I need an expedient ballast weight on 3PH

[FTG-05]

So it looks like we might close on our new property in the next week or so. That means I'll have a bunch of my tools, steel, tool chests and four big heavy work benches to move out of a storage unit and into my new to me shop.

I currently have the L4330 with an FEL bucket and forks. Loading up at the storage unit will be by hand, using anyone I can find, including but not limited moving company people ($$$). However, at the home/shop end, I want to mainly use the tractor with the forks to take off, carry and move most of the above stuff.

Unfortunately, I don't have a bushhog or better yet, a box blade to counter balance the front end/fork loads. And since I don't have my tools or steel at the shop, I can't really make anything. All I have that's heavy and already at the shop is the FEL bucket. It's a quick disconnect/connect type bucket, flip two black levers and off it comes, same with putting on the Land Pride forks, pretty simple, but I don't know the actual name of the system.

Any way to install the bucket on the 3PH - safely? Any other ideas? I really really really don't want to have to handle those heavy benches or the 5 tons of steel again at the shop. But I don't want to use an unsafe and unbalanced tractor with forks either.

Help me Obi-TBN, you're my only hope!

 

[HarryVanderpool]

If I were you I would buy a set of 3pt forks.
They are cheap and you can pick up a pallet with any amount of things that weigh your desired counter weight amount.
Later on you will be surprised how much you can carry with forks on the front and back.

 

[FTG-05]

Good point, I should define what I mean by "expedient".

It means fairly cheap and easy. We're putting our money into the new property and I can't afford to buy any other implements right now, not for a month or so until we all the unknown unknowns out of the way.

Thanks,

 

[BrandonR]

You could build a simple temporary counterweight from a barrel and a drawbar using basic hand /power tools. transport it empty then Fill it with rocks, gravel, dirt whatever at the new location. Once you get the tools unloaded you could make a more permanent counterweight from the same parts and a little bit of steel.

 

[rtgt]

Do you know someone that you can borrow a box blade and/or some suitcase weights to hang on it?

 

[FTG-05]

Brandon and rfgt, those are the two options I'm looking into right now.

One option, after reading one thread here and one person's experience with his unballasted FEL tractor during a parade, is I'm not using the forks without ballast of some sort.

Thanks,

 

[Egbert]

ftg, You mentioned heavy benches and 5 tons of steel ... but, just how much weight do you need to lift at one time? I don't know the figure, but there is "some amount of weight" that you can safely handle without ballast. I'd be curious to know if that figure is somewhere in print.

 

[FTG-05]

Egbert, my best guess is at least 500 lbs for one of my benches (3/4" thick steel table top). My big steel pile is at least that as well, bunch of 6'-12' length angles, channel, tubing, flats, etc. I'd rather take that off at once as well, pick it up, move it where it needs to go, let it down, done.

I got a 55 gallon barrel; I'll get the Cat 1 drawbar from tractor supply, my friend has a welder and we can cut steel with my air cutoff saw, slow, but it will get it done.

I don't have anybody I know that can drill 3/4" holes. What does Tractor Supply sell that already has a 3/4" hole already in it for my top link joint - that's cheap.

Thanks,

 

[k0ua]

Egbert, my best guess is at least 500 lbs for one of my benches (3/4" thick steel table top). My big steel pile is at least that as well, bunch of 6'-12' length angles, channel, tubing, flats, etc. I'd rather take that off at once as well, pick it up, move it where it needs to go, let it down, done.

I got a 55 gallon barrel; I'll get the Cat 1 drawbar from tractor supply, my friend has a welder and we can cut steel with my air cutoff saw, slow, but it will get it done.

I don't have anybody I know that can drill 3/4" holes. What does Tractor Supply sell that already has a 3/4" hole already in it for my top link joint - that's cheap.

Thanks,[/QUOTE]

Use a hole saw.. cheap from lowes or home depot. for the 3/4 hole. much easier and safer than a 3/4 bit anyway. you can use two pieces of angle steel. bolt those to the drawbar turned vertical inside of your 55 gallon barrel. By the way your front end loader connection system is called SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach)

James K0UA

 

[bcp]

Almost every farm supply I visit has these Ford stabilizer brackets with lots of holes, but I don't know the size.

CountyLine® Stabilizer Bracket Assembly - Tractor Supply Online Store

Bruce