Shaneard
Veteran Member
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- Southern Virginia
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- Ford 4630, Two IH 140's, John Deere A
I gathered that from your first post :thumbsup:
How much ballast
- Thread starter Trophyduck
- Start date
I gathered that from your first post :thumbsup:
ruffdog
Super Member
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- Dec 31, 2011
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- southern wisconsin
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- Bobcat Toolcat 5610G, Deere X744, Cub Cadet IH 982
I never wanted permanent weight because I wanted to be light when needed, like on soft conditions.
jeff9366
Super Star Member
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- Jan 14, 2011
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- Tractor
- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
I would ballast the rear tires 3/4 full with a liquid. This will increase the weight on your rear tire treads by about 500 pounds improving traction and holding down the rear somewhat on those occasions when you need to lift a moderate FEL load without an implement on the three point hitch.
You can ballast the rear tires yourself.
loading tractor rear tires - YouTube
Ballast materials: Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks
Next I would shop for an implement 66" to 72" wide weighing 600 to 800 pounds.
Implements most often used for counterbalance are the Box Blade and Roto-tiller. I often use a Cultipacker. LEVERAGE makes a 700 pound counterbalance implement protruding 48" to the rear of tractor more effective counterbalance than 700 pound implement protruding 30".
HEAVY BOX BLADES: XTreme Duty Box Blade For Tractors With 30-70 HP - Everything Attachments
Category I & II Severe XTreme Duty Tractor Box Blade - Everything Attachments
Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Box Blades - RO
http://www.dirtdogmfg.com/Box-Blades---MBX-v-19.html
The combination of 500 pounds tire ballast and a 600 pound implement should allow you to safely lift 1,800 - 2,000 pound FEL loads. FEL bucket is bad enough, should you add Pallet Forks which allow you to lift heavier FEL loads, you can enter rollover territory in one heartbeat.
For max loads, which should be infrequent, use your 900 pound Disc Harrow, which extends far to the rear, increasing leverage holding down the rear wheels.
If you decide to construct a ballast barrel after loading the rear tires 3/4 full with liquid, barrel should be 1,000 - 1,200 pounds, as weight will be close in, exerting little leverage. Fill barrel with sand. Add water until you achieve desired balance. Calculate barrel weight. Replace sand with concrete and scrap steel to same weight.
I highly recommend rear tire ballast to help keep you out of trouble with 2,713 pound FEL lift capacity on 3,869 pound bare weight tractor.
You can ballast the rear tires yourself.
loading tractor rear tires - YouTube
Ballast materials: Comparing Types of Liquid Tire Ballast | OrangeTractorTalks
Next I would shop for an implement 66" to 72" wide weighing 600 to 800 pounds.
Implements most often used for counterbalance are the Box Blade and Roto-tiller. I often use a Cultipacker. LEVERAGE makes a 700 pound counterbalance implement protruding 48" to the rear of tractor more effective counterbalance than 700 pound implement protruding 30".
HEAVY BOX BLADES: XTreme Duty Box Blade For Tractors With 30-70 HP - Everything Attachments
Category I & II Severe XTreme Duty Tractor Box Blade - Everything Attachments
Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Box Blades - RO
http://www.dirtdogmfg.com/Box-Blades---MBX-v-19.html
The combination of 500 pounds tire ballast and a 600 pound implement should allow you to safely lift 1,800 - 2,000 pound FEL loads. FEL bucket is bad enough, should you add Pallet Forks which allow you to lift heavier FEL loads, you can enter rollover territory in one heartbeat.
For max loads, which should be infrequent, use your 900 pound Disc Harrow, which extends far to the rear, increasing leverage holding down the rear wheels.
If you decide to construct a ballast barrel after loading the rear tires 3/4 full with liquid, barrel should be 1,000 - 1,200 pounds, as weight will be close in, exerting little leverage. Fill barrel with sand. Add water until you achieve desired balance. Calculate barrel weight. Replace sand with concrete and scrap steel to same weight.
I highly recommend rear tire ballast to help keep you out of trouble with 2,713 pound FEL lift capacity on 3,869 pound bare weight tractor.
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shooterdon
Elite Member
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- 2019 LS XR4140 HST Cab; 2020 Kawasaki Mule SX; 2021 Bad Boy 54" ZT Elite
You might want to consider having two "boxes" that utilize the carry all.. One to serve as the ballast box and another to serve as a tool/stuff carrier. Build the bottoms like a small pallet for the carry all forks and use pins or bolts to hold the side of the box to the uprights of the carry all. Much easier to swap boxes than adding and removing weights. I made my box that way so I could use my carry all to move pallets until I got a SSQA set of forks. I put the box on HF dollies so I could move it easily when not on the tractor.
BTW adding fluid is cheap and easy. In your area, -20* windshield fluid is all you need. I used the tank and pump from my ATV sprayer to do the job on my old JD855. It is not as dense as RimGuard but it beats nothing. I waited for a sale and bought cases of it. Loaded tires help a lot but are not enough for my needs. YMMV
WranglerX
Elite Member
You solution and mine are pretty much what most of us need to select.... Its all about application/use of implements and what fills need of user... Not arguing against you needs, just trying to show OP the is alternatives...
Also here is thread in progress....
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/394908-lets-see-some-homemade-3-a.html
Dale
Shaneard
Veteran Member
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- Southern Virginia
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- Ford 4630, Two IH 140's, John Deere A
You nailed it with this, there are different options because not everyones needs are the same :thumbsup:
PILOON
Super Star Member
When you ask HOW MUCH ballast I'd say about as much weight as your FEL can handle and as close to (or on) the rear axle as possible.
