Rear ballast on a BX1500

[OlyRick]

Greetings all,
I'm kind of new to the tractor world and have learned a wealth of info from this forum. Thanks.
From the info on this forum and my personal experience I have concluded that I need to get a rear ballast on this little tractor of ours. I have not turned it over, but there have been a few times that I felt very uncomfortable. I spoke to the kubota dealer and he said that kubota has a rear ballast box that attaches to the 3 PH. What do you guys thing of this type of ballast?

I do most of my work in a small confined space so the least amount I have sticking out the back the better.

Thanks in advance.
Rick

 

[SCB]

Welcome to the board! From a guy who grew up in your area. (Grays Harbor). I'm a little north of there now, but still make it down there often. No seat time today with our weather!!

As for your question. One choice is to fill your rear tires. That would solve the issue of not having anything sticking out too far. My thought on a ballast box are this. If you can find one that is inexpensive, it is a good way to go. But I think that if you are spending money for weight, it might as well be useful. Is there any implement you are in need of? A box blade has worked great for me as ballast when I don't have the hoe on. Many other implements would serve the same purpose, but the BB doesn't stick out as far as many of them. Hope that helps.

 

[Bird]

I agree with Steve. Those little ballast boxes work great, whether you buy one from a tractor dealer or make your own, especially if you have to work in tight places, as you mentioned. I never had one myself because I just used my box blade or tiller for that purpose. The tiller didn't stick out as far as anything else I had.

 

[PhilNH5]

Rick,
I have the ballast box on a BX2200. In the attached pick I was hauling wood. I can get almost as much wood in the ballast box as in the bucket.

I also can carry by chainsaw and other tools in there. It is very convenient. I would recommend one.

I don't find it to obtrusive and its' handiness outweighs any increase in tractor lenght.

Phil

 

[mathteacher]

Rick,
I am thinking as the others are. Get an implement that you can use. A Box Blade or Tiller or anything else that you might think you might need in the future. I was relunctant to get the BB when I got my tractor but It sure has come in handy. And besides I figure after about 100 or more hours of practice, I might just be able to say that I am good with it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But really, If you are looking at some weight consider an implement.

Donald B.

 

[tennis]

I purchaced one with the tractor and besides its many uses as mentioned already I welded a triangle steel plate and punched out a hole so it would except a trailer ball...

 

[surfran]

The plus sides to the ballast box as I see it are the following.

1) it is compact compared to any implements on the back.

2) You can use "removable" weight to accommodate different tasks. (i.e. I use kids play sand bags and typically leave around 240 lbs in the box and have another 120lbs (2bags) I add if I know I am going to lift heavier stuff.

3) You can use it as a tool holder for some tools.

4) It doesn't take up as much room for storage as implements (this probably isn't as much of a plus as an implements + for being able to do other things though /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif)

The minus sides I see are:

1) It is only good for weight and it costs $160.

So that about sums it up for me. I really like mine but do realize it is only good for weight. Of course if it keeps you from rolling even once, /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif it has more than paid for itself!!


Last bit is I don't know if you can put enough weight in filled tires and/or wheel weights to provide ballast for "full loader work" so something on the rear is pretty much a must.

I also have rear wheel weights of about 140 lbs in addition to my weight box, but can tell you it doesn't take much in the bucket to get tipsy if only they are on (and my 220lb body of course). And the reason I know is when I first got my unit I was using dirt/rock to fill the weight box so I just picked up a scoop to fill the weight box (of course it was not attached /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) and the rear end started coming off the ground /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I quickly lowered and dumped it and took a much smaller bite. Later on I decided the play sand bags were the way to go as I could add remove easily.

Good luck with your decision and hopefully this information will help some.

 

[r0GuE]

At least with a ballast box you can haul wood in it like is shown in someones post here. I bought a weight kit and feel kind of silly. Especially after buying a woods 60" blade for the same amount. The weight kit has one advantage though. It is small and close to the tractor. This is nice when you are working the loader in a tight area. No worries about plowing the big rear blade or EXPENSIVE rototiller in to a tree or something.

 

[sbrem]

I have a weight box and like it. Like others have said it is only good for weight, so If you can only afford to buy one thing or storage space is very limited, get something that is useful for other things too, like a blade, rake, etc. The main advantage to the weight box that I see is it's size. Sometimes I am doing FEL work where I just won't fit with my 84" rake or blade on the tractor. With the weight box, there is no problem fitting anywhere that the tractor will fit.

Stephen

 

[JWE]

I recommend the weight box. I started by using my tiller for weight but I too work in tight places. The tiller kept getting in the way so I switched to a Kubota weight box. It doesn't take much space and it is easy to take on and off. I made a simple dolly for it (see picture). I use 25 pound sand bags that I bought at Home Depot for weight (300 lbs.).

John