Ballast extra weights on the 5000

[Soundguy]

Since test mowing with the 5000 and a 10' 3pt mower, I noticed that a few extra pounds of front weight would be nice. I found 2 NH 50# suitcase weights I had hanging on an old ford disc, and uh.. liberated them. The fit nicely on either side of my oem front weight bracket, adding some extra stability when lifting that 10' mower.

Soundguy

 

[Robert_in_NY]

How much weight do you have on it now? Do you have a lot of trouble trying to turn with the mower or do you go slow?

I have my 7710 loaded heavy so that it will grab when I am trying to turn. I have 12- 87 pounders on the front and the weight bracket is 130 pounds itself. I do need to pull some weight off before haying season though.

 

[Soundguy]

I've got 4 80# weights, and 2 50# weights. With just the 80# weights, if I had the mower lifted completely off the ground, and hit a bump.. the front end got a little too light. With the mower on the ground.. it was fine.. turning and all. Now with the extra 100# up there, i can even lift the mower. Another hundred would probably be nice.. but NH wants 50$ for the 50# weights. I got space to hang 2 more if I ever find any cheap. My 7610s has about 640 on the front using oem suitcase weights and the bracket. It can be increased to 800 on the oem bracket... though I've never had a need for it. The 7610s is a tad heavier in the front than the 5000 is, so the 10' mower never made the 7610s front light anyway.. plus it had more weight out front with the suitcase weights.

Since I don't drive around with the mower completely inthe air on the 5000.. or the 7610s for that matter.... i don't see it being an issue for the few times I'll mow with the 5000 waiting for the 7610s to get fixed. When transporting, I still leave the tailwheels down, and about 6" of clearance on the skids to the road..e tc.

Soundguy

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I paid $67.60 for each 87 pound weight thru the aftermarket supplier my dealer orders from. I am not sure if there are other dealers or not. I did have enough weight to qualify for free shipping which might have something to do with the price difference.

On my 7710 the front slides around to easy. I have tri-ribs but when mowing at 5mph I can't get it to turn as the discbine takes a lot of weight off the front and makes it slide in turns.

 

[Soundguy]

I expect my 7610s to mow about as good with the 10' 3pt as with the 15' drag mower.. should be about the same weight on the rear of the tractor. So far I have good front end weight.. not even near being light.

Soundguy