Am I being a noob about ballast boxes...

[Perplexed]

I think you need to look at the what sort of loader work you are going to be doing in order to determine your ballast needs. With only 1180 lbs of lift capacity for the 3ph, I'm going to assume the front end loader can only lift 700 to 800 pounds max. You don't need much ballast for that. Furthermore, you don't want your 3ph ballast to be near the maximum load rating due to wear and tear on the tractor.

I think a box blade or carry all will work just fine for a Cub Cadet. We aren't talking about 100 hp tractors where the weight of a box blade would too light for ballast.

I do understand what you're saying. I've used the FEL on my CCY (which, by the way, is not listed in that CC reviews list you linked to) without anything on the rear. There have been occasions where I had to back up slowly up a slight incline near a fence and near the shop, where the rear tires spun enough that I had to engage 4WD. The bucket was only about 2/3 full of dirt each time, which got me to thinking about ballast. I've looked at box blades, and in my opinion, they're still pretty bulky and sizable for the purpose of adding weight to the rear. They may be useful in the double utility of adding weight and providing a means for grading gravel or dirt roads and leveling ground, but I have no need for the latter utility. Nor do I want to fill the rear tires, as I use this tractor quite a bit for finish mowing. Hence my queries about ballast boxes and carry-alls, and I've learned quite a bit from those of you who offered advice without any condescension. Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I have never understood the theory that people do not use a ballast box because they always "need" a different attachment on the back.

I use my ballast box when I need ballast. If I need the rake on I put the rake on. Or, if I need the rear blade on then I take the ballast box off and put the blade on.... (I don't need the ballast using the blade).

For example...Soon, I am going to have a couple loads of gravel hauled in to bring up the grade of my driveway some. I will put the ballast box on and bucket the gravel to where I need it, use the bucket to back drag what I dumped, just a quick back drag with the bucket, continue moving the gravel to where I need it 'til I'm done. Then, I take off the ballast box and put on either the rake or blade to "finish" the work.

Works great for me. And, my front axle likes it. My tires like it. The tractor gets maximum strength or, HP transferred to the ground when the ballast box is on. I mean, the WINS go on and on and on and on.

Isn't this what tractor operators are suppose to do.??

Or, am I doing something wrong.?? I don't think so.

 

[beppington]

I have never understood the theory that people do not use a ballast box because they always "need" a different attachment on the back.

I use my ballast box when I need ballast. If I need the rake on I put the rake on. Or, if I need the rear blade on then I take the ballast box off and put the blade on.... (I don't need the ballast using the blade).

For example...Soon, I am going to have a couple loads of gravel hauled in to bring up the grade of my driveway some. I will put the ballast box on and bucket the gravel to where I need it, use the bucket to back drag what I dumped, just a quick back drag with the bucket, continue moving the gravel to where I need it 'til I'm done. Then, I take off the ballast box and put on either the rake or blade to "finish" the work.

Works great for me. And, my front axle likes it. My tires like it. The tractor gets maximum strength or, HP transferred to the ground when the ballast box is on. I mean, the WINS go on and on and on and on.

Isn't this what tractor operators are suppose to do.??

Or, am I doing something wrong.?? I don't think so.

Switching 3PH implements isn't a a lot of fun to me . I'd rather be tractorin' :thumbsup:. So, as opposed to a ballast box, which I guess might be useful for holding some hand tools & chains (which would be better on the tractor somewhere IMO), & towing a trailer (I have a draw bar :confused3, I'd prefer to make my best guess as to which 3PH implement I might need next, & use that for ballast.

(Of course this is coming from a guy whose tractor has filled tires :laughing

If I could configure my tractor so that the bush hog, box blade, flail mower & disc could all be on it at the same time, I'd just keep 'em all on there & never have to do any implement swappin' again - And that'd be fine with me :thumbsup:

 

[RoyJackson]

I think you need to look at the what sort of loader work you are going to be doing in order to determine your ballast needs.

Yep, ballasting should be should be tailored to the task and I'm sure some farmers frequently adjust their ballast for best traction and fuel economy.
Doubt many of us CUT owners do though. Once the ballast box is filled, that's it...
After I got my ballast box (which, as written, had sand in it) I added 3-4 more 50lb bags I had laying around (I'm estimating 500-600 lbs of sand total now) and that's where it stayed. When I'm plowing snow, I'll shovel some sand on slicker spots...that's about as much adjusting ballast weight as I do.

