Lower hitch mounting height for a counterweight

[dkselw]

I am making a 500kg 3pt hitch counterweight for a Kubota MX5200.
I would like to make it low profile to keep the center of mass down relatively low. If I make it the full width of a Cat 2 clevis type hitch, then it will end up being roughly 1000mm wide, 350mm deep and 500mm high.

The Landpride rotary cutters I looked at have the lower hitch points at about 449mm to 467mm above the ground.

"ASAE S217.12" gives the "Lower hitch point height" as 200mm max.
"ASAE S278.6" gives the "Upper hook height" as 98.30mm max.
"Coupler mast pin diameter" 31.75mm max.

So I am assuming that something greater than 200 + 98.3 + 31.75/2 = 314.2mm + an allowance for uneven ground would be needed for the lower lift point height, if I want to attach and remove the box when it is sitting on the ground.

If I put the lower hitch points at 380mm above the bottom of the box, that is pretty high up on a 500mm high box. With the holes for the upper pins at 381mm and 483mm above the lower hitch, they will be a long way above the box.

This McCormack Industries weight box puts the lower lift points at the very bottom of the box. I assume it would not be possible to remove the weight box without putting it on top of blocks.

 

[old and tired]

....This McCormack Industries weight box puts the lower lift points at the very bottom of the box. I assume it would not be possible to remove the weight box without putting it on top of blocks.

Pin on, that one could be put on the ground and taken off. But not with any quick hitch, you need to come from under the pins. So the one you posted could not even be used with a quick hitch unless you can slide it in sideways. (and that looks pretty tight)

I have had to reinforce my pins and it's not the greatest but it's at least not bending anymore.

 

[WranglerX]

If you get it wrong and your hitch points on ballast are to low you will never get it off/on tractor.... I made that mistake, had to add 4 inches to bottom of ballast box and still have to have a pallet to set ballast box on to get it to release from 3PH ...

Don't try to use numbers from other implements, use number supplied by tractor spec sheets (3PH max droop) ..... Also suggest if you don't have tractor available you wait to make box till you have tractor there to mate it to for accuracy.... Also you need to consider if ballast box will be pinned on or used with quick hitch.... If using QH attachment points need to be higher than pin on points....

Basically you want "hitch" points on ballast higher than max drop of 3PH (both measurement from flat ground level) ...

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just take a 55 gal drum. Cut hole in each side. Poke draw bar through barrel. Full with dirt or concrete, but dirt is cheap. Ready to go. Top link? For what?

 

[dkselw]

If you get it wrong and your hitch points on ballast are to low you will never get it off/on tractor.... I made that mistake, had to add 4 inches to bottom of ballast box and still have to have a pallet to set ballast box on to get it to release from 3PH ...

Don't try to use numbers from other implements, use number supplied by tractor spec sheets (3PH max droop) ..... Also suggest if you don't have tractor available you wait to make box till you have tractor there to mate it to for accuracy.... Also you need to consider if ballast box will be pinned on or used with quick hitch.... If using QH attachment points need to be higher than pin on points....

Basically you want "hitch" points on ballast higher than max drop of 3PH (both measurement from flat ground level) ...

I have been unable to find any specifications for the MX5200 3ph, apart from lifting capacity. If you know of any, I would be interested.
I have been looking at dimensions of Landpride implements. They are owned by Kubota, and specify which implements are compatible with the MX5200.
The weight box will use clevis type hitch points. I am not planning on using a quick hitch as I am going to end up with a mixture of Cat 1 and Cat 2 implements. The MX5200 has telescoping lower arms which should help. I am planning the making the box Cat 2 quick hitch compatible, in case I change my mind.

I have looked at the standards for the dimensions that the tractor should conform to, such as "ASAE S217.12". However looking at the dimensions of Landpride implements, I suspect "ASAE S217.11" might be more relevant. "ASAE S278.6" gives the dimensions for quick hitch compatible implements. Using these specifications I came up with 314.2mm (see first post). If I put the lower hitch point at 380mm I should be safe, but don't really know. I was hoping to have this built for when the tractor arrives.
I am planning on putting the holes for the upper link at 381mm and 483mm above the lower hitch point, so it should be compatible with direct connection and quick hitch.

 

[WranglerX]

This is why I suggest you wait on your build till tractor is available to take measurements....

 

[chim]

The height at which you carry the weight has a lot more to do with the COG than where the pins are located. Anyway, here's mine. The PVC "header" a the bottom is there to serve as a drain for anything that gets into the vertical tool holders, and to facilitate easy cleaning of anything that does drop into them. The milk crate is for misc chains and straps that are handy to have in the snow:

 

[WranglerX]

You may also want to add tool rack as "chim" suggests....
Also I found it great for my use to have some ability to "connect" items to rear of weight box... In pic is a 6 foot length RR track when drug behind tractor smooths ground and erases a lot of tire tracks.... And maybe some sort of lifting loop incase you have bad hair day moment and you tip ballast over (has other uses too) ....

 

[dkselw]

The height at which you carry the weight has a lot more to do with the COG than where the pins are located.

When I said "I would like to make it low profile to keep the center of mass down relatively low", I meant I want to make it wide and low, rather than tall and thin.

 

[chim]

When I said "I would like to make it low profile to keep the center of mass down relatively low", I meant I want to make it wide and low, rather than tall and thin.

Ahh, gotcha. Somehow I was thinking that the pin height off the ground was a concern.