3pt ballast

/ 3pt ballast #1  

RJFEJF

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Nov 24, 2011
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i have been looking at various ways of carrying rear ballast when using the fel. the nortrac ( northern tool ) 35xt, 35hp, 4wd,coming for xmas is rated at 1874 lbs lift cap. i have been thinking of using a 3 pt dump hauler loaded with 30 to 50 gal buckets, drums, or concrete block with cast in steel handles in which to secure the loadin the hauler with cargo strap or chain. when ballast for the fel is not needed i could use the hauler for wood and tool transport. turning radius is not of concern where i would be using the fel. any ideas or thoughts, has anyone used a hauler with dump bed and tail gate rated at 2500lb carrying capacity? thank you for any comments.
 
/ 3pt ballast #2  
That would work but having to load unload could get old in a hurry. A dedicated ballast would be easier to put on and take off. Do a search there's a lot of ballast box ideas here.

John
 
/ 3pt ballast #3  
..........an off the shelf Kubota ballast box. 600 pounds as seen here.
 

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/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#4  
your right about the loading and unloading, i figure it wouldn't be to bad if i used the loader with chain & hook to lift only the needed wieght in and then hook up the hauler with a 3 pt QH. being new i was wondering how much ballast ratio would i really need for a fel lift capacity of 1874 lbs. and what would most of you who have had experiance would realisticly load into a fel rated at 1874 lbs over fairly level area. by the way i like that concrete filled culvert pipe. also been toying with the idea of stacking vertical or horizontal stacks of used disk brake rotors available here at the scrape yard at about .25 a lb. i think concrete would be much more cost effective and it don't rust.
 
/ 3pt ballast #5  
You'd probably want around a 1,200 lbs minimum, 15 - 2000 would be better. My little JD loader's rated at 1,000 lbs more or less I think. I have 320 lbs of wheel weights and the rear ballast is around 600 lbs. and that's just enough to hold the back end down if I pick up something heavy.
 
/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#6  
thanks for the info and comparison. my 3pt lift cap is just over 1600lbs. how far under the 3 pt lift cap would you think would be safe with out damaging the 3pt lift? like about 1400 while moving the tractor about. thanks again Mighty Dodge
 
/ 3pt ballast #7  
remember with a lift of 1600 at the lift link ends, 1400 out past that point might be too heavy to lift.
 
/ 3pt ballast #8  
Woops I was thinking of loader lifting capability. If you're 3pt will only lift 1600 then you'll probably want to stay around 12 - 1500 lbs.

John
 
/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Lift capacity at the pivot pin on the FEL is 2786 lbs with lift capacity of 1874 lbs, cat 1 3pt lift cap 1655 lbs, so I'm guess about 1400 lbs + or - rear ballast wouldn't be to bad, on the 3pt when working the tractor?
 
/ 3pt ballast #10  
a backhoe is the best ballast because you can move it side to side if your bucket is loaded uneven.

failing that, just make sire you keep the weight low.
 
/ 3pt ballast #12  
I would say start with about 800-1000 lbs of ballast and make something that can be "expanded" to hold more. If your 3pt is rated for 1600lbs that is what it can lift. I don't think that is what it is comfortable bouncing around. Load the tires or use wheel weights AND add ballast on the hitch. I have 220 lbs of wheel weights and a hitch ballast that can be varied from 100-800 lbs.
 
/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#13  
I was looking at the tractor supply company 3pt dump cargo hauler for $ 399.00 SKU# 2130097, rated carry cap @ 2500lbs. they will match Northern Tool supply price of $349.00 and as i have a TSC near me, no shipping. I was thinking of cutting a 55 gal drum in 1/2, and making 2 seprate ballast pieces ( appox 500lbs apiece) with imbedded lift rings and side tie down straps to lift into this cargo hauler and strap down for ballast.I have plenty of room to manuver the tractor where i will be using the FEL to rebuild a dam with trap rock. The cargo carry unit will be handy to carry my firewood when extreme ballast is not required. I also have an extra 55 gal drum which i will make 1 piece of ballast out of @ appox 1000 lbs. I liked the the simple idea i saw in one of the posts where the lift bar is centered through the drum above the center of gravity so no top lnk is needed on the 55 gal ballast drum when and if i need area clearance to manuver the the tractor in any tighter areas. i am also pondering ordering the TRI Mfg-7 TILAN scraper blade, 7' from E.A. with tilt, angle and offset for gravel driveway work and snow removal. I suppose i could also use this for mild ballast @ 313 lbs. This site has been a great source of info and ideas to help craft working solutions, ie: the black iron pipe on the FEL edge for snow removal. Anyone have any experiance with the above mentioned rear blade, before i pull the trigger on that piece of equipment. any review or thoughts would be appretiated. THANKS AGAIN for your input. HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY TO ALL.
 