What really made me a believer in ballasting was when I tried to dig in to a pile of dried out clumpy gravel (not sure what grade it was...but very fine). That 790 I had just didn't have the weight to break into it, even with a toothbar. The only implements I had was a very old heavy rear blade (but not heavy enough); a 60" RFM (not nearly enough weight) and a 60" rotary cutter (cutters are very awkward).
One of our suppliers (for the company I was working at) had a Deere 970. Since we were both tractor guys, I told him about my plight and he told me about the Deere ballast box he never used. I got the box and made pretty short work of that gravel pile (which I was using to fill in areas of my driveway).
I don't have much use for a box blade (rented one once) or many other implements (chipper, cutter, RFM and rear blade is about all I'll need at this property)...so the ballast box is my best choice. Thinking about it, the ballast box is also the easiest to keep on the tractor when I park it in the garage too.

But like I and others have written...doesn't much matter what you use, as long as you got something back there. Just happens this thread concerns ballast boxes and not ballasting in general.

 

[Rockgod]

I have the larger Kubota ballast box (1000lb)
If anyone is interested, I would sell the ballast box.

PS....I get to keep the gravel.

Check your PM's beersngars!

 

[grnspot110]

I had fixed up a "ballast unit" for my JD 790 out of things I had 'laying around' (see pic.).

After a year of searching, I found an unused John Deere ballast box on CL for $80 about 100 miles from home. Went after it, then on to Des Moines for a "day trip". Today (between rains) I've been cutting up the old unit to put the iron into the box. Still need around 300#, some of which I have at the farm, to get the recommended 600#+. I don't want anything permanent in it so I can easily adjust if need be.

This frees up my two 100# suitcase wts. for other uses when I need them! ~~ grnspot

 

[RoyJackson]

If I could configure my tractor so that the bush hog, box blade, flail mower & disc could all be on it at the same time, I'd just keep 'em all on there & never have to do any implement swappin' again - And that'd be fine with me :thumbsup:

You need a Swiss Army Tractor, Bep!

 

[TrenaryDucks]

I do understand what you're saying. I've used the FEL on my CCY (which, by the way, is not listed in that CC reviews list you linked to) without anything on the rear.

I didn't create the link, rather it was automatically created by the web program.

Sounds like a ballast box is in your future.

 

[boggen]

multi ways to add weight.

filled rear tires
rear wheel weights
3pt ballast box
3pt box blade (nothing on it)
3pt box blade (extra weight added onto it)
3pt carry all (for custom weight placed on it)
3pt dirt scoop / pond scoop
3pt rear blade
3pt rotatory cutter
3pt backhoe
3pt sprayer
DIY weight box on rear.
and multi other ways

if ya do not have it, ya pay for it. in either traction. or rear wheels coming off the ground, or not able to get a fuller bucket of material in the FEL.

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i am kinda surprised. i do not see more "water containers" vs use of sand, concrete, scrap metal, and other implements. so folks that trailer there vehicles can drain water, trailer tractor to were ever, and refill at a given location.

i have seen many "compactors" for road work and like. have a water delivery truck come in. and fill the large drum on them. and then when done seeing these pieces of equipment setting by some ditch / ravine. and waiting for the slow draining of the water out of them.

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i see little mention of wooden framed ballast boxes. besides 3pt carry-alls.

what about sub frame mounted weights?

any chance for chains going over and around rear axles of tractors to weights below?

any chance for fender weights? ((i have seen spray drums, and fuel tanks hovering over fends before.))

any chance of ROPS weights? (( some how hanging off of back of it and down lower? to keep 3pt area clear and usable?))

any chance of 3pt weight attachments. that can fit over other 3pt attachments and be used at same time? errrr other words. both the weight and the other implement, both attach at lift arms and top link. but using say longer bolts/pins/etc... to keep them attached at same time?

perhaps quick attachment plus added weight and some how attached / unattached easily?

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is there such a thing as fill-able rims or some sort of hard plastic or metal insert tubes. that can be easily filled / un-filled with water. that fit inside the tire and rim. but still allow air to be used to maintain tire pressure? ((see drum compactors above))

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is there such a thing as putting on tire chains on rear tires. and then hooking up some tire tubes or like to outside of rear tires filled with water? for possible easy quick fill / un fill. and removing / adding back on?

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what about a bunch of 4" or 6" plastic pipe or like. with screw on end caps. filled with water and or sand. and some how attached to bottom or rear of tractor? or perhaps drapped over fenders / sides of rear tires?

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small gauge wheels or like mounted to bottom general duty bucket on FEL? so you can fill and just let the bucket roll across the ground?

 

[gladehound]

That works.!! But, I am wondering how you got all that weight onto the bar and 3pt hitch.??

I'm young! :laughing: