MX 3pt ballast?

[cold1313]

I have a 2017 MX5800 with the optional heavy duty bucket and removable cutting edge. 3 sets of rear wheel weights and I am still light in the back when just moving the tractor around without an implement or my tiny 350lb blade. I'm surprised.

I rarely need ballast as I usually keep the bush hog on the back but this year I can see where I could benefit from just a compact ballast on my 3 point, so the mower isn't back there taking up a bunch of room. e.g. I am going to be putting on a new roof and would like to use this to lift the shingles to the roof. Not a huge amount of weight, but something would be needed.

Any good DIY options or on the cheap? I'm handy and I know a guy who always seems to find whatever I might need.

Again, I'm not looking to use this often so, cheap is better than built like a tank this time around...

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

A Titan ballast box is fairly cheap.

 

[ovrszd]

Kubotas are generally light for their HP. Maybe consider tire fluid? Tire size will determine cost and weight added.

 

[jeff9366]

1. Consider Three Point Hitch Pallet Forks.

You can load up a pallet with whatever weight you need, perhaps bags of gravel, concrete blocks or bushel baskets of soaking dirt.

I presume you can find rear pallet forks in 38" length, the length of my front mount pallet forks.


2. What about inserting a piece of 3/4" "all-thread" through the Three Point Hitch bullseyes, then hanging old barbell weights in the middle? Might have to sleeve the 3/4" all thread with PVC?


3. Or a Heavy Hitch.
LINK: Products

 

[countryguy1225]

+1 just bought one. arrived in 2 days. best deal I could find. well made, made in US. done.

A Titan ballast box is fairly cheap.

 

[cold1313]

I think I have some all thread at work - I'll have to check the rack. good idea. I do like the rear pallet forks because I can use it for other things. The titan ones are only Cat 1. I can do Cat 2 or sleeve it for Cat 1. $298 from Titan..don't know what they charge to ship.

 

[cold1313]

free shipping. wish I could read.

Titan 3 point hitch Pallet Fork Attachment Category 1 tractor carryall 3PT-PF

47" long though.

 

[fried1765]

I have a 2017 MX5800 with the optional heavy duty bucket and removable cutting edge. 3 sets of rear wheel weights and I am still light in the back when just moving the tractor around without an implement or my tiny 350lb blade. I'm surprised.

I rarely need ballast as I usually keep the bush hog on the back but this year I can see where I could benefit from just a compact ballast on my 3 point, so the mower isn't back there taking up a bunch of room. e.g. I am going to be putting on a new roof and would like to use this to lift the shingles to the roof. Not a huge amount of weight, but something would be needed.

Any good DIY options or on the cheap? I'm handy and I know a guy who always seems to find whatever I might need.

Again, I'm not looking to use this often so, cheap is better than built like a tank this time around...

Agri-Supply has a nice set of 3pt. pallet forks for $285.
Don't know about shipping cost.
You might call them: 800-345-0169

A pallet, with however much weight I want, works great for me.

 

[jeff9366]

I think I have some all thread at work - I'll have to check the rack. good idea. I do like the rear pallet forks because I can use it for other things. The titan ones are only Cat 1. I can do Cat 2 or sleeve it for Cat 1. $298 from Titan..don't know what they charge to ship.

If not all-thread maybe a piece of unthreaded solid steel tube with a cheap pair of vice-grips, one on the outside of each bullseye in lieu of nuts.

 

[cold1313]

Rear mount Titan forks for $298 w/ free shipping. holds 1,500 lbs - impressive

They are long at 47"

 

[Fallon]

Rear mount Titan forks for $298 w/ free shipping. holds 1,500 lbs - impressive

They are long at 47"

Not sure what a MX is rated at, but probably a bit more than my L4060. I can lift 1,900lbs on the loader & its rated around 1,700lbs. You generally want as much ballast on the 3pt as your loader can lift. Those pallet forks wouldnt quite be up to the task under ideal conditions, and pushing cheap tools to or past their limit is never a good idea.

Titan makes decent stuff, but its economy gear. I'll happily push my Titan SSQA forks as hard as I can. But they are rated to 4k lbs & my loader will only lift half of that.

 

[rbtjr]

We have a MX5800 with filled rear tires. We sometimes use a box blade, about 500 lbs, with five suitcase weights on it at 35 lbs each, which adds up to a total of 675 lbs. This is light compared to what the loader can do. I previously had the Titan Cat 1 ballast box and got it up to about 800 lbs. Same thing, still light for the MX. We bought a Kubota brand ballast box which when filled with sand weighs about 1,200 lbs. This is much better ballast for the MX. The only problem is that all of our attachments except this ballast box are Category 1 width or Cat 1 and Cat 2 compatible. The width of the ballast box makes its 3PH lift pins Cat 2 width. As a result, I haven't been able (yet) to figure out a practical way to use a Cat 1 quick hitch to pick up the ballast box. I could have an adapter fabricated to convert this ballast box to Cat 1 width but haven't done that yet, so we still use Pat's quick-hitch system.

 

[cold1313]

We have a MX5800 with filled rear tires. We sometimes use a box blade, about 500 lbs, with five suitcase weights on it at 35 lbs each, which adds up to a total of 675 lbs. This is light compared to what the loader can do. I previously had the Titan Cat 1 ballast box and got it up to about 800 lbs. Same thing, still light for the MX. We bought a Kubota brand ballast box which when filled with sand weighs about 1,200 lbs. This is much better ballast for the MX. The only problem is that all of our attachments except this ballast box are Category 1 width or Cat 1 and Cat 2 compatible. The width of the ballast box makes its 3PH lift pins Cat 2 width. As a result, I haven't been able (yet) to figure out a practical way to use a Cat 1 quick hitch to pick up the ballast box. I could have an adapter fabricated to convert this ballast box to Cat 1 width but haven't done that yet, so we still use Pat's quick-hitch system.

I have 3 sets of rear wheel weights, I think that's 660lbs total. I don't use a quick hitch and agree wight above, I don't want to push the Titan forks and have them let go.

If there are heavier duty ones, still cheaper price, that'd be great.

 

[cold1313]

Agri-Supply has a nice set of 3pt. pallet forks for $285.
Don't know about shipping cost.
You might call them: 800-345-0169

A pallet, with however much weight I want, works great for me.

$285 for the forks. Additional $106 for shipping...

 

[coolbrze]

+1 just bought one. arrived in 2 days. best deal I could find. well made, made in US. done.

How do you like it so far? What does yours weigh?

 

[mpsmith60]

A Titan ballast box is fairly cheap.

Yes, I think the Titan is a good value. I bought a Titan ballast box and modified it. Weighs about 600 lbs after adding concrete. I've attached a few pics of it and here's a link to a playlist of a videos on how I modified it to be more than just a ballast box.

A Ballast Box for My Kubota - Part 1 - YouTube

 

[Michael In Tennessee]

600 lbs is nothing on a MX. I usually keep the backhoe on which is 1500 lbs or more. I also use a 1000 lb 8 ft box blade.

You really need to fill the Titan Ballast box to its rated 800 lbs or even more. It certainly is a cheap option for ballast though. (Way cheaper than the backhoe!) I got my box blade at auction, so it wasn't expensive either.

 

[mpsmith60]

True, but I have an L3901 and combined with fluid in the tires, it's plenty. My backhoe is great ballast, weighing in at 850 lbs.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I use the Titan ballast box behind my MX5800 and L6060. I load it with gravel and it weighs in at around 900# with a few wheel weights stacked on top. I like its compact size when working in close quarters. Filling it with concrete would add a bit more weight but I like to use the box empty on occasion to carry material, tools, etc. I have filled rear tires which also helps.



https://www.amazon.com/Ballast-Poin...ormat=strip&impressionTimestamp=1551445927922

 

[mpsmith60]

I use the Titan ballast box behind my MX5800 and L6060. I load it with gravel and it weighs in at around 900# with a few wheel weights stacked on top. I like its compact size when working in close quarters. Filling it with concrete would add a bit more weight but I like to use the box empty on occasion to carry material, tools, etc. I have filled rear tires which also helps.

View attachment 593938

https://www.amazon.com/Ballast-Poin...ormat=strip&impressionTimestamp=1551445927922

The specs for the Titan ballast box say the maximum capacity for the the box is 800 lbs so be careful about overloading it!