How much rear ballast on L3130 with LA723 loader?

[Notforhire]

New, compact counterweight w/2 in sq reciever about 800 lbs (cost was less than $20 BTW) + Wheel weights 360 lbs (cost $378) + loaded tires 480 lbs. Total 1640 lbs.
Works for me, for what I do. Different tractors react differently. Obviously your mileage may vary.

 

[k0ua]

New, compact counterweight w/2 in sq reciever about 800 lbs (cost was less than $20 BTW) + Wheel weights 360 lbs (cost $378) + loaded tires 480 lbs. Total 1640 lbs.
Works for me, for what I do. Different tractors react differently. Obviously your mileage may vary.View attachment 289870

Please tell me more about how your counterweight is made and out of what. That looks very interesting.

James K0UA

 

[Notforhire]

k0ua, the 3pt attachment is off of a junked Bush Hog cutter, The 2 big chunks of iron on the bottom were given to me. I think they were part of a counterweight on a electric fork truck. Between the 3/8- 3X3 angle are two pcs. of 2 X 3.5 in. steel that I had lying around. I welded the reciever to them. The 5/8 rod was just overkill in case I need to lift a lot on the reciever. I thought about more bracing, but figured I'd see how it goes. When I get around to it, I'm going to add a basket to carry chains.
I liked some of the ideas expressed on the forum by you and others, who had attached tool holders or hitches on their counterweights. I felt that with this design I could easily weld on whatever I need in the future. If the addition was temporary I could attach it to a 2X2 sq. tube and slide it in the reciever. I guess it's a design in progress.:scratchchin:
You got any good ideas on improvements? I'd like to here them if you do.:listen:

Best, Bill

 

[PandDLong]

"Your ballast needs may vary"


It's very interesting to hear of the variety of experiences with ballast - there must be a lot of factors at play.

Recently, I was using my L3540 to do some excavating and dirt moving. I had a heavy skid-steer bucket (500+) and had no issues with moving full loads of dirt with just my snowblower for ballast (600# 'ish). Even when I overloaded the bucket in a gravel pile and couldn't lift it, my rear tires stayed firmly on the ground. I do benefit from living on the Canadian Prairie which is pretty flat so stability isn't the same concern for me that it would be for many others.

Interestingly, the week prior I moved a pallet with 300 pounds of cement with my forks, I had nothing on my 3PH and I definitely felt light on the rear tires - the ratio of FEL weight and ballast needs between those two scenarios is not 1:1 but there is a ratio one could figure out.


Tractor weight, it's axle weight ratio, FEL geometry, your terrain and probably a couple of other items end-up playing a role to determine how much ballast you need. Although, as others have said, it doesn't hurt to have too much ballast and keeps it safe.

Bottom-line is that some experimentation is needed to determine the right ballast for a particular tractor, user, terrain and usage combination or just play it safe and pile on lots of weight.

 

[LD1]

Recently, I was using my L3540 to do some excavating and dirt moving. I had a heavy skid-steer bucket (500+) and had no issues with moving full loads of dirt with just my snowblower for ballast (600# 'ish). Even when I overloaded the bucket in a gravel pile and couldn't lift it, my rear tires stayed firmly on the ground. I do benefit from living on the Canadian Prairie which is pretty flat so stability isn't the same concern for me that it would be for many others.

First, do you have loaded rear tires?

Second, anything in the form of a 3ph attachment makes better use of its weight than a ballast box. Simply because the weight is farther back. 600# that is centered 30" back in the form of a blower does WAY more good than 600# in a box that is in close.

 

[Notforhire]

First, do you have loaded rear tires?

Second, anything in the form of a 3ph attachment makes better use of its weight than a ballast box. Simply because the weight is farther back. 600# that is centered 30" back in the form of a blower does WAY more good than 600# in a box that is in close.

