Ballast Sizing Rear Ballast

[Whitey]

Hi new guy hear with a question. I have a JD 770 with a 70 FEL and a 7 BH. I generally operate the unit with the backhoe attached. I would like to operate the unit without the backhoe. Is there a formula for how much ballast I need to put in the rear of the tractor to operate the FEL correctly?? Instead of a ballast box any shop built ideas??? I have a good friend that has a steel fabrication business I thought a large cut beam may do.

Thanx,

Whitey

JD 770 / 70 FEL / 7 BH - 425 AWS / FMP

 

[Soundguy]

I like to ballast the rear with whatever i expect to be in the front.. IE.. look at your loader lift specs, and ballast the rear with that, as long as it does not exceed your rear lift specs. ( that's how the ford manuls calculate it anyway! )

If you don't want a weight tub on back, put an implement on there that will work great with a FEL.. IE.. a Box blade.. if it ain't heavy enough.. ballast it.

soundguy

 

[JiminGa]

I like the beam idea, it'd keep it up close out of the way and slots for suitcase weights could easily be made.

 

[Whitey]

Thanks Soundguy that is almost too easy. The reason I am asking is after this latest snow, rain and snow mixture my darling wife cannot push the 8" of heavy snow with her JD 425. I told her to use the 770 and now she has decided that she can use it and enjoy it. However, having that BH hanging off the back makes her nervous (and me too) when she is operating it. We intend to put in a patio this summer and lots of stone work so she will be stocking material during the week while I work. I have no need for a back blade or box blade. Ballast boxes have to be filled to get weight. Looking for some other ideas.

 

[Lil43]

Well ,not sure how much fabricating you want to do,but here,s the weight setup I made a couple of years ago.I know ballast boxs seem to be pretty popular,but I really didn,t want one for two reasons(I,m sure I,ll get attacked for both of them!).First I didnt want to leave the weight on the hydraulic,s all the time.Secondly ,I didnt want something I needed the tractor to move,since I like to keep most things inside,and if I can move it by hand I can store it anyplace with out having to have a path for the tractor to get to it.So that being said I made a bracket that mounts to tractor at attaching points for 3pt hitch arms (arms removed).Then made suite case weights that slide on bracket.They take less than 10 mins to attach or remove,there in close to tractor,and store easily.Ya its just under 800lbs right now and may make a few more weights to get just over 1000lbs.One more thing,the chains in the picture are not holding any weight,there just kinda a safety incase top link ever broke.They would make a pretty good gash in the blacktop,the chains really arent neccesary.


http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh301/jyoung_photo/tractorwieghts.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh301/jyoung_photo/bracket.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh301/jyoung_photo/brac.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh301/jyoung_photo/brack.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh301/jyoung_photo/backet.jpg

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Here is what JD recommends for 770 with 300 FEL. Probably close for your needs.

REQUIRED MINIMUM BALLAST FOR 770 AND 790 TRACTORSBallastaFluid-filled rear tires and 280 kg (617 lb) of 3-Point hitch ballastbaBallast given is required with minimum rear tread setting.bSee ADDING BALLAST TO 3-POINT HITCH in this section.

CALCULATED BALLAST
kg (lb) SAND (Dry)CONCRETEBallast Box without ExtensionMaterial217.5 (480)315.5 (695)Empty Box58.5 (129)58.5 (129)Total Weight276 (608)374 (824) Ballast Box with ExtensionMaterial306.5 (676)443.5 (977)Empty Box72.5 (160)72.5 (160)Total Weight379 (835)516 (1137)

 

[Whitey]

Thanx Lil43, nice design and pictures. That got my mind gears turning for a design. Based upon ballast weight I may not find a beam that is heavy enough for my needs!

 

[RobS]

I have pretty much the same setup as you Whitey, only a 790 instead of 770. I have my rear tires loaded with Rim Guard. For light loader work, I'll use nothing on the back, if I know I'm going to do some heavier work I'll hang my box blade back there. It's probably 2-300 pounds (King Kutter, not too heavy). Even before filling the tires, I'd never had a problem with the rear getting light. The 70 loader just doesn't lift that much.

Rotary cutter probably makes the best ballast but it's also hanging way back there so manueverability becomes an issue. That's why I like the box blade, it's in close the the tractor. I originally wanted a ballast box of some sort, but find that I almost always have some implement on the back to work in conjunction with the FEL when I'm using it.

BTW, my land is very flat, this could be a different story altogether if you have hills.

 

[Whitey]

Thanx Cinderschnauzer, that type of information is hard to come by when you buy a used machine that is as old as mine. Manuals do not always come with equipment.

 

[Whitey]

Thanx RobS, you are right the 70 loader will not pickup more than 850 lbs + -. The old Ag tires I took off last summer were filled. I replaced them with R4s that are not filled. The reason being was with the FEL / BH / Ag tires the wife would not let me drive through her lovely grass because of deep tracking. I drove the unit after tire change without the BH and I just got light tracking that goes away with a cut. I do realize that with a load it will track, but if my wife gets her new patio while doing so she won't be so angry. I guess I am trying to find a happy medium.