Front ballast / Suitcase weights - DIY or cheap

[travelrider73]

I have a vision!!! Mostly of me skinning my shins on the bolt sticking out!!!

Good point and one I was concerned about too... A spear sticking off the front of the tractor isn't my favorite option. So, looking for ideas.

 

[Semper Paratus]

Add a FEL?:thumbsup:

 

[travelrider73]

Add a FEL?:thumbsup:

Way too much work and expense after the fact on an old tractor like I have. That's another reason I'm shopping for a new tractor. New one will have a quick disconnect FEL.

 

[ruffdog]

Do you have anything heavy that would fit in a 2" receiver? These tractors are quite handy if you fab up a hitch for the front.

 

[travelrider73]

Do you have anything heavy that would fit in a 2" receiver? These tractors are quite handy if you fab up a hitch for the front.

Now, I like that idea... A class 3 hitch on the front and then I can add a weight hanging off the hitch... Not sure how to attach the hitch. Might require some fabrication. There's nothing up front to easily attach a hitch to on this tractor.

 

[Stimw]

Yeah, that's why I need ballast (and a bigger tractor). I'm starting to shop for a 40hp-ish tractor, which is why I don't want to spend any money on this ballast. if it was for long-term, I wouldn't mind, but since this is a relatively temporary need, I'm trying to be cheap. Heck, I'm not even sure this tractor is going to run this chipper. That's test #1. It's a 650 pound 6" chipper and my PTO is 5hp short of the minimum recommended. I am hoping I can slip the clutch slowly, get it running and then just not try to make it chip big logs for now, but that's a different topic.

The topic at hand is: I can lift the front of my tractor off the ground with one hand right now with the chipper attached and raised up. I can't steer! LOL.

Chippers depend on the flywheel inertia to do the chipping.
While it might bog down with larger wood it should chip well otherwise.
You always have to feather the clutch during start up, I've had 18 hp and up to 60 hp, same for all.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Try Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for used weights...
Sometimes you can get them less than a $1 a pound...
That seems to be the going rate...
Look for scrap folks are looking to get rid of...
Old plows, etc...implements that are no longer used...
Sometimes you can pick up something like that on the cheap and fab it up if you have a torch and welder...
Railroad rail comes to mind also...

 

[LouNY]

A couple of pieces of angle iron bolted to the frame one each side with a board on them and a hefty friend to sit on the board, your all set just don't dump them off and run over em. or a couple of sacks full of sand or gravel.

 

[newbury]

If all you are worried about is weight for moving the chipper around a little bit buy some bags of concrete, put them (unopened) in heavy duty garbage bags and duct tape/tie them to the front. Then you can use them some them time. Don't go crazy driving etc. and you should be OK

 

[dannoGT]

Been thinking of adding 2 in receiver and one of these to front of mine and just use it as a carry all ?