Sometimes the idea of using something that doesn't stick out too much is just that. If there isn't much swing room, having the weight closer to the machine and not protruding on the sides, may save damageing something like the house or barn. I agree that it is less effective as a counterweight when it's close. Judgement call; If the rear gets light, don't pick up as much, or add ballast.

Like the man said, "Your ballast needs may vary"

 

[k0ua]

k0ua, the 3pt attachment is off of a junked Bush Hog cutter, The 2 big chunks of iron on the bottom were given to me. I think they were part of a counterweight on a electric fork truck. Between the 3/8- 3X3 angle are two pcs. of 2 X 3.5 in. steel that I had lying around. I welded the reciever to them. The 5/8 rod was just overkill in case I need to lift a lot on the reciever. I thought about more bracing, but figured I'd see how it goes. When I get around to it, I'm going to add a basket to carry chains.
I liked some of the ideas expressed on the forum by you and others, who had attached tool holders or hitches on their counterweights. I felt that with this design I could easily weld on whatever I need in the future. If the addition was temporary I could attach it to a 2X2 sq. tube and slide it in the reciever. I guess it's a design in progress.:scratchchin:
You got any good ideas on improvements? I'd like to here them if you do.:listen:

Best, Bill

Well you already mentioned the chain basket, I would definitely do that, and maybe something to hold your chainsaw.. I make great use of the 2 inch PVC pipes I put in my barrel for handle tools. The first thing I noticed that I liked about your design was you weight is down low keeping the center of gravity of the tractor low.

James K0UA

 

[RaydaKub]

The first thing I noticed that I liked about your design was you weight is down low keeping the center of gravity of the tractor low.

Yeah, I liked that design also, several inches below the pins. Even if you lift the 3ph all the way up it might still be below the axle. Nicely done.

 

[PandDLong]

First, do you have loaded rear tires?

No, tires are unloaded and no wheel weights.

Second, anything in the form of a 3ph attachment makes better use of its weight than a ballast box. Simply because the weight is farther back. 600# that is centered 30" back in the form of a blower does WAY more good than 600# in a box that is in close.

Good point - distance from the 3PH pins makes a big difference in effectiveness of the ballast.

I haven't filled my ballast box yet and probably won't bother until spring. Then I'll put it through some tests to decide if that will be sufficient or if I need to add additional ballast weight or loaded tires or wheel weights or ... My goal is to have enough ballast to be safe and effective, but not lots of extra, unnecessary weight -an approach I should probably use with my personal weight .

Essentially, based on hearing the diversity of opinions and people's experience, running through the paces with my tractor, my attachments, on my property and pushing at the edge of how I would use the tractor should give me the answer on the best ballast configuration. I'm sure it will be interesting.

 

[Red Eye]

very nice design. keeps the mass down low.

 

[varmint]

When I had my L3130, I usually had nothing on the 3 pt, but it did have loaded R-4s. I also had the SSQA 723 loader, and although the heaviest think I ever lifted, more or less, was a 600 lb table saw, I never felt the rear end was too light. I pushed a 78" front snow plow with it, as well. When I got the L3400, with unloaded tires, it definitely needed a weight back there for about anything using the loader, so I built a ballast box which I filled up with stone. Maybe weighs 600 lbs? It works. But then, I am not messing around on hills very much. I have a 6' rear blade, but it isn't nearly as heavy.

 

[Baby Grand]

Our L3240 with LA724 FEL is the replacement model for the L3130 and very similar to what you have.
For FEL work, I like to have either the 760# box blade or the 600# tiller on the 3pt.
I don't have loaded tires or wheel weights, but I do have a backhoe sub-frame, which helps.
With the ballast described, I haven't had any rear wheel lifting or shortage of traction while moving full buckets of gravel.

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

 

[LD1]

Our L3240 with LA724 FEL is the replacement model for the L3130 and very similar to what you have.
For FEL work, I like to have either the 760# box blade or the 600# tiller on the 3pt.
I don't have loaded tires or wheel weights, but I do have a backhoe sub-frame, which helps.
With the ballast described, I haven't had any rear wheel lifting or shortage of traction while moving full buckets of gravel.