/ 3pt ballast #14  
I had to double check the specs on the Koyker loader. Most Chineese tractors with that loader will lift 1100 #'s max. The Northern site does say 1874#'s max., The Koyker 160 with the large 2" cylinders apears to do that.(see specs link) . Just make sure they're talking about the beefed up version. The one with 1.75" cylinders is,

Lift Capacity To Maximum Height At Pivot Pin 1480 lbs
Lift Capactity To Maximum Height 19.7" Forward Of Pivot Pin 1100 lbs


Koyker Manufacturing - Loaders

http://www.koykermfg.com/images/koyker-manuals/160.pdf


Just wanted to make sure your getting what you think your're getting.

either way sounds like it will be a fun Christmas!!.

Cheers Dave
 
/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#15  
Thanks for the link TTTTTT. I did call Northern Tool today to make sure they are selling a product as advertised. None of their lift capacities nor bucket dimensions appear to match that in the link. Northern Tool had not called my office back untill I had left. However I did e-mail Koyker to see if they had any info as to the loader attachment they ship to Northern Tool for thier new Nortrac XT 35 tractor model, v.s. the non-XT model. Any further developed info on this product line maybe helpful for other perspective tractor buyers.
 
/ 3pt ballast
  • Thread Starter
#16  
Your very perceptive TTTTTT. Koyer responded by e-mail today. They said the most current 160 loader used by Northern Tool XT 35 Tractor's lift cap is 1500 lbs and the reach at max hieght is 22", with bucket options from 4' to 6', Northern XT 35 is sent with 5'. Koyer said they will correct thier litrature. Northern Tool has not responded back yet, so i can't honestly say if they made any modifications. as being a new item i doubt they preform any mods and probably just assy and push'm out the door.
 
/ 3pt ballast #17  
Glad to help. The Jinma (or have they changed to Fotons) tractors even the 35 hp I don't think could handle an 1800 # max FEL. I have a Dongfeng (DF) 35 hp which is a little beefer than the Jinmas. My FEL is rated for 1100-1200 #'s max. My bucket is 66". Interesting how it will turn out.

Good Luck Dave


Your very perceptive TTTTTT. Koyer responded by e-mail today. They said the most current 160 loader used by Northern Tool XT 35 Tractor's lift cap is 1500 lbs and the reach at max hieght is 22", with bucket options from 4' to 6', Northern XT 35 is sent with 5'. Koyer said they will correct thier litrature. Northern Tool has not responded back yet, so i can't honestly say if they made any modifications. as being a new item i doubt they preform any mods and probably just assy and push'm out the door.
 
/ 3pt ballast #18  
I need to replace my drum but i am sure they are still around, too smple not to be.

@ bands that fit a 55 gal drum. One has the top link the other has the 3 point pins. Bolted to a drum and you can fill it as it pleases you or needs.

Use scrap metal or you can figure how much concrete weighs. Easy hook up and un hooking.

DS
 
/ 3pt ballast #19  
That would work but having to load unload could get old in a hurry. A dedicated ballast would be easier to put on and take off. Do a search there's a lot of ballast box ideas here.

John

kinda like that ballast you made out of the culvert looks to me like you can just hook to the lift arms and not have to worry about the top link
 
/ 3pt ballast #20  
kinda like that ballast you made out of the culvert looks to me like you can just hook to the lift arms and not have to worry about the top link

Yes, that was my thinking. If I leave it on uneven ground though I sometimes have to get off and fiddle with it to get it hitched.
 

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