A simple three point counterweight

[denver 2]

A cheap three point counterweight for my tractor I made consists of a plastic 50 gallon drum, with a piece of all 3/4 inch all-thread run horizontally through two sway bars running vertically purchased at TSC ,and then the drum filled with concrete. Works great!

 

[magicheater]

what is the height from the bottom of the drum to the ground w/3PT all the way raised?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I plan to make make one with scrap steel, lead, and concrete cast into a 55 gal drum with pins on each end. Looks like Ill have to taper the drum ends back a little to clear the cat2 lift arms, but worth it to me so itll roll if it touches down. Im hoping for about 1 ton weight.
larry

 

[MossRoad]

I made one of those many years ago. I used some 3pt hitch parts from TSC. Unfortunately, it did not weigh as much as I would have liked it to. A 55 gallon drum only holds about 1/3 of a yard of concrete. One yard of concrete weighs (approximately) 2000 to 3000 pounds, depending on the mix, of course. I was able to gab that drum when it was laying on its side and stand it up by myself. Now, I ain't that big of a guy, so I am pretty sure it was well under 1000 pounds.

 

[magicheater]

Looks like Ill have to taper the drum ends back a little to clear the cat2 lift arms, but worth it to me so it'll roll if it touches down.
larry

Gotta like guys that think outside the box, nice 90 degree shift in attachment!

 

[SPYDERLK]

I made one of those many years ago. I used some 3pt hitch parts from TSC. Unfortunately, it did not weigh as much as I would have liked it to. A 55 gallon drum only holds about 1/3 of a yard of concrete. One yard of concrete weighs (approximately) 2000 to 3000 pounds, depending on the mix, of course. I was able to gab that drum when it was laying on its side and stand it up by myself. Now, I ain't that big of a guy, so I am pretty sure it was well under 1000 pounds.

Youll find that concrete weighs 3800-4000 pounds per cu yd -- about 19.9#/gal. I dont know how a 55 drum could be under 1k unless it wasnt full.
larry

 

[Leejohn]

Why do you have the top link so high? Looks like it well do some bending when you go up with it.

 

[denver 2]

what is the height from the bottom of the drum to the ground w/3PT all the way raised?

When raised about a foot off the ground.

 

[denver 2]

Why do you have the top link so high? Looks like it well do some bending when you go up with it.

The drum works fine with no bending. The metal bars already had pre-drilled holes and I went with them since I did not own any metal bits that large, they certainly could be lower. I first began by placing the empty drum flat on the ground and then backing tractor up with the lower hitch sides level and centered on drum and then marked holes. I then drilled holes and ran all-thread through first hole and then through both sway bars and then out the other hole. I then fixed the top bar of the hitch and verified that it worked. Filled with mortar (less weight than concrete) and presto a counter weight was born for under $50.

 

[JB4310]

Looks like enough weight to me, If it's full 55 gals it should be over 1000 lbs. (1100 @ 150#/cu ft) to me looks heavier than that though.

Pretty much the classic Do it yourself ballast box, only with the modern plastic barrel as opposed to steel.

JB.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yeah...That blue color does make it look heavy. How does that work anyway :confused2: ?
larry

 

[Steve_Miller]

Youll find that concrete weighs 3800-4000 pounds per cu yd -- about 19.9#/gal. I dont know how a 55 drum could be under 1k unless it wasnt full.
larry

Assuming 55 gal drum, this converts to 7.3524 cubic feet times 150lbs cu/ft (concrete) equals 1102.86 lbs if it is level to the top.

Steve

Mine weighs about 800lbs

 

[mas1237]

I cut an old steel drum in two halves. Inserted two #5 rebars and filled the halves with concrete leftover from pouring some piers. I hang them from the 3-point after retracting the drawbar. I weighed the 1/2 drums and each one weighs 590 lbs. Usually I use just one, but I could stack them on my heavy duty 3-pt carrier if I needed 1180# of counterweight.

 

[denver 2]

Assuming 55 gal drum, this converts to 7.3524 cubic feet times 150lbs cu/ft (concrete) equals 1102.86 lbs if it is level to the top.

Steve

Mine weighs about 800lbs

Sharp looking counterweight. Good job!

 

[Deere Dude]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but why would someone consider hanging an ugly old barrel an a nice looking tractor?

But if I was going to build a barrel weight, I would consider a cat. 1 draw-bar and poke that through the barrel, and fill with cement. This would be stronger than re-bar as far as bending, and they only cost $20 or so.

Be careful so you don't make the thing to heavy for your tractor. There will be a lot of jerking around back there and you don't want to rip something off the rear end. I never heard of that happening, but I'm new here.
:thumbsup:

 

[Zick]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but why would someone consider hanging an ugly old barrel an a nice looking tractor?

But if I was going to build a barrel weight, I would consider a cat. 1 draw-bar and poke that through the barrel, and fill with cement. This would be stronger than re-bar as far as bending, and they only cost $20 or so.

Be careful so you don't make the thing to heavy for your tractor. There will be a lot of jerking around back there and you don't want to rip something off the rear end. I never heard of that happening, but I'm new here.
:thumbsup:

I made one like this using a cat 1 draw bar and it worked great until I managed to tip it over and it snapped off one of the pins on the draw bar.
Now it's a useless giant paperweight cause I can't get the old draw bar out of it to replace it.
I think I'd rather have had it bend so I could just bend it back again.

 

[slowzuki]

Sounds like a good reason to buy a welder!

 

[Deere Dude]

I made one like this using a cat 1 draw bar and it worked great until I managed to tip it over and it snapped off one of the pins on the draw bar.
Now it's a useless giant paperweight cause I can't get the old draw bar out of it to replace it.
I think I'd rather have had it bend so I could just bend it back again.

I made a square box and used some Cat 1 pins instead of a draw-bar and it works fair. They stick in the concrete about 4" or so so I welded a bar to each on the inside of the tank so they wouldn't pull out.
I put a hitch on the back of the BB and was pulling and jerking so much pulling trees down that I bent them on maybe a 20 deg angle. They still work and hook up OK but I am gun-shy about hammering on them to straiten them out. :confused2:

If I crank on them to much, i would end up with a very pretty paper weight to.

 

[k0ua]

Here is mine, about 750 lbs with a 2 inch receiver in the back, and 2 inch PVC tubes cast in the concrete for handle tools. and lots of room for chains and other things in the top.


James K0UA

 

[teg]

Here is mine, about 750 lbs with a 2 inch receiver in the back, and 2 inch PVC tubes cast in the concrete for handle tools. and lots of room for chains and other things in the top.


James K0UA

Got more photos??? Interested in how you did the Toplink... I'm going back and forth from 55 gal. drum to a loaded pallet.