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Was wondering if it will hurt the hydro transmission to add ballast in the tires for traction to plow snow in my new Ltd 1042 kw for plowing light snow. Any advice?

lockum40 said:

Was wondering if it will hurt the hydro transmission to add ballast in the tires for traction to plow snow in my new Ltd 1042 kw for plowing light snow. Any advice?

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:thumbsup: go for it, it will not hurt anything.

Thanks anyway. I contacted the manufacturer and they recommended not filling the rear tires but adding chains and wheel weights. They said it is not a good idea to mow with the added weight in the tires as it would add stain on the transmission.

lockum40 said:

Thanks anyway. I contacted the manufacturer and they recommended not filling the rear tires but adding chains and wheel weights. They said it is not a good idea to mow with the added weight in the tires as it would add stain on the transmission.

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:smile: You are Welcome. MTD's statement is kinda countradicting. Does not wheel weights and chains put a strain on the trans? The trans/tansaxle must be alum?

Buckshot, weights and chains come off during summer operation. Fluid would stay in all year round.

Windshield fluid? Just doesn't seem like it would add enough weight to do much of anything. How would you pump this into your tires? Would it do damage to the steel wheels and rubber tires in time? Just how many gallons do you think you could put into a tire? I weighed one gallon and I got 7.8 lbs. what makes it abought the weight of H20.

The transmission in the ltx 1042 kw is die cast aluminum. I used to have a model 1811 cub cadet garden tractor which was built a lot heavier and the hydro could take the extra weight of the ballast in the tires. The ltx is more of a lawn tractor but I still will use it for snow, just not abuse it in heavy snow. I will go with the tire chains for now. Also, when I had my 1811, the dealer recommended windshield antifreeze for the tires as it wouldn't freeze and would not hurt the wheels or tires.

Best thing is to put antifreeze in as much as you can then with valve stem at to top hook a hose to it and fill with water then put the core back in and fill with air. You can buy a adaptor to hook the water hose to the valve.
As we all know antifreeze will not hurt the wheels or tires.

Keep the water and antifreeze in year round it will help you not to slide on hills

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Disagree, adding that type of extra weight all year round is going to shorten the life of that tranny very fast. How must stress is put on the tranny in winter as opposed to summer is very different. Different surface, winter normally hard and flat, summer soft and spongy. Different temps, runs hotter in summer with extra weight. If it's a hydro, big problem. Heavier weight in summer could easily put ruts in the lawn, particularly in the early part of the season. This is only my opinion, and many will say it ain't worth a darn, as I'm only a grease monkey and not a professional mechanic. Use what I post at your own risk.

lockum40 said:

Thanks anyway. I contacted the manufacturer and they recommended not filling the rear tires but adding chains and wheel weights. They said it is not a good idea to mow with the added weight in the tires as it would add stain on the transmission.

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I'd go with what the manufacturer recommended and what Rivets has told makes perfect sense.

I can't see where you are going to gain that much weight. 5 gallons in each tire you would have 78 lbs. The differents between a 150 lb. woman and a 229 lb man. Can you get 5 gallons in a tire?

My added weight is not directly attached to the axle and is balanced over the four wheels.

Putting water in your tires or adding wheel weights is not the same as towing or pulling or carrying a 300 pound man or a 100 pound man.

I know a couple of you will call a red ball blue if I say it is red. But don't give wrong advice just because of your dislike for me.

We have had this talk about a year ago and everyone agreed that water or weights will not hurt the tranny like pulling or towing.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Maybe get a set of winter tires with aggressive tread?

I have had 100lbs (50 lbs each) of wheel weights on my garden tractor from day one (1992) using it year round, mowing in summer, snow removal winter and never had any drive train problems yet. So just what damage is 70lbs of water in the tires going to do? Break the houseing, bearings, gears, over heat the oil??? I just can't see any harm in it. The weight isn't on the axle. Sorry I just don't agree on this one. Another thing I can't understand is how a home owner will fill his tires with washer fluid without a specal pump. So as the tire fills with fluid where does the air go?

Rivets said:

Buckshot, weights and chains come off during summer operation. Fluid would stay in all year round.

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:smile: Even though you pull the chains and weights. You still have them on during the winter, so would that not put extra strain on the alum transaxle? Most LT's today have a disclaimer on the rear, stating not for ground engaging equipment. I pull the chains and leave the weights on in the spring on my CC149, I realize that it is a heavy duty GT. But only use it for snow removal and tilling.

Carscw said:

Putting water in your tires or adding wheel weights is not the same as towing or pulling or carrying a 300 pound man or a 100 pound man.

I know a couple of you will call a red ball blue if I say it is red. But don't give wrong advice just because of your dislike for me.

We have had this talk about a year ago and everyone agreed that water or weights will not hurt the tranny like pulling or towing.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

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I added washer fluid to my 1042 rear tires approx 6 years ago with no problems I mow approx 1 acre, plow snow etc

I guess it all depends how small or big your toy is. Haha