New Member, New Tractor, Question..

[PoorMansCat]

New member here, looks like I will be visiting here on a regular basis since this is my first tractor...
I bought a Kubota L4400GST, loader, 5 ft. cutter, blade, and hay fork.
My question is, will any manufacturers ballast box fit on my tractor? I have found a Cat.1 ballast box much cheaper than the Kubota ballast box.
I had considered filling the wheels with antifreeze.. Antifreeze is free to me, but the mess involved in the event of a leak has me not wanting to do this.
Besides, tha ballast box can be dropped off in a matter of seconds when I don't need it.
Thoughts, opinions, suggestions???
Thanks, PMC

 

[leonz]

New member here, looks like I will be visiting here on a regular basis since this is my first tractor...
I bought a Kubota L4400GST, loader, 5 ft. cutter, blade, and hay fork.
My question is, will any manufacturers ballast box fit on my tractor? I have found a Cat.1 ballast box much cheaper than the Kubota ballast box.
I had considered filling the wheels with antifreeze.. Antifreeze is free to me, but the mess involved in the event of a leak has me not wanting to do this.
Besides, tha ballast box can be dropped off in a matter of seconds when I don't need it.
Thoughts, opinions, suggestions???
Thanks, PMC

Filling the tires with windshield washer fluid will be much less of an issue and
will most likely cost you less than a ballast box and will provide you with more traction, using a ballast box is fine for loader work but the problem becomes messier if and when you try to lift something that is heavier than the loader can lift and bending and breakage results.

The category one ballast box would work but you have to change the lift arms and bushings/bearings If I remember correctly.

You may spend less money on a barrel of windshield washer fluid for ballast anyway versus changing the lift arms and bushings.

 

[PoorMansCat]

The main reason I was thinking ballast box was for just that. Moving round bales around with the FEL.
I would like the idea of being able to drop the weight when its not needed.
The box I was referring to was actually a Bobcat branded box. I was thinking if it would work, I could just "rattle can" it with some Kubota Orange.
I priced wheel-weights from the dealer I purchased the tractor from... but that price is out of the question.

 

[k0ua]

I was thinking the L4400 was a CAT1 on the 3pt. isnt it? the pins should fit.
dont see any problem with the bobcat box fitting your Kubota. put 3 or 4 (or however many you want) 2 inch pvc pipes (for handle tools) vertical in the box and fill it full of concrete. you probably need about 1000 lbs I am guessing on the 3 pt. and then fill you tires too. (75 percent fill) I used polyethelene glycol. (rv antifreeze), it is not toxic, or windshield washer fluid is cheaper, (fairly low risk) then you loader will be really effective, and your front axle will be unloaded by the ballast box, and you tractor will be more stable on hills when you have your mower on the back by the tire loading, and you will be all set.
James K0UA

 

[RoyJackson]

Categories 0, 1, 2 and 3 aren't specific to any manufacturer, but to the size of the tractor...so, any implement rated for a category will fit any tractor of that category...that's the theory, anyway.
Category 1 quick hitches frequently require modification of the implement(s) for a proper fit/hook up.

I've got to disagree with leonz...I've found the ballast box provides a lot more traction then filled tires...but filled tires provide much more stability of the tractor.

 

[teg]

...when you try to lift something that is heavier than the loader can lift and bending and breakage results...

NO, the hydraulics will go into bypass / pressure relief - and you will simple NOT be able to lift it. Tractors are designed not to break in half.

The Bobcat weight box should work fine with your tractor. :thumbsup:

 

[PoorMansCat]

Yes, its a Cat 1 hitch... Just wanst sure if Bobcat has something added to make it manufacturer specific.. ..

 

[LD1]

Yep, any cat 1 implement should work behind your tractor, weight boxes included.

Or you can even make your own. But I I were you, I'd find out how big the weight box is, and shop around and get the biggest.

As already mentioned, you will need at least 1000lbs if you plan on handling round bales (assuming the 1200lb+ kind) frequently. Tire ballast is just not enough and does absolutly nothing to take any weight off the front axle either. The L4400 is one of the lighter tractors in the 40-50HP range, and has lower lift capacities as compaired to some of the others. You will need all the ballast you can get.

Do you have any other implements or have plans on getting any. Just as another suggestion, a good heavy duty 6' rotary cutter along with having the tires fill should give you all the ballast you would need as well.

 

[crazyal]

I made a ballast box out of a 55 gallon drum, it's about 1000lbs when filled with cement. I had the drum, bought to 7/8" pins from TSC for $6 and used a little scrap steel. I even had several harden bags of cement I broke up and mixed with a couple of new bags. Even if I had to buy everything but the drum I bet it would still cost less than $50.

 

[ovrszd]

I priced wheel-weights from the dealer I purchased the tractor from... but that price is out of the question.

Out of my range too. I keep thinking I'll find a set of used weights that fit but probably not going to happen.

I added fluid to my rears after a couple hours of operation. Even without something in the bucket I thought the tractor felt light in the rear, wouldn't back uphill without spinning the rear tires. I used water/anti-freeze with 55 gallon in each tire. World of difference.

 

[Thomas]

If the price is right do both..more so if plowing snow.

 

[PoorMansCat]

I think I may have come across a REAL deal. My F.I.L. had an old home made solid steel upright safe laying in his back pasture...
I dug it out of the dirt tonight and brought it home... Its heavy just as it is, I could DEFINITELY tell that it was on the loader when I picked it up..
Its a little too tall, but i'm going to cut it down to size and outfit it with some 4x4 square tubing on the sides for my lift arms to go into.

 

[PoorMansCat]

I've already been moving bales around with it.. Its been doing great with just the cutter on. I won't be doing this all the time, just to feed two pasture ornaments and a couple of calves..

 

[teg]

...old home made solid steel upright safe... ...outfit it with some 4x4 square tubing on the sides for my lift arms...

PHOTOS!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: It would be cool to try and leave it whole (tall) You can always cut it down later... if it's too tall.

 

[PoorMansCat]

hahaha... It would look like an upright coffin being hauled around.. Might be cool next October??
Apparently some relative built it a million years ago cause they didn't trust banks...

 

[teg]

Oh, :shocked: *THAT* tall....

BTW, have you looked inside

 

[PoorMansCat]

Its about 4ft. tall x 18" deep x 24" wide. Get this though, its got an old money safe looking tumbler lock mechanism. It also has an old rawlson-koenig style keyed toolbox latch, and a homemade "quarter turn" sliding latch that has an eye and matching welded tab for a padlock. The padlock is there, no key! There is no key for the toolbox lock, and the numerical wheel for the tumbler lock is gone!!!.
Was going to lay the "flame ratchet" to it today, but my O2 regulator has failed.. gonna do some safe-cracking tomorrow.

 

[Baby Grand]

Make sure it's vented before you apply too much heat! May be a non-issue, but never hurts to check.

 

[teg]

4' by 2' by 18" sounds perfect for a counter weight... Attach some ears that you can drill for the lower pins and add a top bracket.

Also, don't forget to take some pictures...:laughing::laughing:

 

[PoorMansCat]

I should be opening it up the afternoon... My F.I.L. said that it has another " inner box" inside this one.. I HOPE it doesnt have another locked door.!!