Ballast Ballast Options -

meledward23 · Oct 5, 2004

I have a TC55da. While using the FEL this thing is pretty stable if all I am doing is moving dirt around. But toss Pallet forks on and pick a pallet up, or grab a log, and we lose some stabliity. I am still fairly well grounded as the tractor seems to be fairly well weighted for it's lift capacity. But a little more rear weight would be nice.

I usually use a rear box blade because of it's compact size allows better manuvering with the FEL. My box has room across the top of it to put some weight. I was thinking about hardening about four 80lb bags of sacrete. and strapping them in place.

Good idea, bad idea, other ideas ?

I have a brush hog that is an excellent ballast, but it is far to long.

hazmat · Oct 5, 2004

Are your tires loaded? Any rear wheel weights?

How much does the box blade weigh?

Your loader manual should give you min rear weight requirements.

I suspect you'll need substantial ie a couple thousand pounds counterweight to use the loader to it's full capacity safely.

meledward23 · Oct 5, 2004

No tire weights and no fill.
Currently the only counter weight is the box. I really have had no major problems in so far.

Tractor manual..... Well thanks did not really think to look there. I read the book the day I got the tractor, but obviously didnt pay close attention.

IN the FEL loader manual (NH product) it recommends weight A) 800 lbs for liquid filled tires
or
b) 420 lb in wheel weights and/or c) rear weight bar of 620 lbs.

Now I dont know how much the box blade weighs. It is heavy (yeah I know, very general). By addining another 320 lbs I would guess I am getting close to the recommended rear weight bar.

Maybe then I should consider wheel weights in addition to the box blade sacrete idea? 3pt. hitch lift capacity is 3456lbs, so I dont figure to worry about overloading it. I would rather the weight be removable with ease, because I dont want that much more weight for daily activities on the softer parts of the farm.

jinman · Oct 5, 2004

Concrete will work, but if you can get a few feet of railroad rail, that will do the job and be much smaller and last a lot longer. I think some of that stuff is 110# to 120# per foot.

meledward23 · Oct 5, 2004

Do you think my brothers plasma cutter will go through it ? Should I just run up to the local track and start cutting /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ....

Were might I look for such a product ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

jinman · Oct 5, 2004

Were might I look for such a product ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

It's in the railroad aisle at Home Depot. . . . NOT! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

In my case, I had a friend who was retired from the railroad and had "sources." You might try a salvage yard or just be bold and call up MOPAC and ask if they ever sell small sections of old track. The worst they can say is no.

I found this picture of a scrap yard in Florida by searching for "scrap rail" on Google.

Scrap Rail

Golfgar4 · Oct 6, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Were might I look for such a product ? )</font>

I agree with Jim's suggestion to go visit the local railroad yard. We have a railroad yard office/maintenance facility in our city, and I know they have old, used rail laying around. I don't know what they do with it or if they'd sell it, but it'd be worth a visit.

Also, in our neck of the woods, when a railroad abandons a right-of-way, they will frequently turn over the ROW to the Department of Natural resources to be converted into hiking/biking/snowmobile trails. Often, the DNR is responsible for removing the old rail. Maybe you could check for something like this through a local PArks department or your state's DNR. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

meledward23 · Oct 8, 2004

Or I simply could mention it to my father. (It being the procurment of Rail Road Rail) he could simply say call your brother. I could call my brother. He could say a close friend repairs rails and he got a 6' piece last week which he made a blah blah blah(wasnt listening very close to what he made). End result should have it by next weekend at the worlds best price. Free.....

Happy Camper.....