Rear Ballast Weight DIY Build

[oldballs]

Eddie.

This is off subject....but how come you got the Covid several times? I just got over my first/only bout of Covid. Never got the booster shot and hoped that my natural immunitywould protect me for a while???

Cheers,
Mike

 

[EddieWalker]

From what I understand from my wife, who has a PhD in Nursing, is that it mutates very quickly, and each mutation is weaker then the previous version. Kind of like the flu, but not as bad. Every year the flu burns out after making the rounds, then wakes up the next year and a new version starts the process all over again. The flu shot is based on where it starts up again, and what they know about it at that time. This is a big reason the flu shot has such a low success rate. Covid is unlike anything else, it mutates almost daily. Versions and the effects change as quickly as it mutates.

My current symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath if I do anything, brain fog, and a bit of stomach issues. Nothing severe, it's just hard to do anything. This is almost exactly what I had last year, but it was more pronounced and I slept through most of the day. This time, I'm awake, and killing time with super long posts on here just to kill the time, but otherwise, ok. My wife has similar symptoms, but not as bad. She also has Lupus and she takes Hydrox for it. She had colon cancer 5 years ago, she's had Covid three times before just like I have, and her White Blood Cell count is almost dangerously low, but slowly getting better every year. She should be a lot sicker then I am, but we believe that the Hydrox makes a big difference for her. What's funny, is that since Covid came out, neither of us have gotten a cold or the flu. Since all the info came out about the vaccine, she no longer gets the flu shot. I've never gotten the flu shot, and I've only had the flu once. The second my wife thought that I had the flu, she talked me into going to my doctor and getting a prescription for Tamiflu. That took care of it quickly!!!

All I can do is wait it out. If I try to get back to work, or do too much around the house, I just extend how long it will last. Since it's so mild now, there isn't even medicine to take to treat it. Just lots of rest, lots of fluids and maybe some vitamins will help.

 

[oldballs]

Thanks Eddie.

Sounds like the Covid variables are more complex than the amount of ballast weight to shoot for.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[LD1]

Is 1100 lbs when using my pallet forks to much? That figures to about 50%. I can remove a few suitcase weights if needed.

What tractor is that, the 2720 or 3039.

If it works though, I wouldnt change anything. The rear axle is alot stronger than the front

 

[CliffordK]

I like the idea of a hitch receiver in your ballast block. I would probably leave the ballast block on most of the time, and it would be convenient to have the receiver there when needed. Plus sticking out enough that one can reach the hitch pin.

Make sure the ballast is low enough to hold the hitch pins in a place you can hook up and unhook easily. But not too high that clearance is an issue.

I have 1,000 pounds in my head, but it will really depend on how big the box is that I make to pour the concrete into. I'll buy a full pallet of 56 sacks that weigh 60 pounds each and use as many as I can. The rest will go towards fencing. I buy a lot of pallets of concrete!!!

Time for a cement mixer plus gravel + Portland Cement?

 

[bigtiller]

What tractor is that, the 2720 or 3039.

If it works though, I wouldnt change anything. The rear axle is alot stronger than the front

2720
I found if I am loading brush into the dump trailer, 600 lbs is better than 1100 lbs. I need to compact the brush by pushing down with the forks.

 

[LD1]

2720
I found if I am loading brush into the dump trailer, 600 lbs is better than 1100 lbs. I need to compact the brush by pushing down with the forks.

I ocassional have to smash my dumpster down....and if I have the bushhog on the back of my MX I cant get much down force. But simply lowering the 3ph to smash, then picking it up and proceeding.

Not sure if your ballast can reach the ground. if you designed it to be able to set down without sitting on a pallet or blocks. But if you can....simply lower the 3PH, and you can maximize smashing force....then pick it up and carry on

 

[EddieWalker]

I watched a couple more YouTube videos on rear ballast box builds last night. It's interesting the things I'm noticing now. Most don't put a hook on the top to pick it up if they have to move it. One guy could barely get his quick hitch under the lower pins while the ballast box was still on the forms. I guess he will have to place it on something when he's not using it so he can disconnect it. I'm also taken back by how many guys post videos on how to build something without any experience mixing concrete. I get the feeling this is their very first time doing it, and they are very unsure on what to do. "Good Enough" is also used a lot do describe what they do.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I watched a couple more YouTube videos on rear ballast box builds last night. It's interesting the things I'm noticing now. Most don't put a hook on the top to pick it up if they have to move it. One guy could barely get his quick hitch under the lower pins while the ballast box was still on the forms. I guess he will have to place it on something when he's not using it so he can disconnect it. I'm also taken back by how many guys post videos on how to build something without any experience mixing concrete. I get the feeling this is their very first time doing it, and they are very unsure on what to do. "Good Enough" is also used a lot do describe what they do.

