Ballast Cheap'n'cheerful rear ballast

[williekioti]

That is awesome, and simple. Love it. I too am too cheap to buy a dedicated ballast box. Have plenty of chainsaws, ample supply of oak and maple pigs laying on log landings around here so looks like I've got a project to complete. Thanks for the idea, full credit is due and props given.

I also like the idea of a couple of slits for saw carrying, hole or two for peaveys/axes and the like. Carve out a hole in the bottom and fill with cement. Pour a little linseed oil on it seasonally to prevent splitting. Awesome.

Redneck honorable mention. To be a true Redneck finalist it needs a cavity big enough to hold a twelve pack of Busch and ice though.

 

[JoelD]

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking to truly earn the title redneck, the "rear" balast would need to be mounted to the front of the tractor wouldn't it?

Joel

 

[rtdiggr]

I bet the tractor companies are trying to figure out a way to sell this "new"rear ballast idea.

Just make sure you take it off the tractor before you put it in the fire.

Good idea.


Shane

 

[JoelD]

I bet the tractor companies are trying to figure out a way to sell this "new"rear ballast idea.

Just make sure you take it off the tractor before you put it in the fire.

Good idea.


Shane

Just make sure you take it off the tractor before you put it in the fire - Now I'm thinking that would be Redneck.

I wonder what people in town call me when they'd see me clearing my driveway with my bulldozer??

 

[Mark_G]

I wonder what people in town call me when they'd see me clearing my driveway with my bulldozer??

Lucky?!

 

[blueriver]

The original post and picture, just screw down a cedar porch swing, add two buddies and a 20 pack of your favotrite beverage ... And watch the traction improve ...

 

[bearhawk]

I bet the tractor companies are trying to figure out a way to sell this "new"rear ballast idea.

Ebay Ad:

Do it yourself 3 point ballast kit $20. "Free Shipping!!!"
(consists of 3 large spikes and a sketch)

 

[RobS]

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking to truly earn the title redneck, the "rear" balast would need to be mounted to the front of the tractor wouldn't it?

Joel

No, I think the epitome of redneck is where the ballast is made of a beer related product and is worth more than the tractor itself, but only becomes visible as the tractor is pulled from the pond by multiple 4X4 pickup trucks.

Nice ballast idea to the OP!

 

[chelydra]

Well, glad to share a few laughs. I'm honored to be considered a redneck; my late father (from the South) would have been proud. Swamp yankee sounds closer, though - wonder if I could get that on a license plate?

BTW, I was going to offer plans for sale, and even throw in the spikes. But no-one wanted to buy plans for my previous brilliant invention, the phone (or beer) holder shown behind the seat in the OP. Guess I'll have to make a living investing in hedge funds or something else safe and certain.

More seriously, here's the drawback to that design: with nothing to hold the lift arms in, I can't secure the mass against swinging. It also fell out a couple of times; kind of scary losing the ballast on a slope. Temporary solution is to link the arms with a short piece of chain, then screw out the side-link turnbuckles against the chain tension.

When I fell another big oak, I'll borrow an electrician's drill, put a 1" hole through a chunk of it, and slide in a piece of 3/4 or 7/8" threaded rod. Then I can bolt down the lift arms and secure everything. Still thinking about best way to use the top link as intended without buying a shorter one or having to do any welding. Maybe I'll find a tree with a side-branch the right size?

-Chelydra