Kubota and John Deere tractors 20-40HP; skid steer loader
Last question (I hope).
My L39 is now on order using Kubota's 0%/36 month financing. I did not order the backhoe because it will not be cost-effective for me. So what is the best way to get adequate counterweight? I wonder how much that backhoe weighs!
Northern tool sells a 4.9 cubic foot ballast box, but even filled with concrete, that would weigh only about 800 lbs according to my calculations. I'm guessing I would need, say 1200 lbs minimum?
For maneuverability, I would like to keep the ballast as close to the tractor as possible. Just off the top of my head, I could sink another box of some sort into the Northern Tool box while pouring the concrete, and then add concrete to that, too. Sound reasonable?
Kubota and John Deere tractors 20-40HP; skid steer loader
Ninety-six inches will be too wide for me, but I was thinking that a 55-gal drum filled with concrete and strapped to King Kutter's "pallet mover" would be just about right!
The BT1000(L39) backhoe with bucket weights approximately 2200lbs.
Kubota lists an M8180 Ballast box for the L39 that weights 220lbs and is rated to carry 1280lbs of dry sand for a total of 1500lbs of counterweight.
I have seen counterweights made by bolting lift pins to a 55gal drum and making a top pin holder fom scrap steel that is just inserted in the wet concrete. The problem is it is non-approved and not as easy to store or move when not attached to the tractor. (you can empty the ballast box for storage)
Kubota and John Deere tractors 20-40HP; skid steer loader
Thanks, Todd, but do you see anything wrong with putting the weight on the King Kutter pallet mover?
The pictures I have seen of the Kubota weight box indicate that it sticks out a long way from the rear of the tractor. Also I believe it costs about $500. Do you have the dimensions of this weight box?
With my method I would have both a counter weight and a pallet mover that could be used for other purposes.