Newbie 3 point question

[rock]

I too am a 3 point newbie. I just took the whole 3 point assembly off so I wouldn't damage it or anything I might hit while backing up. This winter I am using my BX2200 & loader to clear snow. Perhaps a rear counter weight would be a good idea.

1) Can someone point me at a 3 point counterweight "kit".
2) Perhaps I should just get a 3 point platform for general utility "moving and hauling stuff" and just weight it down when using the loader?
3) Perhaps I should just get a rear mounted scaper blade or plow for "finish work"?

Suggestions... recommendations...

Thanks!

 

[Thomas]

rock,
If you are considering rear counter weight than maybe a rear blade could be the best of both worlds for your needs.

I guess as you know I'm a strong believer in tire chains, {from yesterday 2wd tractors /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif}and with a good set of chains and little rear weight you should be all set useing your FEL removing snow....just my 2 cent worth. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Rock, looks like you about answered your own questions. I use my box blade for rear ballast most of the time, but the 3-point platform would be just fine, and easier to adjust the weight by adding to or subtracting from the load. I understand John Deere sells a ballast box; a little hard for me to imagine anyone "buying" one instead of just making one. I don't remember where to find them on the forum, but someone posted pictures of home made ones; just a small barrel with a steel rod through it to hook up to the lower links, fill it with concrete and insert a top link connector before the concrete dries.

Bird

 

[DFB]

hey bird I have the same reservation on using box scrapers as counterweights. Unless you had another use for it I wouldn't buy one just for that purpose. The weighted ballast box is factory recommended for proper use of the loader along with wheel weights.

 

[john4nh]

Seems like you would always have use for a blade or box-blade. Ive never seen any-one around here with a weight box, home made or otherwise. Doesnt mean there isnt any but Iam guessing its not real common. If your just moving snow (which I never get) doesnt seem like tipping would be much of a factor. On equipment Ive been on thats needed weight you end up looking like a cowboy bouncing around.. I would definitely have something on the back for counter weight regardless though..

 

[Bird]

DFB, you live in a different part of the country from me, so I'd agree that I wouldn't buy a box blade just for ballast if I didn't have other uses for it. It's just that in my part of the country, I don't think I know anyone who owns a tractor that doesn't also have a box blade; thought that was an essential piece of equipment./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif And on the Internet is the only place I've ever seen or even heard of the ballast boxes. I have no doubt they would serve the purpose if all you want is ballast on the rear end, but there's just so many other useful implements that will serve as ballast that I was quite surprised when I learned that people actually pay money for ballast boxes./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Of course we don't play in the snow around here, but we do move the dirt around now and then./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[gerard]

I wouldn't do any loader work (even snow) without weight on the back. When I push back my banks with the loader I go forwards down a small incline. A full bucket lifted high going forwards downhill is just a recipe for your rear tires coming up. If you have much snow to move I'd get the scraper blade and let it do double duty - counterweight and snow mover. (It's also a lot more effective for moving snow than the bucket and can be had for about $500-$750). Unless ALL your property is totally flat it's a lot safer to have some weight on the back and I imagine most people will at some point have a use for either a scraper blade or a box blade.

 

[DFB]

Bird thats interesting about what you see in different parts of the country. Maybe manufactured 3pt steel boxes are something relatively new for compacts. I don't know. I do know that when some sort of steel box was needed back home they were always home built. I don't feel they're that expensive. They're less than 75.00. Convienence would outweigh the hassles of buying materials, concrete, mixing, forming, etc. for some and probably cost less too./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif You get more weight in a LOT smaller size. About 2'square vs 5'long and whatever wide. When your in tight quarters having something wider than the tractor on the back can be a real hassle. A loaded box can weigh over 800lbs. I used several forms of ballast when I had to move 200 yds of fill and the loaded box gave me more traction with less wheel spin for digging, no noticable bounce when driving, and absolutely no chance of tipping foward with a fully loaded bucket of fill at full lift. Couldn't do that with my blade or my rake as ballast and probably not with a box scraper sized for my tractor. Between the wifes stepdad's produce farm and the neighbors ex dairy farm there are 6 tractors and loads of implements but not one box scraper. Sure there's pro and con. Double duty and the wallet are factors to be considered too. Can't teach an old dog new tricks. Wifes' stepdad uses a 55 gallon drum filled with gravel on a home made carry all held down with chain and binders for ballast on his 3930 for snow plowing. To each their own. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I think box blades are great attachments. So far I've not had a use for one.

 

[Thomas]

DFB,
If the frost keeps going down {as it has around here /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif} come spring time that rear blade of yours will come in handy for the ruts...yikes thats only 3 1/2 months a way....yep your right lets get thru winter first up here. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[DFB]

Hey Thomas, Ahhh the spring mud season. Actually things aren't too bad there. My drive is pretty self healing. The gravel settles in well on its own. Used to have to comb over the ruts with a hand rake. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Not any more. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The technique the town road commissioner uses is to grade the road over with a blade(road grader) then loosen and spread with the wheel rake. And of course the low man on the totem pole gets to ride the rake for ballast. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif