Ballast Ballast help FEL loading ?

bcarwell · Jun 8, 2007

Awhile back as a novice I asked for help in using my FEL to pick up debris since frequently all I seemed to be doing was pushing into the pile and not moving stuff into the bucket and then not being able to go forward, with wheels spinning. Got several helpful responses on technique (but oddly discovered myself the most important technique to filling the bucket: backdragging to make a shorter, longer pile).

BUT: I still often bog down where the wheels spin and don't push into the pile. I have a compact Kubota 7500 and it just occurred to me that just maybe part of the problem is having a light tractor causing the wheel spinning. In addition to continuing to improve my "scoop and lift" technique, would adding 600-800 lbs of ballast on the 3PH help in securing a fully loaded bucket ?

Bob

nmu98 · Jun 8, 2007

It might, but..... When you get into a pile, lift up on the bucket a little to put some weight on the front tires. From there you can start to bring the bucket rolled back and lift the arms as you drive in. On my small tractor, the wieght on the rear did more for being able to pick up the full buckets without having the rear tires lift. Getting a full becket was never and issue, even with turfs...

RFB · Jun 8, 2007

2 things (that you may already be doing/utilizing) might help.

A tooth bar (slips over the cutting edge and bolts through the bucket sides) significantly enhances pile penetration. Concentrating the psi from a long edge onto points, gets you deeper into the pile.

The second issue is technique; instead of a push-lift-raise as individual movements, you want to convert that into a seamless evolution that flows with the forward momentum of your tractor: forward motion while digging curling raising all in one smooth effort.

tuolumne · Jun 8, 2007

bcarwell said:
...In addition to continuing to improve my "scoop and lift" technique, would adding 600-800 lbs of ballast on the 3PH help in securing a fully loaded bucket ?
Bob

Yes.

I have no more to say, but tractorbynet said this message had to have at least 5 characters.

daTeacha · Jun 8, 2007

Depending on what your debris is, a smallish investment in a grapple for the top of your bucket will do wonders. The thing is handier than a pickup truck.

I just had to drop a maple tree with a 40' log and the associated top branches. Cleaning up the top was looking like a chore. Then I used the chainsaw to simply slice through the mess making two very rough sections about 12 or 15 feet long. I came at them from the side with the grapple open and the bucket just off the ground. As the piles compacted, I rolled the bucket farther forward and closed the grapple. Voila! in about 30 seconds I had more brush picked up than I could do by hand in 15 minutes of hot work.

For moving the log to the firewood cutting area, I sectioned it into 80" pieces to make four 20" logs from each one. Then I approached each from the side, slid the tooth bar just under it, rolled the bucket forward, closed the grapple, curled the bucket back, and was off with several hundred pounds of wet wood firmly in control.

This was all done with the tree laying lengthwise down a pretty good slope, so most of the loading was done either directly across the hill or quartering uphill. Quartering downhill is not recommended when lifting or carrying something heavy.

I have about 900 lb of concrete on the back my DX29.

bcarwell · Jun 8, 2007

Thanks guys. Ballast, teeth, smooth movement. Got it. (And, BTW, my debris is gravel, dirt mixed with coleechee (sp ?) rocks and some3-5 pounders, and cedar twigs/small branches. I can see how when I go to grabbing bunches of cedar branches I'm gonna need the grapple. Birthday is in July (hmm, Father's Day this weekend ?)...

Bob

RoyJackson · Jun 8, 2007

Adding ballast aided me immensely...I use a ballast box weighing about 600 lbs.

johnk · Jun 8, 2007

I usually like to have a box scraper or something heavy on the back of my tractor when doing a lot of loader work. I think a beginner should start with a light rear ended tractor and get the feel of whats going on when entering a pile. Practice on mulch or something light. I think getting a full bucket every time has to do more with technique than speeding into a pile hoping for the best. The lift and curl at the same time when entering the spoil pile has the most to do with getting a full bucket.If working with hardened material weight on the rear is necessary but the technique is the same. Slow and smooth and practice is the key.... Good luck.

RoyJackson · Jun 8, 2007

I must disagree with Johnk on this one.
I'm suggesting you use what ever ballast is recommended in your loader manual. You need a balanced machine. If your tractor's loader can pick up 700 lbs, you want close to that on the rear.
I'm no expert at loader operations...there's a lot of guys on TBN who do more loader work then I do (I think). I do know when I put a 600 lb ballast box on my hitch, the tractor dove right into a pile of dried out gravel that stopped me before.
I use a ballast box. The biggest advantage is the box is pretty compact vs. most implements. I don't suggest you go out and buy a ballast box, but I do suggest you use the heaviest implement you own (caveat: rotary cutters are too long and cumbersome). Then you can decide if you want to purchase or build a ballast box.