Ballast Adding ballast to my I-Match

[flyngti]

My Ballast Box has over 1,000 LBS of LEAD in it, and its less than 1/3 Full! I could put 3,500 LBS in if if I tried!

Zoinks! Where do you go to get 1000lbs of lead? I've been considering getting a ballast box. I like the idea of filling it as needed as opposed to something permanent like cement. Sometimes lifting a heavy weight with the loader forks on my FEL, I get that light and airy feeling of my ***** end going in the air. My rear tires are filled but I suspect I could use a little more weight back there. Of course, it's ONLY a 2320 and not the same beast as the 2520 so does not have the same 3pt lifting capacity.

 

[Deadman]

I went to automotive tire dealers and asked If they had lead wheel weights laying around. They usually did, and I often bought a 5 gallon pail from them for $10. Then i took and melted them down and pulled the steel clips out, and poured the lead into 40-60Lbs molds. I then just added however many lead chunks that I felt I needed. Works great.

 

[flyngti]

I went to automotive tire dealers and asked If they had lead wheel weights laying around. They usually did, and I often bought a 5 gallon pail from them for $10. Then i took and melted them down and pulled the steel clips out, and poured the lead into 40-60Lbs molds. I then just added however many lead chunks that I felt I needed. Works great.

Cool. How much does a 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights weigh and how many buckets did you need to get to reach 1000lbs of lead?

 

[Mayor]

Get a JD weight box.

 

[Deadman]

Depends, but I'd bet a pail was 200 Lbs.
took 2 guys to throw pail into truck!

 

[cast_and_blast]

I went to automotive tire dealers and asked If they had lead wheel weights laying around. They usually did, and I often bought a 5 gallon pail from them for $10. Then i took and melted them down and pulled the steel clips out, and poured the lead into 40-60Lbs molds. I then just added however many lead chunks that I felt I needed. Works great.

I did this as well, but to a lesser extent with mixed results. Many tire places sell this used lead to their battery suppliers to be recycled and will not give it away. Many times this is under the guise of lead being a "hazardous material" that they cannot distribute. They get a funny look on their face when you ask about the "new" lead weights that they are busily pounding onto rims for balancing.

It's a good idea but your results may vary.

Good Luck!

Scott

 

[flyngti]

Get a JD weight box.

What's a weight box? A ballast box that already has weight in it?

 

[Deadman]

I assume just another term for ballast box.

 

[kvjohndeere]

Sounds Kind of Dumb But use concrete Or Big crushed Rock ! To Add Weight ! Or as far As that goes use some old cracked engine heads If they wont Fit use A Chopsaw Metal cutting blade Prefferred! cut to fit Also old Rail road tracks ! Also use some front suitcase weights

 

[RollTideRam]

I have been wanting some railroad iron to lay on my boxblade. Nobody around here knows where to get any of it. I keep eyeing some when I cross the tracks near my job. But I don't need a 30' section at this time. JC