55 gallon drum weight?

[F350Lawman]

I don't think your 790 has a cupholder so you might want to make a spot for a water bottle or thermos of coffee I say this only partly in jest.

And leave out the donut holder...surely you jest! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Paint it JD green... )</font>

With all the tips you've gotten from so many different folks, I think it's only fair you put an orange and a blue stripe on it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[s1120]

Looks good, but I have a thought. I see how the chain would stop it from tipping back, but whats stopping it from tipping towards the tractor? Now if you take one chain, and attach it to the bottom of the drum, and the other attached to the top, that would do the trick. OR, maby spend a little more time, and put a mount for a top link on it. That would make hook up easyer, and take a lot of clang, rattle, and slop out of it.

 

[MossRoad]

I did that with a plastic drum about 6-7 years ago. Did the same thing for the lower links with cat1 3PT pins, but for the top link I got a used anti way bar, cut it in half and had the two ends with holes sticking out the front side of the barrel near the top to attach the top link to. Worked just like any other 3PT implement.

Funny thing is, I filled it near full of cement. I thought it would weigh quite a bit, but I could tip it over or stand it up by hand. I estimate it weighs less than 500 pounds. Be sure to put the lower pins in high enough so that your 3PT lift arms can get down to it. Sounds obvious, but I put mine in near the lower end of the range of motion, and let the barrel sit for a year or two. It sank into the sand down past the limit of motion of the arms. So I had to knock it over, roll it a few feet and stand it up on soil that was a few inches higher. Must have been a design flaw /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also, the plastic barrel deformed a bit as the concrete cured. It looks kind of lumpy, but it is functional. You could probably solve this by doing it in a few pours, not one big lump. I don't know how this would affect the structural integrity, so use lots of re-bar. The next time I go out to my property I'll try to rememer to take a picture of it.

 

[Henro]

F350Lawman,

Reading this thread late for some reason...brought back the memory of someone who posted here a while back about making his own concrete rear counterweight...

After casting it in the center of his driveway, it was too heavy for him to move...not sure what the resolution was...

You might want to err on the light side... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sure everything will work out perfectly in your case though, since you have done the homework in advance.

 

[Slamfire]

Now that the design is finalized, get a 30 gallon drum. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[F350Lawman]

Well I may go with a top link. I was thinking of using the chains so I could also take some of the weight of the lower link arms by connecting the chains directly to the tractor. I would then lower the arms so there is no slcak and the chains hold some weight.

I was thinking that by having one chain in the rear of the bucket and one in the front (slightly offset so they don't touch and rattle) it would stops way both ways. If it goes to tip back, the back chain is taught and it can't move, if it goes to sway backwards the front chain goes taught and it can't move. Sounds reasonable, no?

I saw the post with the angle iron top link and that may be a better alternative, we'll see.

OK, I will put a blue and orange stripe for all the contributors....oops better add red too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As far as the 30 gallon drum it would be fine but I like 3/4 filling the 55 and having some storage. Also I have around 6-8 55 gallon drums from my wife's barrel racing so I should make use of them.

 

[DavidJ]

Here's the formula for those that have an interest. A common 55 gal drum is 23" dia by 36" tall.

1" tall by 23" dia = 415.5 cu in or .24 cu ft or .009 cu yd

Take out for a 4" pipe = 12.56 cu in per in tall

That leaves 402.9 cu in or .233 cu ft or .0086 cu yd per in of drum.

Concrete is normally sold in 2000, 3000 and 4000 lb per cu yd mix. There are some variations over the country so you'll need to check to see what you're getting or mixing.

2000 lb mix weighs 74 lbs per cu ft
3000 lb mix weighs 111 lbs per cu ft.
4000 lb mix weighs 148 lbs per cu ft

If you fill the drum 30" the final weight will be approx

517.25 lbs for 2000 lb mix
776.00 lbs for 3000 lb mix
1034.50 lbs for 4000 lb mix

 

[BigEddy]

Trimmed 10% off the top with a hammer drill and chisel, and helped the 3 pt unstick it from the mud. Works fine now!. I like the idea of incremental pours.. Wish I'd done that!!!

Mine's about 900 lbs +/- now, I'm rated 1000 +/- at 24". Maybe my releif valve is low, but it still struggles a bit to lift it, but keeps the rear end down. Go light, add later - believe me.

While you're at it, I'd seriously think about adding a piece of 2" ID square tubing to the design so you can pull a trailer without having to drop the c-weight. I can't get to my drawbar with the c-weight mounted.

 

[Justaplain]

Is there a reason for not useing your top link to stabilize your project?? I use a barrell of water on a carry all and just dump it in a dry spot when I done with it. bcs