Weight box for Aerator

[hazmat]

Well After having one bag of pool mix aggregate fall off the aerator & get run over, I decided I should build some boxes to contain the weight. Unfortunately the pool aggregate doesn't have any cement in it & so it is really just loose dust for now. I think I may make tops for the boxes or get some cement to seal the top of the pool mix.

Picture 1 attached (sorry about the low quality)

I built the boxes out of scrap plywood. I sized them so that six would fit (three on each side of the aerator). They each hold 1 80lb bag.

 

[hazmat]

Man If I could only get the pic to attach on the first try.

 

[hazmat]

Pic two

 

[Darren]

I strapped a plastic 55 gal drum onto the aerator lengthwise. Filling with water gives me about 450 lbs.

 

[Soundguy]

As it is a plastic drum.. if you wanted more weight, you could mineral load the water, like with cacl.. or even potassium chloride or even better..( epsoms salt / water softner salt )... then if it leaked, it is only fertalizer anyway!

Soundguy

 

[Darren]

One of my winter projects will be making an angle iron frame to extend the top "floor area" of the aerator. With that bolted to the top of the aerator, I can strap on two barrels. One on each side of the top link attachment which will give me an easy 800 to 900 lbs of total weight with plain water and without giving my back a workout.. I'll start with each barrel about half full and gradually increase the weight so I don't bend the frame or the spoons.

What I like about the setup is it's simple to drain the water and not have something godawful to horse around. I use load straps to attach the barrel/barrelss so everything comes apart quick.

 

[AltaLawnCare]

Funny this thread is here. I'm going to do the same thing to my Ryan 3pt aerator this winter. I'm probably gonna make a metal cage out of round or square tubing and load lime, fertilizer, seed or whatever in it. I can also haul some in the FEL to balance out.
They make a 12v spreader unit for ATVs. I'm thinking about mounting a quick mount on the cage on the back of the Ryan and mount this, so I can spread over large areas with it too.

 

[hazmat]

Hey guys,

I like the water tank idea too. I went with the boxes because I already had the pool aggregate sitting in the garage waiting for a better life. Although more strenuos, I suspect the weight boxes will allow quicker set up time.

 

[JimMc]

You know, those 16" solid concrete blocks are about $1.50 each and weigh 40 lbs. The weight rack is sized for them to fit perfectly. Each is 4" thick. This gives you 520 lbs on an AE20-60. Need less weight, take a couple off. Need to transport the unit, take them all off, move it, put them back on. Very flexible, very cheap, never freezes when you forget to drain it. But to each his own.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>The weight rack is sized for them to fit perfectly</font color=blue>

Thats waaaaay to easy/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif. Costs less than the scap wood I used too/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. Well If my boxes wear out, I know what to do.

 

[ronjhall]

Jim
Thanks for the reminder about the 4 X 8 X 16” blocks.
Got my FC Core Aerator Friday. But had to work all weekend. Assembled the couple of parts to the aerator and attached to my <font color=orange>Kubota</font color=orange> today. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
Home Depot says the blocks weigh 35 pounds. I checked them out on a scale. 4 of them weighed just over 132 lbs. 12 blocks weigh about 400 pounds.
I bought the blocks for $.98 each. That’s about the cheapest weight I’ve added to my tractor.
I took a couple of pictures. <font color=orange> Orange</font color=orange> looks good on an attachment. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[ronjhall]

A attachment that has built in stands that work. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JimMc]

Just another tip. To keep from losing my legs and the clips that hold them, I turn them upside down and let them stick up while using the aerator.

 

[ronjhall]

Jim
Thanks again. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

Ron & Jim,

you've convinced me. I think I'll relegate the three boxes that I've built to storage duty & buy some of the concrete blocks! Plus at 35-40# each they will be easier on my back!

 

[pcmem]

Jim,

Thanks for the tips! My aerator arrived monday and I unloaded it yesterday but haven't had time to setup or play with /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Unfortunately we're past the time to aerate in WI so I'll have to check it out and wait until spring to play.

Looks good,
Michael