Getting a acurate pulling weight?

Our club scales that weigh the whole tractor began to have accuracy problems right from the git go at last springs show and pull. We were asked to go on with the pull using the honor system being most pullers know what class they are weighted to pull in without going over a scale.
Well, here it is time again for the BIGGIE. The LA State Fair pull in Shreveport this Friday and Saturday. The estimated cost to REPAIR &
recalibrate the club scale was close to 5 grand and was not in the budget anytime soon.
So. A north LA club is bringing their scale to Shreveport so we have a scale. A small scale where you weigh the front axle first then the rear axle and add the two readings together and by some vodo math get a accurate gross pulling weight for all tractors coming across the scales.
Tell me what you know about weighing the front and the rear and adding them up as far as accuracy goes across the board for tractors weighing #3000 up to #12000

Edited by Ken in Texas - 26 Oct 2016 at 9:10am

Wow! That sounds like a lot to get the scales re calibrated?
Regards,
 Chris

Scales are expensive. A new semi truck scale is about $70k

Guys.
What the DOT is interested in is overloading a axle beyond its rated capacity not the gross weight of the entire truck and contents.
I played with my bathroom scale that weighs me at 202.4.
Laying out flat facing down with both hands on the scale toes on the floor I have 120.8. Toes on the scale hands on the ground 51.4. Added together that is 172.2. So much for weighing myself top half and bottom half separate and getting close to a correct total. VODO Math
   When our clubs whole tractor scale was working my weight matched my weight on a certified scale ticket

The nice thing about split weighing is it's easy to see how much moving weights around effects front / rear end weight. I was shocked to see how much placing the weights behind the rear wheels (instead of placing them just ahead) changed the front end weight.

A person or animal can shift their weight from one foot to another on a scale. A vehicle does not have that ability.

I weigh mine seperate front and combined all the time keep track percentages front to rear and total all the time   most of the time it dosent add up I think its due to scale height the higher they are from ground level the farther they are off if your worried about it take a regular (non pulling tractor) take it to a certified scale and weight it then take it to the pull weigh it there and adjust classes to suit keep the tractor around an check the scale periodically durring the pull like stated if every body uses the same scale who cares you are all the same weight

I finally got my CA's weight and balance set to work well in 3500, 4000 and 4500 just by adding 500 lbs of suitcases to 3500 and another 500 lbs to 4000. This was worked out by weighing the whole tractor.
No telling now what the calculated weight will be weighing front and rear axles separate. The CALCULATED weight is the class you pull in along with everybody else. If my calculated weight adds up to 3300 I need 200 more pounds someplace where it will do the most good to be competitive in 3500
     

Edited by Ken in Texas - 27 Oct 2016 at 1:57pm