Ballast How to add Ballast with 3pt in use?

[MossflowerWoods]

I am a FIRM believer in ballast.

Heck my HUGE 72" cutter is only 800+ lbs!

I'm thinking about adding some tool/chain boxes to my Stump Grinder for Ballast.

The thing is, the house is at the bottom of the hill way off in the NE corner of the property, and EVERYTHING is farther away. The "barn" I plan to move the tractor and attachments is even farther down the hill from the house.

Going back to change attachments is a PITA and it is hard enough for me to get seat time right now...

I meant it when I said for my land, as I am mostly clearing it for the next few years, my LOGICAL configuration is Grapple and Stump Grinder, but if my grapple is limited due to lack of ballast, that kind of stinks...

It is what ever it is though, so I will HAVE to adjust my working style to accomodate...

David

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I am a FIRM believer in ballast.

Heck my HUGE 72" cutter is only 800+ lbs!

I'm thinking about adding some tool/chain boxes to my Stump Grinder for Ballast.

The thing is, the house is at the bottom of the hill way off in the NE corner of the property, and EVERYTHING is farther away. The "barn" I plan to move the tractor and attachments is even farther down the hill from the house.

Going back to change attachments is a PITA and it is hard enough for me to get seat time right now...

I meant it when I said for my land, as I am mostly clearing it for the next few years, my LOGICAL configuration is Grapple and Stump Grinder, but if my grapple is limited due to lack of ballast, that kind of stinks...

It is what ever it is though, so I will HAVE to adjust my working style to accomodate...

David

Well there then. You have said it yourself. "adjust my working style." That's the first step to solving your problem.

I would add this...I don't think you can add enough ballast to the grinder to achieve proper ballast. But, some people are very imaginative to the point of a "cure."


How much does the grinder weigh again.??

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Well there then. You have said it yourself. "adjust my working style." That's the first step to solving your problem.

I would add this...I don't think you can add enough ballast to the grinder to achieve proper ballast. But, some people are very imaginative to the point of a "cure."


How much does the grinder weigh again.??

Yup, Lots and lots of hours driving back and forth to change attachments seems to be in my future... :mur:

The TSG-50 is only like 550 or 525 lbs... FEL will lift 2700+ and the proper ballast is 1110 lbs (tires are already loaded).

Chains on the tires won't work, they will tear my driveway up, and at the moment that is the only way to get up the hill to 95% of my property. I guess I could just park the tractor and all the attachments out in the field...

Such is life. I'd rather have these problems than NOT have the tractor at all!

Thanks all, this thread has been educational.

Happy 2012 to all of you!
David

 

[flusher]

I made a few concrete weights (~120 lb each) for my offset disc. You might be able to chain two of these to the lower arms of the 3pt hitch and get more ballast weight



The handle and the long piece of chain link fence post make it easier to muscle these weights around.

Your $10 solution

Good luck.

 

[JB4310]

Do you really need the stump grinder everyday?

Can't you do the loader/ grapple work with a dedicated ballast box, then go back and do the stump grinding all at once, every couple of days or so ?

Or is it so tight in there you have to grind as you go?

JB

 

[Wannabe Tractor Man]

Just wanted to make sure that everyone out there understands ballast on a tractor. Just too many accidents and costly repairs then there should be. Sorry the tractor in the photo was not green but I couldn't find a similar photo in green.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Do you really need the stump grinder everyday?

Can't you do the loader/ grapple work with a dedicated ballast box, then go back and do the stump grinding all at once, every couple of days or so ?

Or is it so tight in there you have to grind as you go?

JB

I'm wondering the same thing.

 

[DennisFolsom]

Just wanted to make sure that everyone out there understands ballast on a tractor. Just too many accidents and costly repairs then there should be. Sorry the tractor in the photo was not green but I couldn't find a similar photo in green.

That's a very good illustration.:thumbsup:

Physics, weight, gravity and hydraulic forces don't care what color the paint is!:laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

That's a very good illustration.:thumbsup:

Physics, weight, gravity and hydraulic forces don't care what color the paint is!:laughing:

I know I wish we'd had that picture for a thread earlier in 2011. The thread discussed use of ballast and the transfer of weight off the front axle. That thread got pretty heated...

 

[Ford tractor]

Yup, Lots and lots of hours driving back and forth to change attachments seems to be in my future... :mur:

The TSG-50 is only like 550 or 525 lbs... FEL will lift 2700+ and the proper ballast is 1110 lbs (tires are already loaded).


David

Who said the proper ballast is 1110 pounds? Rule of thumb for ballasting a loader tractor is 1x-1.5x the loaders capacity. That's tire fill+wheel weights + 3pt.