Ballast weight - how high can I go?

[oosik]

Fastball - IMHO the half barrel of concrete is the way to go. Basic weight and if you start feeling light in your rears - add more to the barrel. I know the weight of the heavy stuff I lift - rock or tree - within a hundred pounds or so because I've researched and developed weight tables. My Rhino rear blade at 1000# and the 1550# of Rimguard covers anything I've going to handle here.

 

[oosik]

I agree. A 55 gallon drum of concrete or a big 'ol rear blade is really on the "short side" of the teeter -totter when it comes to offsetting any weight on the FEL or front axle.

Considering the rear axle is the center of the teeter-totter - almost the entire tractor is ahead of that axle. And given the 3-point arms are so short - you would need half the weight of the world to offset what is forward of the rear axle and thereby take much weight off the front axle.

The weight recommendations, for the 3-point, in my Kubota owners manual are designed to keep the rear tires on the ground and not so much to reduce weight on the front axle.

 

[4570Man]

It'll take around a thousand pounds to keep the rear end on the ground with a larger compact tractor. Any amount of weight between zero and that point adds weight to the front axel under a max lift. Once you reach that point your either going to need literally tons or a boom pole to take a meaningful amount off the front axel. Your working the short side of the lever here. Anyone who can't understand this needs to retake 5th grade physics. This is another TBN created myth that holds no water.

 

[case580c]

oosik, I sent you a private message

 

[oosik]

oosik, I sent you a private message

I replied. Let me know if you got it. Weather conditions are playing havoc with my satellite internet service tonight.

Tried a second time at 11:45 - - no joy. Sent an email.

 

[pmsmechanic]

FELs aren't meant to dig anyway. What tractor did you have that 1000 pounds on the back noticeably lightened the front end? I've never had any trouble using the FEL with the backhoe on the back that weighs more than 1000 pounds. I can take a 6" cut with the CTL bucket and its light on the front end.

I guess I've been using my front end loader wrong all these years. I thought they were meant for digging.

The fel is on my 4410. I have a quick attach and the bracket I made holds the center of the weights approximately a foot behind the bottom hook on the quick attach.

 

[case580c]

I guess I've been using my front end loader wrong all these years. I thought they were meant for digging.

The fel is on my 4410. I have a quick attach and the bracket I made holds the center of the weights approximately a foot behind the bottom hook on the quick attach.

I agree, I was an Excavating Contractor for 20+ years my ford 9N's small front end loader could dig. But my 580B Case loader bucket would do it a lot faster & my 85 hp Case Crawler/loader was even better & faster. For a smaller excavation my backhoe would be used. Comes down to the right tool for the job. Now if you have a small 18 hp tractor with loader you can dig out a basement or any large excavation depending soil type. BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE and may ruin your tractor.

 

[Oldoak]

I agree, I was an Excavating Contractor for 20+ years my ford 9N's small front end loader could dig. But my 580B Case loader bucket would do it a lot faster & my 85 hp Case Crawler/loader was even better & faster. For a smaller excavation my backhoe would be used. Comes down to the right tool for the job. Now if you have a small 18 hp tractor with loader you can dig out a basement or any large excavation depending soil type. BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE and may ruin your tractor.

Very well said! :thumbsup:

"Comes down to the right tool for the job." really sums it all up.

Oh, even a pick and shovel and a wheel barrow can get the job done if anyone wants to go that route. Worked very well for past generations. :confused3:

 

[case580c]

I replied. Let me know if you got it. Weather conditions are playing havoc with my satellite internet service tonight.

Tried a second time at 11:45 - - no joy. Sent an email.

Searched my emails nothing. Try Private message again, please. I know it terrible when our internet is down. Hope your weather improves. We are close to a drought, under 9 inches of rain to date. Hopefully we will be getting some rain in the near future. Thanks Bill

 

[Fastball]

I just want to get the rear wheels a bit more planted. I notice that with the work I’m doing lately, I’m getting a lot of wheel spin and therefore a loss of traction. I don’t load up the FEL to the point where the back gets light, but I’m hoping that 500-odd pounds hanging nice and low behind me might keep me a bit more planted and keep my centre of gravity a bit lower on a slope.