm asking questions to better understand what I don't know.

Terry
Sallisaw/Fort Smith West KOA
Sallisaw OK

[txchopper]

Terry, Perhaps I can help shed some light. Your machine is ideal for what you are using it for. Yes, a larger machine does have some additional weight but it is evenly distributed through-out the design. Therfore, unless you bought the diesel, there is not much more weight on the drive tires. You are using the machine as it was intended to be utilized. Most KOA grounds, that I have seen, are pretty level. I know the area that you live, as I used to live in Tahlequah. Try these things: first slow down your forward motion before turning. It is much the same as turning a "shopping cart", the cart has to be brought to a stop to do a "Z" turn. Check the back tire pressure. 6 to 5 lbs will help you get more traction and improve the ride. Last, you can add fluid to the drive tires, This machine is rated to pull 250 lbs. there is no possible way for you to exceed this rating by adding fluid. I have done it and it works. I hope this helps... it was a pleasure to read your post, there is no doubt that you are an educated person, after all, you did buy a "chopper". :)

[rvparkownr]

Thanks for the imput. I have been experimenting with different techniques and you are right about slowing before turning. I am 51 and have spent time on about every kind of farm and construction equipment ever made. Its like anything else every machine has its own charicteristics.

[tshank]

When I purchased, dealer knew type of terrain I would be on, put fluid in tires without me knowing it. Hill performance is pretty darn good. I'm satisfied, but don't know how it would perform without fluid. He put some type of anti-freeze in. Supposed to corrode wheels a lot less than chloride.

[leadarrows]

When I purchased, dealer knew type of terrain I would be on, put fluid in tires without me knowing it. Hill performance is pretty darn good. I'm satisfied, but don't know how it would perform without fluid. He put some type of anti-freeze in. Supposed to corrode wheels a lot less than chloride.
I got the bright idea that I could use anti-freeze in a yard roller one year. I saved some from the tractors when I serviced them that year. Put it in the roller and thought that would be it. No more draining the water every year. Well it worked ok for a couple of years then I got a leak in the roller and didn't relize it till I had a dead streak of grass every where I had been with that thing. So the point of my story is I don't think putting any thing in your tires that could leak out and kill the grass is a risk free idea.
Just a thought.