One ton 3pt ballast ...

[JerryK]

Howdy, this is my version of a 3pt ballast to use when using the loader. Looked at many different posts, ideas, etc... and decided to build it this way. There is no provision for a two inch receiver...I have other tractors to move stuff like that. But I did drill some holes in the 3pt angle to maybe attach some pipes for tool handles in the future... I welded 8" of genuine Mahindra drawbar that sticks out the top for lift point if needed.. The finished cement is 42" wide, 34" tall, and 18" thick ... and I poured it on it's back. Steel weighs a little over 135 pounds and concrete about 1900 pounds ... almost 24 full bags of Quikrete.

 

[schmism]

so how close DOES the concrete sit to the back tires? judgeing from the pictures i wouldnt be surprised if you cant actually mount it to the back of the 3pt without it interfering with the rear tires.

 

[JerryK]

Lot's of clearance on my shiny new Mahindra 5035 with 19.5LX24 R4's with Cat 1 bottom pins, and even more on my JD 2240 which is Cat 2 and 16.9X28 R1's .... The bottom links stick out farther back than the tires. I want it tucked in as close as possible, I live in a sugar maple/beech forest and I want to do as little damage backing into stuff as possible... Not much fun with the backhoe on...

 

[MotorSeven]

That's a great idea. I have a few dead 3pt implemts laying around...an old brush hog would work perfect.

 

[StanR]

Looks great... Post a picture with it attached to your tractor.

Thanks

 

[JerryK]

Looks great... Post a picture with it attached to your tractor.

Thanks

Will do, Stan..! I have it watered down and covered with plastic now, and will be taking the forms off in about a week when she cures. IF I can remember where I put all the screws holding it together by then.... Hope the fires are staying away from you down there....

 

[JerryK]

Finally pulled it off the pallet I poured it on this morning... THAT is a story in itself, moving a pallet with a ton on it without any weight on the back of my tractor. I was two wheeling most of the time. I will usually operate this weight about six inches off the ground...unless I need to clear something higher... There is a pucker factor when you first drive a tractor with a backhoe on a slope, and this new weight has me cringing in the seat now, too... Especially seeing how tippy a tractor gets with a lot of weight on the loader end...even with the load close to the ground.

 

[jmanatee2]

Thats Cool! Good Job

 

[BeezFun]

I worked with a guy who looked like that ballast. His head was like a block of concrete, the 3pt hooks look like his eyes, and the top link attachment is his mouth.

You do better concrete work than the contractors I've hired. They just do anything to get out and get their money. That's why I end up doing everything myself. I'm curious how much your loader can lift.

 

[rekees4300]

There is a pucker factor when you first drive a tractor with a backhoe on a slope, and this new weight has me cringing in the seat now, too...

A very well done project. :thumbsup: Do be careful around slopes. Also stabilize the block to prevent it from swaying side to side.

 

[blueriver]

What color are you gonna paint it? Any Graphics? Would be something to name it, paint it and put some design on it.

Nice work ... let us know if you ever two wheel again.

 

[JerryK]

BeezFun - the loader on the 5035 is supposed to be rated at 2700# at the pins at full height. I lifted a 500 gallon propane tank with probably about 315 gallons of propane in it, which is probably about that much. But I had my backhoe on which weights about 1500#.

BlueRiver - gonna let it just sit out side and age gracefully, with no paint or other maintanence... Should last for centuries anyway, lot longer than I will. I did put a stainless strip on it, imbeded in the concrete, with my name and date stamped on it though. Maybe some future civilization will dig it up and ponder what the heck it was for......

 

[JerryK]

A very well done project. :thumbsup: Do be careful around slopes. Also stabilize the block to prevent it from swaying side to side.

One of the things that Mahindra did on these 35 series tractors is put a pretty well built 3pt on it. The anti-sway bars are heavy built, too. The forged ends on the bottom links have the John Deere 'JD' on them as well as the Mahindra 'M', so they must source parts for some of the JD's, too. The only two things that I dislike on the 3pt, is that the crank adjuster on the right link is crudly made compaired to my old '81 German JD 2240, and the lower links do not telescope as much when you are hooking up.

 

[BlacknTan]

It looks great with all the radii on the corners!

Looks very dense. Did you vibrate the mix in the form?

 

[LD1]

Looks really good:thumbsup:

 

[JerryK]

It looks great with all the radii on the corners!

Looks very dense. Did you vibrate the mix in the form?

I usually just make 45's out of 2by4's for my corners, but my blade on my 30 year old table saw is not sharp enough. So I bought some cheap foam/plastic moulding from HomeDepot. I also screwed up on the concrete, and mixed it too wet...trying to get it to fill in all the voids as much as possible. I tried to shove it around in the form with a hoe and an old broken hockey stick handle in between all the krap someone welded in the way down in there. To make up for my short comings, I have been trying to keep it as damp as possible.. and it is supposed to rain on and off the next few days. But it should hold up OK, I worry more about the trees that I could back into more than this old weight...

 

[sunshine coaster]

Very nice job, looks great:thumbsup:

 

[Don87]

Nice job. Looks good, but would look great in red.:thumbsup:

 

[the6shooter]

Great job, on this project!!! But you know I'm going to steal your Idea for myself:drink: It's too good of an idea, for you to have the only one. I just need around a 1/2 ton ballast. thanks for the posting of your project. you have my respect
david

 

[indianaEPH]

Finally pulled it off the pallet I poured it on this morning... THAT is a story in itself, moving a pallet with a ton on it without any weight on the back of my tractor. I was two wheeling most of the time. I will usually operate this weight about six inches off the ground...unless I need to clear something higher... There is a pucker factor when you first drive a tractor with a backhoe on a slope, and this new weight has me cringing in the seat now, too... Especially seeing how tippy a tractor gets with a lot of weight on the loader end...even with the load close to the ground.

Super nice ballast setup. I was thinking of something similar. How does it handle with this ballast on?