Ballast BX, FEL, and rear weights

rdricks · Mar 29, 2002

Okay guys, I know this was beat to death a while ago (looking through past threads). But now that there are plenty of folks with actual experience out there, I'd like to know what people would recommend with the BX2000 / FEL combination. Should I have some rear weights when using the FEL? Main use will be for moving dirt into the back, and a lot of mulch work. Although I am sure I will also end up using it anytime I need to haul something around (replace the wheelbarrow). If rear weight is recommended, is a rear blade enough? Wheel weights? I'd rather not go with the box blade at this point as I don't have much use for it. Thanks for any input.

MikePA · Mar 29, 2002

My $0.02 is to buy an implement that can actually be used for something in addition to providing weight, e.g., rear blade, box blade, etc. I see you're in Colorado, so perhaps a rear blade can be used to move snow?

rdricks · Mar 29, 2002

That was my thought on a rear blade - we don't get enough snow to justify a blower, but I could probably justify rear blade for snow removal and some gravel scraping in the summer. Does the rear blade provide enough weight to counter the FEL though?

MikePA · Mar 29, 2002

I have a rear blade (60"), in addition to a 60" mmm and a FEL. Thus far, I have used my FEL to move compost (heavy wet stall cleanings) and tree remains and have yet to need my rear blade as a counterweight. Note that I have had my mmm on for all this FEL use. I imagine if I was using my FEL to move stone, I would need the rear blade, but thus far, I haven't needed it. For this past winter, I just used the FEL to move snow, again, no need for the rear blade. My guess is that my mmm is providing enough additional weight thus no need for the rear blade. A rear blade would work well for gravel scraping.

If I had to do it over again, I would probably buy a box blade instead of a rear blade.

TresCrows · Mar 29, 2002

I have a 5 foot rear blade and a 4 foot box blade. The boxblade is probably twice the weight of the rear blade. It does not stick out behind or to the side as much as the blade. The blade by itself does not counter balance a full load in the FEL, the boxblade will. perhaps for your purpose get a blade but also build yourself a weight box.
J

GFB · Mar 29, 2002

I have BX with FEL and 5' rear blade. Blade does a good job of counterbalance unless you are picking up a very heavy load such as full bucket of gravel, wet clay or sand. Then it is just a fair counter weight. Everytime I take the blade off (seldom) and use the FEL (seemingly all the time), I wish I had the rear tires filled.

GB

DaninGreenBay · Mar 29, 2002

I've only had my BX a couple of months but I have been able to move some heavy wet snow around with the FEL a few times. It did ok without any additional rear weight but to check things out I bolted on approximately 200 lbs of lead on to a draw bar and attached it to the 3ph. It made quite an improvement. I was able to bulldoze some pretty big piles of snow. I also have a back blade but I like the weights on the drawbar better for ballast because it doesnt stick out as far and makes it easier to maneuver around the yard and park in the garage safely out of the way of the chairperson and her car /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

frank_f15 · Mar 29, 2002

i have a rear blade for my 2400, it does help for the weight but not totaly. i use the blade for some sonw removal, depending on the amt. and type of snow, for heavy snow iuse the fel mostly. one thing to remember about the rear blade, if u get it wide enough to cover the footprints of the tractor, u must always be aware that it is sticking out beyond the wheels.

kyoders · Mar 29, 2002

I haven't had mine very long, but I would suggest the rear wheel weights are not worth it. I have them, and they aren't much help. I have the rear tires filled, and that's not enough for a heavy load (and th book says don't use wheel weights if the tires are filled). I ended up getting a carry-all and piling on bags of compost, totalling about 250 or so pounds, and that seemed to work pretty well. I was moving a dirt pile from one place to another, and doing the same with a pile of crushed gravel (ABC crusher). I would guess that a good rear blade, like a Woods 35-05, would work well. It weighs about 280lbs, and would sit back a bit further than my bags of compost on the carry-all. Right now, I'm trying to talk myself into getting the blade, but so far no luck (I can be pretty stubborn sometimes).

Kevin