any physics experts out there?

Stability yes, traction, I don't know...

Keep the center of gravity low

Load the tires and take the weight odd the wheel bearing.   Wheel weight is alot easier on the tractor then counter weight.   But yes keep the weight as low as you can at all times. Keep the loader bucket low when moving will help the most.

slowzuki wrote: Using a hitch counterweight is the only way to take weight off the front axle which is usually the one damaged with loaders.  The rear axle can handle a counter weight fine. Dan73 wrote: Load the tires and take the weight odd the wheel bearing.   Wheel weight is alot easier on the tractor then counter weight.   But yes keep the weight as low as you can at all times. Keep the loader bucket low when moving will help the most.

The rear counter weight does not decrease the load on the front wheels.  It does improve stability.

Too much counter weight out the back will only allow you to overload the tractor to the point where you break everything the front end is not exempt from the load if you have a big counter weight yes you can pick it up off the ground with a big lever arm but it only slams down all the harder when you move it forward or the bucket comes down past center. Mark is right you don't really remove weight from the front wheels. I rebuilt a d15 with a ts500 loader that the PO had a 2000 pound counter weight on. I kid you not I weighted the counter weight after removing it. All that weight didn't protect the front end it just allowed them to destroy both the rear wheel bearing along with the front spindles both left and right plus the center counter weight support bearings it turned out. Just found that last set when the power steering leaked everwhere.
So in my experience no counterweight doesn't remove weight from the front end and protect it from abuse any benefit you see in the balancing game is more then offset by the slamming force when all that weight shifts forward in a bounce or going down a hill.
Wheel weight is not carried by the rear wheel bearings it is just sitting on the ground and the bearings just see the actual load from the weight in the bucket trying to lift up on the rear tires. With a counter weight the rear wheel bearing have to transfer all the weight to the ground. And in a bounce the counter weight force is will cause the front end to take more abusive point loads than you see with wheel weights.

Edited by Dan73 - 23 Apr 2016 at 3:54am

Tony Elo wrote: While on this topic, is there any advantage to lean back in the seat all the way when tractor pulling? Makes me chuckle every time I see that before they spin out

Very little if you lean back past the center-line of the axle. I've seen that too, but the advantage is very minimal.

Dan, I always called what you describe, the farmer syndrome. Load it  until it breaks and then take one off. To late of course, but we got to pick up the pieces. Leon R  Cmo

427435 wrote: slowzuki wrote: Using a hitch counterweight is the only way to take weight off the front axle which is usually the one damaged with loaders.  The rear axle can handle a counter weight fine. Dan73 wrote: Load the tires and take the weight odd the wheel bearing.   Wheel weight is alot easier on the tractor then counter weight.   But yes keep the weight as low as you can at all times. Keep the loader bucket low when moving will help the most. The rear counter weight does not decrease the load on the front wheels.  It does improve stability.

You are correct.  My bad.  That's what I get for posting late at night.