Front-End Loader Would I damage the FEL by putting ballast weight on one side of the bucket?

[rbtjr]

We have a Kubota L3800 with a Kubota LA524 FEL. We have a sickle mower we will use to mow around the edge of a pond. The sickle mower weighs 540 pounds. A majority of this 540 pounds is on the right side of the tractor--the side the water is on, where the mower bar extends. We will not be mowing any obviously dangerous slopes, but as an extra precaution I am thinking of putting some counterbalancing ballast weight in the left side of the FEL bucket when we use the sickle mower around the pond. I could use 8" concrete block, which weigh about 38 lbs each, and put a bunch of them on the left side of the FEL bucket. I could make a little plywood barrier to hold the blocks on the left side of the FEL. By my calculations, I can easily put 450 lbs of blocks in the left side of the FEL bucket. I could get this up to almost 700 lbs if I let the blocks protrude a little over the center of the bucket. My question is whether or not putting this load on only one side of the bucket would run the risk of damaging the FEL. Any opinions?

[greg_g]

I agree with the counter-weight concept, but I gotta ask. How are you powering a sickle mower in front of the tractor? Hydraulic motor?

//greg//

[rbtjr]

I was not clear. The sickle mower is on the rear of the tractor, on the 3PH, powered by the PTO. The mower bar is on the right side of the tractor as you sit in the tractor seat. I'm thinking of ballast on the left side of the FEL bucket.

[Don87]

I thought you were mounting it on the front also.

You need counterweght on the opposite rear. Wheel weights on the opposite side would work.

Edit: I can see possible damage being done if you try to use counterweight in the left side of the bucket, to offset weight on the right rear. You will be twisting your tractor and loader.

[RDrancher]

I don't think I'd counterweight the rear by ballasting the front. But that said, I wouldn't think it would be a concern with your loader. I fill just one side of the bucket often to fill in edges of driveways and such.

[pat32rf]

I have often lifted one rear wheel of my JD by hooking one corner of the bucket under something solid and curling the bucket. Haven't caused damage yet...

[rbtjr]

I have often lifted one rear wheel of my JD by hooking one corner of the bucket under something solid and curling the bucket. Haven't caused damage yet...

I did the same with the M5400 we sold. Same result--i.e., no damage. This is different in that the one-sided load would stay in the FEL bucket for probably 30 minutes and maybe as much as an hour. And yes, if I could I would counterweight with wheel weights on the left side. I have R4 tires and no wheel weights, so I am thinking that a load on the left side of the FEL bucket puts counterweight on the tractor frame where the FEL is mounted on the tractor on the left side. It seems to me that although this is not ideal, it is better than no counterweight. Anyone disagree? Thanks.

[PineRidge]

Wheel weights in my opinion are a better option for what you need to do. The weight in one side of the FEL might work but don't think it would put the weight over the axle like wheel weights where you need it the most.

[greg_g]

I was not clear. The sickle mower is on the rear of the tractor, on the 3PH, powered by the PTO. The mower bar is on the right side of the tractor as you sit in the tractor seat. I'm thinking of ballast on the left side of the FEL bucket.

In that case, no. Adding weight to one side of the bucket holds more potential for more harm than good.

By the way, why are R4 rims stopping you from adding ballast? I personally didn't want to fool with bolt-on weight, went with liquid ballast instead. Installed price was $237 to add 968 pounds of RimGuard (803 rear/165 front).

//greg//

[Gary Fowler]

I have often lifted one rear wheel of my JD by hooking one corner of the bucket under something solid and curling the bucket. Haven't caused damage yet...

Continue doing this and guaranteed you will have a twisted frame on your FEL.

I dont think you would damage your FEL with that amount of weight and in doing that it would help a bit with stability however the best stability is to counterbalance the rear wheel where the weight will work to full advantage. Perhaps you could rig up a frame on the mower where you could install some weight opposite to the mower or make some concrete wheel weights as other have done here on TBN