In my case I loaded my tires with beet juice and have a 300 # elevator weigh*t that I hang on my 3 point. (nice and close so not inconvenient in maneuvering)
In winter I use studded ice chains with cross links every 3rd link.
Very smooth ride and rare slippage.
LOL, if I do slip I tend to dig awesome ruts, but that is extremely rare.
*my wt also serves to hitch trailers as I included a hitch tube.
I also mounted a powerful winch on a trailer pole for when I need to retrieve wood for fencing or firewood.
Yep, I enjoy welding projects!
In my case I loaded my tires with beet juice and have a 300 # elevator weigh*t that I hang on my 3 point. (nice and close so not inconvenient in maneuvering)
In winter I use studded ice chains with cross links every 3rd link.
Very smooth ride and rare slippage.
LOL, if I do slip I tend to dig awesome ruts, but that is extremely rare.
*my wt also serves to hitch trailers as I included a hitch tube.
I also mounted a powerful winch on a trailer pole for when I need to retrieve wood for fencing or firewood.
Yep, I enjoy welding projects!
jeff9366
Super Star Member
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- Jan 14, 2011
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- Tractor
- Kubota Tractor Loader L3560 HST+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3,700 pounds bare tractor, 5,400 pounds operating weight, 37 horsepower
Bare tractors are designed with a standard weight distribution of 40% front, 60% rear.
Add a Front End Loader and the weight distribution becomes 50% front, 50% rear. (+/-)
Fill the bucket and the weight moves forward, leveraged by low-forward position of a laden bucket.
Could be 60% front, 40% rear. (Tractor wheelbase affects weight distribution.)
Traction is reduced because weight has transferred away from the big rear wheels.
(Hence the need for rear axle ballast.)
Rear wheels may or may not lift from the ground at this moment, but they will certainly be "light" if bucket payload is wet.
Green tree trunk sections and laden pallets on pallet forks are often heavier than wet bucket loads. Laden pallets protrude forward. Weight distribution could be 70% front, 30% rear. Rear wheels will lift.
Suffecient Three Point Hitch counterbalance restores weight distribution to 40% front, 60% rear. (+/-)
Too much rear weight and the tractor front will lift when you move up a slope with the bucket empty.
Add a Front End Loader and the weight distribution becomes 50% front, 50% rear. (+/-)
Fill the bucket and the weight moves forward, leveraged by low-forward position of a laden bucket.
Could be 60% front, 40% rear. (Tractor wheelbase affects weight distribution.)
Traction is reduced because weight has transferred away from the big rear wheels.
(Hence the need for rear axle ballast.)
Rear wheels may or may not lift from the ground at this moment, but they will certainly be "light" if bucket payload is wet.
Green tree trunk sections and laden pallets on pallet forks are often heavier than wet bucket loads. Laden pallets protrude forward. Weight distribution could be 70% front, 30% rear. Rear wheels will lift.
Suffecient Three Point Hitch counterbalance restores weight distribution to 40% front, 60% rear. (+/-)
Too much rear weight and the tractor front will lift when you move up a slope with the bucket empty.
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PILOON
Super Star Member
A hint for those looking for ballast.
I have a buddy that has a car rental franchise.
Every rental needs to leave with WW fluid full.
They deliver 45 gal bbls of WW fluid whenever he needs some.
I'd suggest that a rental franchise might just be the best source of cheap WW fluid due to the bulk purchase.
Check it out.
LOL, I have my winter's supply on hand. (of WW fluid), just needed to bring empty jugs that I had to fill!
Down size is I was the one to manually fill my WW jugs.
LOL at that price (?)I did not complain!
I have a buddy that has a car rental franchise.
Every rental needs to leave with WW fluid full.
They deliver 45 gal bbls of WW fluid whenever he needs some.
I'd suggest that a rental franchise might just be the best source of cheap WW fluid due to the bulk purchase.
Check it out.
LOL, I have my winter's supply on hand. (of WW fluid), just needed to bring empty jugs that I had to fill!
Down size is I was the one to manually fill my WW jugs.
LOL at that price (?)I did not complain!
PEJ5
Gold Member
My 3400 lb Kioti with a 1600 lb loader is rated to lift 2660 lbs with the bucket and 2700 lbs at the 3Pt Hitch so it is very similar to the specs on your LS. I have loaded the tires with RV plumb antifreeze - about 400 lbs per tire.**
The tractor felt quite stable, but I have a 10° to 18° sloped path down my property and I was not comfortable travelling down/up the hill.* This summer I built a 1300 lb concrete counterweight.* The first thing I learned was that lifting a 1300 lb counterweight off my trailer (without a counterweight) was the absolute limit of my FEL/forks before my loaded rear tires lifted.* (Tires lifted with the load 3' out from* pins, and very light with the load 2' out from pins.)* I raised the load about 4 inches but was afraid to move so we pulled the trailer out from under it and I set the weight down.*
Now that the counterweight is on the 3Pt, I know I am safer to lift heavier loads. The tractor squats an extra inch (garage door clearance) and*I travel down and up the hill with ease now. I moved a big stump over uneven ground and it still felt a little light. Today I took delivery of my new chipper. Crated it weighed 825 lbs and it was no problem to take it off the truck and down the driveway.
I am very happy to have a counterweight. I should mention that I went with a concrete weight because my only heavy implement was my snowblower and it would stick out way too far for woods work. The chipper (710lbs) was a recent decision after burning 15 piles of brush and only making a dent in the cleanup work ahead of us.
Let us know what you decide to go with.
Peter
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