Ballast B7100 Front End Weights

[ezlife]

When using a 3 pt 5' mower my tractor gets really light in the front, looking for a quick, easy and inexpensive method to put weight on front end.

My 15 year old son is getting tired of sitting on the hood, lol.

Thanks,

 

[Egon]

Change him out for the wife!!!

 

[ezlife]

That was helpful

I just want to balance the weight, not flatten the hood and tires

 

[teach]

Ezlife,
OUCH! I tried and tried to come up with something, and I ended up buying 3 suitcase weights (50 lbs ea.) and then wrapped an old section of chain with 1" links around them. If you can weld, you should be able to make a bracket to hold some steel or lead weights that can bolt to the front. I also thought about trying to do something with a 2" receiver hitch on the front. Maybe adding some weight on a male end (maybe even a bumper hitch cargo holder) to slip in the receiver hitch mounted to the frame on the front of the tractor. But alas, I don't weld and it just got too complicated for me, so I went the more expensive, but easier, route.
Teach

 

[ezlife]

I saw pics somewhere a few years ago of some wheel weights, that just bolted on to extra long studs of course after the wheels are on.

I thought about filling the front tires with water/fluid, but I dont know for sure that they dont already have fluid. Hate to pay to find that out before I replace the tires.

I've been trying to come up with a way to mount something like a tank on the front that could be easily filled or drained with regular water.

I dont need the weight in the winter as the snow plow does just fine, but it cuts down my turning radius, so leaving it on for mowing season is a non starter.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I just bought a new Grill Guard for my 3130. It was 236.00. It's pretty 'beefy'. Not flimsy like I thought it would be. I also paid for nearly 300lbs of weights. Total out the door was 509.00. The price was steep, I know. But I got tired of the front wheels floating at the least amount of weight on my rear boom. It worked, they work great...but at a steep price.

 

[wushaw]

I made a ft. weight for a little 15hp Mitisubishi tractor out of a section of "I" beam with two 25" sections of railroad track and welded some other scrap and stiffiners on the bottom of the "I" beam then just bolted it to the ft. of the frame, I came out with 179lb worth of weight.

 

[BTDT]

I just bought a new Grill Guard for my 3130. It was 236.00. It's pretty 'beefy'. Not flimsy like I thought it would be. I also paid for nearly 300lbs of weights. Total out the door was 509.00. The price was steep, I know. But I got tired of the front wheels floating at the least amount of weight on my rear boom. It worked, they work great...but at a steep price.

I read in one of your older posts that you don't have a loader. Don't you think it would have been better to put that $509 towards a loader (which would add weight to the front) and also accomplish numerous other things? Just my .02 cents.

 

[Egon]

On a serious note:

Can you bolt several pieces of angle iron to the tractor frame and have them extend a little out front. If so then it should be possible to make a box to fit the angle iron and use sand bags as weight.

Seems my midmount mower and loader are bolted to the main frame of the tractor. The tractors parked in the trailer but I may be able to get a picture.

 

[Egon]

Three pictures:

# 1

 

[Egon]

Picture # 2

 

[Egon]

Picture # 3.

Hope these help.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I read in one of your older posts that you don't have a loader. Don't you think it would have been better to put that $509 towards a loader (which would add weight to the front) and also accomplish numerous other things? Just my .02 cents.

I see your logic. The money tree has sprouted a little since I bought the tractor...

No sir, I don't have a loader. I thought about buying one with my tractor when I got it, but I really didn't/don't have much use for one (use-wise that is). I made a budget driven decision to not have an FEL installed on it because of price only. Since I don't need a loader but occassionally, I figured I'd be better off renting one if I ever need it. My cousin rented
a tractor with loader for Friday, Sat, Sun and had to be returned Monday morning. The cost was $189.00. He was allowed to put 10 engine hours on the machine. He didn't even get 8 on it. Called me and asked if I needed it for anything...I couldn't think of anything to do with it.

3-4k extra for a loader at the time I bought it......divided by 189.00 for a rental....equals a lot of renting before I broke even. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved just having the extra implement...I just couldn't justify it to my accountant (wife).