Counterweight box

aarolar · Dec 16, 2016

Building this counterweight box for when the loader comes in should weigh right around 1 tonn hopefully. Should I paint it before or after I fill with concrete?

davedj1 · Dec 16, 2016

I would paint it before or at least tar the inside or something to protect it. What are you putting it on that you need 2000 lbs of weight? Must be a big tractor!

ovrszd · Dec 16, 2016

Doesn't matter. By the pics it appears that you extended the 3pt brackets into the box. So, the metal box could rust completely off and the 3pt brackets would stay intact. All the box is doing is giving you a form to pour your concrete in. You could have actually made it out of plywood and then peeled it off when the concrete set up.

I'm concerned as Dave is. 2000lb of 3pt counterweight is a bunch. I use approximately 1500lbs on an M9540.

aarolar · Dec 16, 2016

ovrszd said:
Doesn't matter. By the pics it appears that you extended the 3pt brackets into the box. So, the metal box could rust completely off and the 3pt brackets would stay intact. All the box is doing is giving you a form to pour your concrete in. You could have actually made it out of plywood and then peeled it off when the concrete set up.

I'm concerned as Dave is. 2000lb of 3pt counterweight is a bunch. I use approximately 1500lbs on an M9540.

3pt on my MX4800 is good for 2300lbs 24" back so 1 ton should be fine. And I figured the more the merrier my tractor is only 2wd.

ovrszd · Dec 16, 2016

aarolar said:
3pt on my MX4800 is good for 2300lbs 24" back so 1 ton should be fine. And I figured the more the merrier my tractor is only 2wd.

Yeah, that's what a person would think. But reality is if you load the rear too much you will lose all steering.

What are the measurements of your box?

s219 · Dec 16, 2016

I wouldn't even bother painting the inside if you're pouring concrete in. The concrete should passivate and protect the steel from rust. At leas that's what it does to re-bar.

ovrszd · Dec 16, 2016

Forgot to add, my M9540 3pt capacity is 6500lbs but I certainly don't want that much counterweight.

Stimw · Dec 16, 2016

Be aware that you can break a tractor in two!
With Backhoe attachments you need a sub frame to keep this from happening.
I will leave my tiller or 5' brush cutter on my tractor for ballast.

aarolar · Dec 16, 2016

ovrszd said:
Yeah, that's what a person would think. But reality is if you load the rear too much you will lose all steering.

What are the measurements of your box?

34x25x24 with about 200lbs of steel. I can always go with less concrete and add more if I feel the need. It'll just leave me with extra space at the top for storage I had already planned for about 4" to hold chains and saws.

aarolar · Dec 16, 2016

s219 said:
I wouldn't even bother painting the inside if you're pouring concrete in. The concrete should passivate and protect the steel from rust. At leas that's what it does to re-bar.

I may paint it about a foot down maybe so the paint goes down behind the concrete simply for looks.