Loader Counterweight

gordon · Jul 30, 2000

I work on the ten-ten rule I start the day with 10 fingers and 10 toes and I will finish the day with the same!!!

Yes safty for me is first and foremost on the tractor or with the chainsaw in my hands it only takes a second or should I say a fraction of a second for the worst to happen.
Close attention and proper maintance of equipment is also a must. But I guess that goes without saying--or does it.

Gordon

W5FL · Jul 30, 2000

Yeah, carry it fairly low but be sure it clears the ground. Make a heck of an anchor.

I like to use a 1000# box blade and filled tires for ballast because if I nee the scarfiers they are ready to go in a few seconds. Hard to break up hard soil with that hunk of concrete. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MChalkley · Jul 30, 2000

Wen - Yeah, I like the box scraper for ballast, too. But I'm looking for ideas on how to add more removeable to the box scraper.

Mark

Bird · Jul 30, 2000

My box blade doesn't weigh nearly that much, but then my tractor ain't that big, either, so the box blade is my favorite ballast, too.

Bird

W5FL · Jul 30, 2000

You might consider replacing or welding 1/2 inch plate for the end plates. Now you have something you can bolt some weight to and the basic scraper is a little heavier too. The hardest place to reinforce is the plates for the top link to distribute the load primarily to the lower links, but still considerable amount to the top link.

Jag · Jul 30, 2000

Russ, I have a box blade, that is short and heavy duty that I will use as a counterweight. It does not stick out like a bushhog. To the box blade I have welded two bolts on the back side and can mount up to six old tractor wheel weights that weigh about 100 pounds each. The weights where from a very old Ford that was being scraped and cost me next to nothing. I like this arrangement very much it lets me add the weight with only two bolts and at the back with nothing in the way. Also it is easy to carry and about the same level as the draw bar. With the box blade that is about 1000# that goes on and off the 3ph with no problem. Makes loader work or blade work a breeze..

Anonymous Poster · Aug 11, 2000

Unfortunately the only implement I had for counterweight was my rotary cutter. With the cutter hanging off the back end, working in tight areas was not fun. One project this spring involved pouring a concrete floor so I decided to use some of the excess to make the block, since it was already paid for. My wife says it looks like a kids toy block and wants to paint it to look like one. That will probably be the incentive I need to look into buying a box blade /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

gerard · Aug 12, 2000

Gotta agree with the guys who use a box blade. I do the same thing but I have two iron blocks (about 110lbs each) wired to the shelf and then take a weight set (about 180lbs) and just lay it across the back of the box blade. Gives me plenty of weight, doesn't stick out much, and you get to use the blade while doing the loader work.

Rch · Aug 13, 2000

A handy addition to Mike Simpson's counterweight is a short tongue out the back so a trailer/wagon/manure spreader can be moved around without removing the counterweight.

RCH