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

I might as well respond to an old thread too.

I am surprised you find that ballast sufficient. but then again, a full bucket of gravel maybe 1000#. Not near your max by a good bit. If you latched onto something immovable, I am sure your rears would lift before the loader went into relief. Even just trying to break out of a dirt pile, or dig stumps I would think you would have issues.

700# blade on my weaker loader AND loaded tires is a good match. But with curl I can still lift the rears.

 

[Notforhire]

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

Funny it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.:laughing:
Since selling the 3240 and going to my 5055e I don't use the counterweight very often. For that reason I never did any improvements/ changes.
I left it on the 3240 most of the time, because it improved stability moving round bales etc.

The only time I use it now, is if I have a heavy lift, or I intend on doing a lot of digging FEL work.

In the fall I buy pallets of coal, which weigh 2,400#. I can do the lift without the counterweight, but the rear is a little light and I have trouble driving uphill on my gravel drive in 2WD. The counterweight makes all the difference in the world, and I almost never use 4WD if it's on.

It also works well on my friends blue TN75, even though the weight is still painted orange:laughing:

Bill

 

[aeblank]

I buy pallets of coal, which weigh 2,400#.

Coal?! Cool.
2,400# is pretty stout.

I have a 3500# pallet of retaining wall blocks that hasn't moved since it was dropped off (leftovers from a large project) several years ago. Nothing I have will touch it.

 

[Baby Grand]

I might as well respond to an old thread too.

I am surprised you find that ballast sufficient. but then again, a full bucket of gravel maybe 1000#. Not near your max by a good bit. If you latched onto something immovable, I am sure your rears would lift before the loader went into relief. Even just trying to break out of a dirt pile, or dig stumps I would think you would have issues.

700# blade on my weaker loader AND loaded tires is a good match. But with curl I can still lift the rears.

Hmmmm. Not sure why that is. I generally don't pry by using the curl/rollback on the FEL much since getting the 'hoe - Ill have to give it a try. It might be due to dimensional and weight differences between the tactors. I have put it in bypass using the FEL to try to lift on a "log-too-big" that I had strapped to the bucket.

Another consideration is where the CG of the ballast weight is located, relative to the hitch pins. I know that the box blade moves that CG aft a bit more than the tiller does. The brush hog really moves it aft, but it's also awkward to use with the FEL in any kind of "close" area.

 

[Notforhire]

Coal?! Cool.
2,400# is pretty stout.

I have a 3500# pallet of retaining wall blocks that hasn't moved since it was dropped off (leftovers from a large project) several years ago. Nothing I have will touch it.

About 25-30 yrs ago I built a set of forks that went on my 3PH. You couldn't load a trailer, because of the limited lift, but it was good for moving things like your pallet of blocks.

In the interest of not going off topic, if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

 

[Baby Grand]

About 25-30 yrs ago I built a set of forks that went on my 3PH. You couldn't load a trailer, because of the limited lift, but it was good for moving things like your pallet of blocks.

In the interest of not going off topic, if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

3pt forks is really the best solution for lifting heavy pallets enough to move them.
Still, according to TractorData, the L3940 is rated at:
Rear lift (at ends): 3,860 lbs [1750 kg]
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 2760 lbs [1251 kg]
.. may work; may not.
Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

 

[Notforhire]

Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

Or he could buy a larger tractor, as a more fun, but slightly more expensive solution.

 

[aeblank]

if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

For sure. Little bulky though.

Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

Haven't managed to find one of those "round to-its" yet.
Here is one... http://tinyurl.com/qarz6rf

Or he could buy a larger tractor, as a more fun, but slightly more expensive solution.

I like your thinking, but wife'l unit would not allow it. Obviously 10 minutes of manual labor gets 'em onto 2 movable pallets. Don't particularly have anywhere better I want them though, either.