How much rear ballast on L3130 with LA723 loader?

[varmint]

When I had my L3130, I usually had nothing on the 3 pt, but it did have loaded R-4s. I also had the SSQA 723 loader, and although the heaviest think I ever lifted, more or less, was a 600 lb table saw, I never felt the rear end was too light. I pushed a 78" front snow plow with it, as well. When I got the L3400, with unloaded tires, it definitely needed a weight back there for about anything using the loader, so I built a ballast box which I filled up with stone. Maybe weighs 600 lbs? It works. But then, I am not messing around on hills very much. I have a 6' rear blade, but it isn't nearly as heavy.

 

[Baby Grand]

Our L3240 with LA724 FEL is the replacement model for the L3130 and very similar to what you have.
For FEL work, I like to have either the 760# box blade or the 600# tiller on the 3pt.
I don't have loaded tires or wheel weights, but I do have a backhoe sub-frame, which helps.
With the ballast described, I haven't had any rear wheel lifting or shortage of traction while moving full buckets of gravel.

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

 

[LD1]

Our L3240 with LA724 FEL is the replacement model for the L3130 and very similar to what you have.
For FEL work, I like to have either the 760# box blade or the 600# tiller on the 3pt.
I don't have loaded tires or wheel weights, but I do have a backhoe sub-frame, which helps.
With the ballast described, I haven't had any rear wheel lifting or shortage of traction while moving full buckets of gravel.

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

I might as well respond to an old thread too.

I am surprised you find that ballast sufficient. but then again, a full bucket of gravel maybe 1000#. Not near your max by a good bit. If you latched onto something immovable, I am sure your rears would lift before the loader went into relief. Even just trying to break out of a dirt pile, or dig stumps I would think you would have issues.

700# blade on my weaker loader AND loaded tires is a good match. But with curl I can still lift the rears.

 

[Notforhire]

... Just realized I was responding to a 3 year old thread. OW. The information is still good for anyone with a similar question.

BTW - I really like Notforhire's ballast implement. V-E-R-Y low CG should help stability on side hills and the receiver hitch makes it even more useful.

Funny it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.:laughing:
Since selling the 3240 and going to my 5055e I don't use the counterweight very often. For that reason I never did any improvements/ changes.
I left it on the 3240 most of the time, because it improved stability moving round bales etc.

The only time I use it now, is if I have a heavy lift, or I intend on doing a lot of digging FEL work.

In the fall I buy pallets of coal, which weigh 2,400#. I can do the lift without the counterweight, but the rear is a little light and I have trouble driving uphill on my gravel drive in 2WD. The counterweight makes all the difference in the world, and I almost never use 4WD if it's on.

It also works well on my friends blue TN75, even though the weight is still painted orange:laughing:

Bill

 

[aeblank]

I buy pallets of coal, which weigh 2,400#.

Coal?! Cool.
2,400# is pretty stout.

I have a 3500# pallet of retaining wall blocks that hasn't moved since it was dropped off (leftovers from a large project) several years ago. Nothing I have will touch it.

 

[Baby Grand]

I might as well respond to an old thread too.

I am surprised you find that ballast sufficient. but then again, a full bucket of gravel maybe 1000#. Not near your max by a good bit. If you latched onto something immovable, I am sure your rears would lift before the loader went into relief. Even just trying to break out of a dirt pile, or dig stumps I would think you would have issues.

700# blade on my weaker loader AND loaded tires is a good match. But with curl I can still lift the rears.

Hmmmm. Not sure why that is. I generally don't pry by using the curl/rollback on the FEL much since getting the 'hoe - Ill have to give it a try. It might be due to dimensional and weight differences between the tactors. I have put it in bypass using the FEL to try to lift on a "log-too-big" that I had strapped to the bucket.

Another consideration is where the CG of the ballast weight is located, relative to the hitch pins. I know that the box blade moves that CG aft a bit more than the tiller does. The brush hog really moves it aft, but it's also awkward to use with the FEL in any kind of "close" area.

 

[Notforhire]

Coal?! Cool.
2,400# is pretty stout.

I have a 3500# pallet of retaining wall blocks that hasn't moved since it was dropped off (leftovers from a large project) several years ago. Nothing I have will touch it.

About 25-30 yrs ago I built a set of forks that went on my 3PH. You couldn't load a trailer, because of the limited lift, but it was good for moving things like your pallet of blocks.

In the interest of not going off topic, if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

 

[Baby Grand]

About 25-30 yrs ago I built a set of forks that went on my 3PH. You couldn't load a trailer, because of the limited lift, but it was good for moving things like your pallet of blocks.

In the interest of not going off topic, if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

3pt forks is really the best solution for lifting heavy pallets enough to move them.
Still, according to TractorData, the L3940 is rated at:
Rear lift (at ends): 3,860 lbs [1750 kg]
Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 2760 lbs [1251 kg]
.. may work; may not.
Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

 

[Notforhire]

Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

Or he could buy a larger tractor, as a more fun, but slightly more expensive solution.

 

[aeblank]

if you lifted those blocks on the 3ph, think of the dandy counterweight they would make.

For sure. Little bulky though.

Or he could get an empty pallet and move half the blocks onto it.

Haven't managed to find one of those "round to-its" yet.
Here is one... http://tinyurl.com/qarz6rf

Or he could buy a larger tractor, as a more fun, but slightly more expensive solution.

I like your thinking, but wife'l unit would not allow it. Obviously 10 minutes of manual labor gets 'em onto 2 movable pallets. Don't particularly have anywhere better I want them though, either.