Rear weight ballast, newbie

[ScottyChip]

Hi everyone
I have been a member for awhile, love the site and all the great information. My question, I have a large piece of heavy steel, which I would like to use as a rear ballast. Any thoughts; also do I need to add the top-link? I do have a ballast box, maybe I should just get the weight cut and put in the box. Size approx 38" long 8 " wide and 10" high. Not sure of the weight but made the back end light when put in the bucket with attached snowblower.
Thanks for the help.

 

[chumly2071]

with the dimensions provided, it should weigh in the neighborhood of 860#. I think I'd use a top link to help stabilize it.

 

[schmism]

anyone else think.... man i could make a sweet anvil out of that hunk!

you might have some fun fabing up a frame for that as i don think i can get my 3pt within 8" of the ground at its lowest point

but you could stand it on end, and weld a cross on the bottom for the lower 3point pins and a simple bracket at the top for the top link. the issue would be how do you store it when its not on. Without a wider base it would fall over and <gulp> watch those toes

 

[ScottyChip]

Thanks for the replies, I have rethought the steel bar as a rear weight. A farmer friend dropped by the past weekend and agreed that this was probably more weight then my tractor should handle. I will use the ballast box and rocks or bags of sand approx. 300 - 400 lbs worth.

 

[Soundguy]

That # of rear weight would likely be better off with a bigger tractor.. I'd go with the weight box.. etc.

soundguy

 

[blacksmith]

To figure the weight. Length x width x height x .28 = weight (38 x 8 x 10 x .28 = 851.2 lbs.)