Newbie terror, need experienced advice

[Coboco]

I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate ballast low, and under the deck of a TSC carry-all frame. In my mind it would be great to have a multi-function flat heavy deck (tool-carry box up by top-link mount, etc) somewhere in the 3.5 ft width and length size so it's manuverable.

A friend of mine manages commercial construction and says he has several hundred lbs of them long old window weights I can have, thinking that might work just laying them down but how to strongly support them underneath is challenging.

Might just have to take up some deck space towards the front of it and make a wood box to lay them in.

I'd love to find some big plates of steel, 1/2" or thicker and mount them to it, need to get lucky and find some heavy duty stuff and start drilling! The carry all frame seems like a nice start, and with some additional wood and steel shouldn't be a waste of $180. Says 1,000 lb capacity so if bolted up properly should handle 600-700 lbs back there which should suffice as a counterweight.

 

[Richard]

You need more rear weight.

Seems he's already slowly filling his seat with brown weight.


I agree though.

 

[Deepdrop]

I'm shocked that it took this long for someone to make a comment like that! :laughing:

 

[kenlip]

I do not 100% understand the physics but the loaded tires do not help until they are actually starting to get picked up.

Think about a see-saw or teeter-totter (depending on where about you live). It has a fulcrum in the centre and the loads go on each end. On your tractor, as you increase the load on the FEL, the fulcrum point moves closer to the front wheels. The more weight you have behind the front wheels, the more force will be applied by the rear wheels on the ground, increasing the stability and the traction.

Loaded tyres will help by virtue of the fact that they increase the weight of the tractor behind the front wheels.

But .... you want the greater load of the system' to be on the rear wheels, as they are designed to take load (which the front axles are not) and the rears are the wheels that give you the traction and the braking (there are no brakes on the front wheels).

So... you want to increase the force the rears will apply to ground and the only way to do this once the tyres are loaded and if you have wheel-weights is to add some counterweight projecting out the back of the tractor, off the 3-point hitch. This can be an implement or a simple counterweight. The counterweight now moves the fulcrum point more onto the rear wheels, for which they are designed. People often refer to the counterweight as 'ballast'.

 

[BackRoad]

There must be over 500 years of experience represented in this thread. Huge amount of valuable insight on lifting and moving loads safely.

Interesting to see the commonality of some of the guidance...keep it low...use 4WD...sufficient ballast...careful changing direction...travel direction on hills is important - lots of gold nuggets!

There is also risk from complacency after you are experienced.

When you become so comfortable, you end up taking shortcuts - like just going ahead with moving something from here to there...because it will take longer to go hook up rear ballast than just moving it this one time.

A recent TBN thread detailed a turnover while moving some manure - standard and routine, but an unexpected mound raised a front tire throwing off equilibrium - for a seasoned operator.

A safety factor is being present in the moment, aware of what is going on when operating...nothing to do with equipment.

Easy to mind wander or take shortcuts because something you're doing has become so routine or second nature you're not even consciously thinking about it.

 

[bearthebruce]

A safety factor is being present in the moment, aware of what is going on when operating...nothing to do with equipment.

Easy to mind wander or take shortcuts because something you're doing has become so routine or second nature you're not even consciously thinking about it.

Well said and a great reminder @BackRoad. Thank you for keeping us newbies pointed toward the safe use of these machines. The reminder to keep the presence of mind is a good one.

Started mowing a 15 acre meadow 2 years ago. There is a spot on the hilly meadow I call the "ski jump". Why? On first mowing in 10ft tall stuff, I had no idea I was coming up on it and I nearly rolled the machine. Big seat pucker. The next 3-4 times I mowed, I knew right where that spot was. The last time I mowed, I let my mind wander... was enjoying the day and ride on the machine. Well, all I will say is Big Seat Pucker again!

How often do we let ourselves think we got it all together only to get ourselves into big trouble. Keep reminding the newbies like me. All of the advice on FEL use is good solid advice. I am an engineer by training.. but putting the science to work in real time is not trivial. Thank you to all the 500 year club for their constant good advice. I read this forum daily...