Ballast box--how big?

/ Ballast box--how big? #1  
T

Tarnold

Silver Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2013
Messages
104
Location
Ellijay ga
Tractor
Ls 3038h, ford 1900
Hooked up the new grapple to the LS 3038H, and got scared real quick. 60" grapple at 650 lbs was probably to big, tried to lift a wet log 8'x22" and rear end went up like a rocket. Loaded tires and a box blade on the rear. Knew the load was heavy but wanted to see what it could do. So found a concrete calculator and want to build a weight box, but how much weight do I need? Rear lift rated 1433 lbs. FEL rated 2088 lbs. I don't want to max anything, so what percent of capacity should I shoot for in ballast weight?
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #2  
As long as you stay under your tractor's lift capacity, I doubt you will complain having too much weight on the rear, especially given you appear to be going all-out with your loader. I don't have the same tractor as you, but for what it's worth, my user manual specifies 880 lbs ballast on the rear for full loader capacity. Given your rear is rated for 1433 lbs, I would shoot for something like 1000-1200 lbs. Don't forget to account for the weight of the box itself, which can easily be a few hundred pounds if you build it out of steel.
 
/ Ballast box--how big?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Was thinking of making a plywood form, and casting concrete. Per the concrete calculator, 24" x24"x24" should be 1064 lbs. Thinking that might be a bit much, but I can play with the dimensions. was thinking maybe 75-80% of capacity?
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #4  
Your 3 pt has a lift capacity of 1808 at the ball ends according to LS's specs, and since that is where the ballast will actually hang (especially if you cast cement inside a drum of some sort like those blue plastic barrels) as opposed to 24" aft which is where you got your number from, you can easily and safely use at least 1400 lbs on the rear without straining anything. The 24" aft number is to give a good idea of what kind of weight can be lifted that is to the rear of the ball ends that far like a large box blade, bush hog etc. The more ballast the better for your tractor's performance overall, but especially the front end/axle.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #5  
I have a nice metal 55 gallon drum. I was thinking about welding on 3 pt hookups to that with a "frame" extending into the drum and then filling the whole thing with concrete. Would that make a good ballast weight for my tractor?
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #6  
I have seen a ton of them like that.

An easy way to make one is to buy a cat one drawbar at TSC and cut holes through the side of drum where you want it to be, slide it into each hole from inside the drum, then pour the cement in around it. Then, slide two pieces of angle iron facing away from each other down into the wet cement to form the top link mounting point. When it all sets up good, just drill or burn the hole for the top link pin through the angle iron(s).
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #7  
RG1 said:
I have seen a ton of them like that.

An easy way to make one is to buy a cat one drawbar at TSC and cut holes through the side of drum where you want it to be, slide it into each hole from inside the drum, then pour the cement in around it. Then, slide two pieces of angle iron facing away from each other down into the wet cement to form the top link mounting point. When it all sets up good, just drill or burn the hole for the top link pin through the angle iron(s).
Click to expand...

The only change I have is to drill the top link holes first. Much easier on a drill press when going through 1/4 or 3/16" steel. Leave about 8" unfilled in the drum and you have a great place for a chain or two. Will need a couple of weep holes so it does not collect water.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #8  
If you are looking for more than 1000 pounds, using a 55 gallon drum wont get you there @ 1000 to 1100 pound depending on your concrete density when completely full. I think you need more like 1500 # for full effect of the FEL.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #9  
Tarnold said:
Was thinking of making a plywood form, and casting concrete. Per the concrete calculator, 24" x24"x24" should be 1064 lbs. Thinking that might be a bit much, but I can play with the dimensions. was thinking maybe 75-80% of capacity?
Click to expand...

I don't think 1k is too much...a little extra won't overly stress the 3pt, and will definitely save your front axles some wear and tear. It will also let you max the loader safely, which is the most important factor.

Thus is a good example for others....loaded tires, and a box blade really isn't the right combo for FEL work....the loaded tires do very little compared to weight on the 3pt.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #10  
What would you recommend to do to get over 1k in a compact package then? My rear tires are filled and that adds a little over 1000 lbs according to BioBallast's website. I figured another 1k hanging off of the 3 pt should get my rear end planted pretty firmly, but if there's a better ballast option, I'm open to suggestions.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #11  
juddspaintballs said:
What would you recommend to do to get over 1k in a compact package then? My rear tires are filled and that adds a little over 1000 lbs according to BioBallast's website. I figured another 1k hanging off of the 3 pt should get my rear end planted pretty firmly, but if there's a better ballast option, I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

IMG-20130512-00016.jpg

Build one of these with two barrels.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #13  
juddspaintballs said:
What would you recommend to do to get over 1k in a compact package then? My rear tires are filled and that adds a little over 1000 lbs according to BioBallast's website. I figured another 1k hanging off of the 3 pt should get my rear end planted pretty firmly, but if there's a better ballast option, I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

Your 55gal drum filled with concrete will be a bit over 1K pounds. I wouldn't try welding anything to the barrel for 3pt lift points....I'd put a draw bar through the middle, then fabricate a top link attachment, and be done with it.

