Ballast/15gal barrel

[firefighter9208]

This in on a Kubota M4800 with a Bushhog M346 loader. The tractor weighs 3750# dry. The loader weighs aprox. 2000#.

I have a 55 gallon drum as ballast. It took 13 bags of quickcrete to fill it. These were 80# bags. I added aprox 1 gallon of water to each bag.

80 pounds x13 bags = 1040#

13 gallons water x 8.35# = 108#

Total weight is aprox : 1148#

I have this along with filled 14.9x28 rear tires. Each tire at 75% holds 53 gallons of water. That add 442#s per tire.

Total Ballast 1148 + 884 = 2032#

There are times when I get a full scoop of gravel in the bucket (6' heavy bucket) that the back tires want to spin.

I can actually pick up a large enough rock in the bucket to loose traction and not be able to move the tractor (2wd).

Total weight of tractor with ballast and loader is aprox. 7800#

 

[flyingcow]

Appreciate the responses. Looks like given the size of my tractor, 55 gals might be more in what i need. Thanks guys.

 

[gerard]

I think concrete weight is always going to vary a bit due to differences in the aggregates weight but however you figure it, you have to weigh the cured concrete. You can't add the weight of the water to the weight of the cement and assume that will be a finished weight. Much of the water is used in the chemical hydration process and then evaporates out of the cured concrete.

 

[firefighter9208]

I think concrete weight is always going to vary a bit due to differences in the aggregates weight but however you figure it, you have to weigh the cured concrete. You can't add the weight of the water to the weight of the cement and assume that will be a finished weight. Much of the water is used in the chemical hydration process and then evaporates out of the cured concrete.

That being said, by the time you add the 13 (80#) bags of concrete and the weight of the drum and all the steel that it takes to put together the ballast box the weight is going to be pretty close to the 1150# that I listed.

Chris

 

[patrick_g]

Save a few bucks and first fill your barrel with rocks and then mix the concrete fairly loose (extra water as strength is not a big issue) and add the concrete to the barrel. Being a thin (lose) mix it will flow into the spaces between rocks pretty good and not trap a lot of air. Banging on the barrel with a hammer or a club will help release trapped air.

If you have or get a carry all platform for the 3PH you won't need to build attachment points on the barrel AND you can use the carry all for other things as well. Putting the barrel on and off the carry all is not trivial but not all that difficult. One way is to put an eye bolt or equivalent in the top of the barrel. Lift the carry all and attach a holder (chain or whatever to the eye) and then lower the 3PH. That removes the barrel. Reverse the process to put it on the carry all.

Pat

 

[pat32rf]

Or use a 50gallon drum 1/2 full of concrete, leaving the top half as a carry-all. Before you add the concrete run a suitable size rod thru it about 8" from the bottom so you can attach your 3pth. Ditto with the upper link so it doesn't swing when under way. You can also add a receiver hitch to the bottom rear for a drawbar or trailer ball....
As long as the bottom is flat enough so it doesn't tip when you lower it for removal you are good to go, just keep adding more concrete until its heavy enough..(or add used wheel weights, scrap chain, etc)

 

[flyingcow]

All good replies, thanks.

 

[dts1449]

Allot of great ideas here. Something that I found useful was to use a 30 gallon plastic barrel, mount it on a draw-bar from TSC and use dry sand in it. I can adjust the weight for what I'm doing whether it's counter weight for the front bucket or the front blower. I use the sand to combat ice when needed. I was lucky enough to find a barrel that has a ring clamp that holds the top on which is rain tight. I keep a feed scoop inside the barrel so I can throw some sand around the driveway when it gets icy. My tractor is a SC2400 so it's not real big, but it sure helps to stabilize it when hauling gravel around in the bucket or when using the blower.---DTS---

 

[flyingcow]

dts,
that a great way to do it. It looks like a good set up.