Let's see some homemade 3 point ballast!

[Imold]

Thanks for the info and pics, now I know how to build mine, I just received my 3pt receiver hitch today.


Jim.

 

[arizona98tj]

Man, is that ever bright.

Yes it is. I painted it with a can of Massey Furgeson Implement Red that I got at the local Fleet & Farm store here in town. I think it is a little brighter than the paint on my MF but it is close enough. The best part is that I won't misplace the tractor when I'm in the woods cutting firewood.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Thanks Sodo for the low center of balance advice. The drawbar (see post 106) ended up being about 8" above the base of the form. My 3pt lowers to 6.5" on level ground so 8" allows me to set it down and disconnect. Maybe I'll stick with 1200 lbs, because going the 1500 will raise my center of balance.
Mechanicalguy, You and I are trying to decide on weight. I read your other discussion thread. The 5200 is a big tractor and you think 1100 lbs is enough? I should be okay with 1200.
I am taking my form to a concrete company - they will fill it get $20. The have a forklift so they will put the pallet back on my trailer.

I've taken the advice of this discussion thread to heed and have begun filling my barrel with scrap steel. I'll get the density of the lower portion of my barrel way up there to ensure the majority of the counterbalance is very low. I'll fill over that with concrete once I've got a good bit of scrap steel in the lower portion of the barrel. I still haven't decided on a weight yet, but I'm thinking several hundred pounds of steel in the lower portion is a good start.

 

[k0ua]

Yes it is. I painted it with a can of Massey Furgeson Implement Red that I got at the local Fleet & Farm store here in town. I think it is a little brighter than the paint on my MF but it is close enough. The best part is that I won't misplace the tractor when I'm in the woods cutting firewood.

You may need to wear sunglasses to scan the woods for that...

 

[PEJ5]

I have had a few hours of tractor time with my new 1300lb ballast/counterweight and it is a good weight. I would not want much lighter. I love how the tractor squats a bit when I raise the ballast.

I have a sloped property and the weight gives me good traction driving up the hill. I finished pulling up the root ball of an uprooted cedar tree and moved it. That was my first prying with my forks and the rear end got light. Once it was free and I shook dirt off I felt safer to move. As I traversed some slope I made sure it was very close to the ground. I can see where 1500lbs plus would not be a bad weight for a 50hp tractor.
I am closing in on 40hours of tractor time since I purchased the tractor and am starting to get a feel of how it reacts. The ballast is a huge improvement. I am still a newbie and will always treat it like I treat my Chainsaw!

Peter

 

[dullpain]

Well fellas , it aint purty down in there. More later
Sorry about the sideways pics , aint posted pics in a long time.

 

[k0ua]

The pics come out fine when you open them. I don't know why some seem sideways in the thumbnails, but it doesn't matter.

 

[PEJ5]

Well fellas , it aint purty down in there. More later
Sorry about the sideways pics , aint posted pics in a long time.

If you have not poured the concrete may I suggest an addition. I placed two 1x4x16" boards in the bottom under the tubes. After the pour I removed the 1x4s and replaced them with 2x4s that act as feet to reduce damage to my garage floor. I drilled smaller drain holes through the 2x4s into the tube caps. Just an idea.

 

[k0ua]

If you ever think you might need it, put a 2 inch hitch receiver in there in the back too. I use mine once in a while and I am glad I did. I use it for a sprayer, but you can put anything in it including a hitch ball. to quickly move a trailer or whatever you mind can think up.

 

[WranglerX]

The pics come out fine when you open them. I don't know why some seem sideways in the thumbnails, but it doesn't matter.

Pictures taken with I-Phones don't always orient correctly, something APPLE has never really fixed.... Best solution before upload is to load pic into good graphics editor on real PC do any fixing and then save, then upload....

Some times the most modern technology is not your friend...

Dale

 

[WranglerX]

If you ever think you might need it, put a 2 inch hitch receiver in there in the back too. I use mine once in a while and I am glad I did. I use it for a sprayer, but you can put anything in it including a hitch ball. to quickly move a trailer or whatever you mind can think up.

Definitely some sort of attachment point on rear of BB....

Dale

 

[dullpain]

I did not get a pic of it but it does have a 2 inch receiver in the rear.

 

[MAINLYTRACTOR]

This was an old safe I had laying around weighs about 800lbs empty 1” steel on all 5 sides

 

[Big Barn]

If you have a mother in law handy you could keep your three point available for implements.

 

[dullpain]

Off to the Concrete Plant to get it filled. Will attach pic when complete. Funny thing , did not relish the idea of buying 10-12 bags of Sakrete at $4-$5 per bag. Really did not relish mixing it up and
pouring it , too much work and its hot here. So I stop by the Concrete Plant just to inquire if they will fill it , how many $ , etc. Turns out the man that runs the plant grew up on the farm next to me.
He has been with the Company 38 years. He said he would fill for free. I dropped it off today. Good Deal.

 

[eubie5]

That is a good deal.
My 30 gallon barrel took almost 10 60lb bags to fill. I cheated and rented a small cement mixer from Home depot.
Made things much easier

Off to the Concrete Plant to get it filled. Will attach pic when complete. Funny thing , did not relish the idea of buying 10-12 bags of Sakrete at $4-$5 per bag. Really did not relish mixing it up and
pouring it , too much work and its hot here. So I stop by the Concrete Plant just to inquire if they will fill it , how many $ , etc. Turns out the man that runs the plant grew up on the farm next to me.
He has been with the Company 38 years. He said he would fill for free. I dropped it off today. Good Deal.

View attachment 619753

 

[4get gto]

If you have a mother in law handy you could keep your three point available for implements.

View attachment 619447

Or you could put this guy on the back..!

 

[dullpain]

Got it back from the Concrete Plant and out of the truck


Had it figured to weigh at 1160 lbs ,, Its 1300 lbs.


Now what Color ? Im a primary color kind of guy , always did better with a box of 8 crayons instead of 164 in Elementary school.


Word to the wise - If you take yours to the concrete plant to fill , go ahead and put some caps on your PVC tubes , and tape over
chainsaw scabbard. Ol Billy Joe Bob at the plant sloshed concrete in one of my tubes so the drain is plugged up , not the end of the world but I
would have preferred it not get plugged. Oh Well they filled it for free so I suppose Im ahead dollars.

 

[PEJ5]

That looks great. Yes, I capped my tubes before heading to the concrete place. You can simply keep that tube capped when not in use.

I like the handles on the side to make it "easy" to lift ;-)). Are you happy with the weight on the tractor. As for color, post a photo once you decide. Mine will winter as dull concrete.

 

[CalG]

The concrete block I use is 17" X 17" X 20", about 500#

It has a loop of steel in the back for pulling on stuff.

I was moving a few big maple rounds from a wind fall out of the woods the other day. Using the front bucket had the left rear wheel off the ground! I was scared! I went and put the weight on. What a difference! Having that block of rocks behind me made the entire world a better place to be in.

I would have taken some pictures, buy I had some under garments that needed washing......