I happened upon a 1300lb block of steel at the local scrap yard, and my neighbor helped me turn it into a counterweight...with all the welding, and extra material, it's close to 1,400lbs. It's great, but much more expensive than buying bags of concrete, a draw bar, and a 55gal drum.

 
/ Ballast box--how big? #14  
Gary Fowler said:
If you are looking for more than 1000 pounds, using a 55 gallon drum wont get you there @ 1000 to 1100 pound depending on your concrete density when completely full. I think you need more like 1500 # for full effect of the FEL.
Click to expand...

A 55 gallon drum filled with portland cement mix you can buy at Lowe's or HD will get you well over 1K. I don't recall the exact weight, but I seem to remember seeing it listed as 1300-1400 lbs
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #15  
mark02tj said:
Do you have a pic of that not mounted to your tractor? I'm curious as to how it hooks up.

Also, what's on the FEL of your tractor? Is that just a platform?

THANKS!
Click to expand...

That's my tree shear on the FEL, an M&M.

IMG-20130413-00014.jpg

DSC03150.jpg

I put 975 pounds of concrete into it. I brought all the bags home in the bed of the truck, put the mixer on the tailgate and mixed/poured directly into it. That's 2X2 steel and 1/4 inch thickness.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #16  
THANKS for the pics, Dan! But I have a dumb question - is the steel not permanently attached to the to drum? That's pretty cool!

I thought that might be tree shear. I saw one on the FEL at the local Deere dealer when I was looking to buy my tractor. I'll bet that's fun to use too!!
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #17  
juddspaintballs said:
What would you recommend to do to get over 1k in a compact package then? My rear tires are filled and that adds a little over 1000 lbs according to BioBallast's website. I figured another 1k hanging off of the 3 pt should get my rear end planted pretty firmly, but if there's a better ballast option, I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...

You're making a common mistake here. The point of the ballast is not only to keep your rear planted, but to take weight off the front axle by levering it over the fulcrum of the rear axle. Loaded tires provide additional traction and to keep the rear of the tractor on the ground, but because the weight of the ballast is centered over the axle and resting on the ground, it does nothing to take weight OFF the front axle and transfer it TO the rear axle. Ballast on the three-point is out behind the rear axle, and so it transfers weight OFF the front axle and ONTO the rear axle. This is critical, because the front axle of compact tractors is not designed to take the full weight that the loader can lift.

In short: if you need additional traction, ballasted tires are good. If you need a lower CG for side-hill stability, ballasted tires are good. But ballasted tires do nothing to save your front axle. Three-point ballast is mandatory on most compact tractors for achieving maximum loader lift capacity, whether you have loaded tires or not.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #18  
joshuabardwell said:
You're making a common mistake here. The point of the ballast is not only to keep your rear planted, but to take weight off the front axle by levering it over the fulcrum of the rear axle. Loaded tires provide additional traction and to keep the rear of the tractor on the ground, but because the weight of the ballast is centered over the axle and resting on the ground, it does nothing to take weight OFF the front axle and transfer it TO the rear axle. Ballast on the three-point is out behind the rear axle, and so it transfers weight OFF the front axle and ONTO the rear axle. This is critical, because the front axle of compact tractors is not designed to take the full weight that the loader can lift.

In short: if you need additional traction, ballasted tires are good. If you need a lower CG for side-hill stability, ballasted tires are good. But ballasted tires do nothing to save your front axle. Three-point ballast is mandatory on most compact tractors for achieving maximum loader lift capacity, whether you have loaded tires or not.
Click to expand...

Amen brother. Most manufactures will specify ballast weight and will include specs for 3 point and rear wheel individually and/or combinations. Read you loader manual. For ballast ideas, you can look at the TBN Ballast Photos thread as many members have posted quite a few "concepts" to meet their specific needs.
 
/ Ballast box--how big? #20  
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