I did the loop for when I did need to move it without having to use the 3pt or in case it somehow fell over as well as a tie down anchor for things. I put my tractor on the concrete drive and lowered the arms all the way down then raised them up 4-6 inches and made that my pin height when I made the form (I actually used a 3pt drawbar and welded everything else to that as I felt it was the strongest option for the money) so I knew I should always be able to connect or disconnect anywhere.
I have mixed my fair amount of concrete over the years, but I am not an expert.

 

[EddieWalker]

The loop on top is my favorite "extra" that I've seen. Even if I never use it, I like the idea that I can pick it up with my loader with a chain and move it anywhere I want without having to disconnect what's already on the back of my tractor.

 

[CliffordK]

The loop on top is my favorite "extra" that I've seen. Even if I never use it, I like the idea that I can pick it up with my loader with a chain and move it anywhere I want without having to disconnect what's already on the back of my tractor.

You guys are talking about bigger tractors than I'm using.

It would be mighty easy to build a ballast block that my Ford wouldn't be able to safely move without added ballast. Thus, self defeating.

Still, the hook would be easy enough to add.

 

[LD1]

The loop on top is my favorite "extra" that I've seen. Even if I never use it, I like the idea that I can pick it up with my loader with a chain and move it anywhere I want without having to disconnect what's already on the back of my tractor.

Yea, Im thinking with a ton of weight....you aint moving it with the loader anyway. (of course you could have another implement on the back or use the Ford backhoe)

But any "ballast/counterweight" heavy enough to be sufficient on the rear, is gonna be too heavy to lift with the front WITHOUT that ballast on the rear.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a full sized backhoe that can easily pick up a ton. I think it's rated for something over 4,000 pounds. I'd have to look what my other two loaders are rated for. 4707 Massey Ferguson and 5065 John Deere.

If I move it, it would probably just be because I'm doing something in that area that I didn't plan on doing. Odds are very good that once I take it off for mowing season, it will stay there until I take off the batwing.

 

[Helogabals]

On Yanmar sa424 I use this

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It's like 300 kg. I mean, for that size of tractor that's enough. Operating FEL can't raise rear end of tractor
Big benefit is compact size of counterweight. Those are not pipes but solid bars

 

[EddieWalker]

It's been a few months and I finally got started on building my rear ballast last week.

After buying the 3 point hitch from Amazon for $52, I discovered that it wasn't wide enough for my lift arms.

Amazon.com

I cut it and welded on some angle iron to make it 8 inches wider. I measured how low my lift arms go on my tractor, and decided to make the Cat 2 pins be 18 inches from the ground.

I used scrap metal that I had in my storage container to create an internal frame. My thinking was to give the concrete something to form around so it was well supported. Might not of needed it, but it makes me feel better knowing it's there.

Total weight for the metal frame is 104 pounds.

 

[EddieWalker]

Yesterday morning I built a wood frame for the concrete. I used a single sheet of 3/4 plywood and made it 24 inches tall, 24 inches deep and 33 inches wide.

I used an online concrete calculator to figure out how many 60 pound sacks I needed, and started buying them ten at a time. For the calculator, went with 24x24x36 to be safe, and it said that I needed 27 sacks. I bought 30, and ended up using 25.

Total weight of concrete is 1,500 pounds, and with the 104 pounds of metal, it's just over 1,600 pounds.

I could probably take off the forms today, but I'm in no rush and I'll wait until the end of the week to do that. My goal is to use it next Saturday.

 

[sixdogs]

Good looking design and build.

 

[CADplans]

Eddie, HOW big is the tractor that it is going on??

your weight equals my weight box, and my wheel weights,,,
(1000lb weight box,, six wheel weights at a little over 100 pounds each)
I use that weight on a 4052R ,, and that is a nice combination,,
(I also have fluid filled rear tires)

I mowed a couple acres for my daughter yesterday, weight box off, PRD7200 rear mower on,
That combo made for a REAL nice ride,

The tractor has a suspension swivel seat,, that helps also,,

 

[EddieWalker]

It’s a 70 HP Massey Ferguson. I think it weighs just under 10,000 pounds. When I have a full front bucket, the rear is super light.

 

[EddieWalker]

I hooked up the rear ballast today, and took it for a spin.

Right away, just driving down my driveway, I noticed a huge improvement in the ride. It was less bouncy and more comfortable.

I went to a dirt pile that had been there for awhile. I've gotten dozens of bucket loads of dirt from there, but never this easily. It just seemed like I had unlimited power. Zero rear wheel spin, and the tractor just gripped the ground like nothing could stop it!!!!

With a full load of dirt in the loader bucket, I drove to where I had take out some trees yesterday, and started to fill the holes from the root balls. It was angling downhill, and this is where I've had all my issues. A full loader bucket going downhill would lift my rear tires off the ground.

I was glued to the ground. It was more stable, more solid, more comfortable then I ever thought possible. The rear ballast has made my tractor more fun to use, and more powerful, if that's possible. It just goes and goes. There isn't any bounce at all, and I never felt like it was tippy, or scary. I was pointing down hill, and I would even get on weird side angles without any issues.

I'm impressed!!!