Ballast Wheel Weights

[Soundguy]

I have seen weights cast in concrete.. both for fronts and rears. Don't know why you couldn't do it. As jerry mentions.. fronts may need steel in them for extra weight.

Soundguy

 

[JerryG]

You don't know how much concrete weights per cubic foot? I did but you know how it goes and goes and goes. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[JohnSinVA]

There was a thread over on gardenweb on the garden tractor forums where the OP lined his wheels with cardboard and plastic to create a forum and poured the concrete directly into the wheel. The cardboard gave him some clearance to keep the concrete from rubbing against the wheel and taking the paint off. He also fixed some bolts into place in the bolt holes so the pour would capture them.

It wouldn't be practical to use a large tractor wheel as the form, but I'm sure one could make a form smaller in diameter and set pipe into place aligned with the wheel's bolt holes to allow for thru bolts.

 

[Soundguy]

I've got it safely wrote down somewhere for when bidding or spec'ing a job.. otherwise.. it's safer than trying to remember it. ( about 120#.. or thereabouts.. if the ole memory is correct. )

Soundguy

 

[JerryG]

I knew that there had to be a vast difference between cast (450 lbs. cubic foot) to concrete.

 

[BadDog]

Lead is heaviest... should be able to bolt up a container full of lead shot fairly cheap....

Also.. you don't *have* to bolt to the wheels... fix the weight somewhere else... bolt or weld on some nice heavy plate to the underbelly frame for armor and you'll get dual benefit...

A couple of other cheap ideas gleaned from the TBN forums:

Eat a turkey before using the tractor, they're good for at least an extra 10-20 lbs, and there are tons of them walking around (at least they are here). Donuts work well too, but I prefer protein to fat or carbs.

Duct tape your mother-in-law to the ROPS. Father-in-law too, if you need more weight. If using both, it's probably best to ensure they are back-to-back and head-to-toe for balance.