How much ballast

[TomIre]

It's become apparent that I need some ballast on the back of my tractor as I now have a grapple I'm using. The question is, how much ballast? My tractor is a Branson 3725. 37hp and just over 4000 #'s dry weight. What would you suggest?
I plan to use a carryall and put the weight in a 55 drum.

 

[i7win7]

TractorData.com Branson 3725R tractor information

Rear lift (at 24"/610mm): 2420 lbs [1097 kg]

Make sure drum won't fall off carry-all, 1200-1500 lbs depends on how much weight are you lifting?

I like to use loaded tires - weight always on tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

It's become apparent that I need some ballast on the back of my tractor as I have a grapple. The question is, how much ballast? .

What tires are on your Branson now?

Are tires inflated with air or filled with liquid? What liquid? What fill level?

 

[TomIre]

R1 and air filled.

 

[Jstpssng]

According to the Rim Guard chart https://25hocqqai9f40uz013vrrbx1-wp...ds/2020/04/RimGuardBeetJuiceTireFillChart.pdf you would add 750 lbs if you loaded both tires.
I went with wheel weights because I'm going to need new rears within a couple of years. (I use a lot less weight for my little tractor.) Rear ballast is OK but it's sprung weight... I've been out discing and had the rear on the uphill side come off the ground.

 

[TomIre]

I may fill my tires at some point but for now I'm going with 3pt ballast. Quicker, cheaper and can drop it off when not needed - Bush hogging, etc.

 

[jeff9366]

With air in your tires I concur that 1,200 to 1,500 pounds will be enough counterbalance.

Your Branson is about the same weight as my Kubota L3560. FEL lift is a bit more. I have air inflated tires too.

Make sure drum won't fall off carry-all, 1200-1500 lbs.

Branson 3725R - ATTACHMENTS

2017 -
Compact Utility tractor
Series next: Branson 4225R

Loader:
Loader type: Branson BL25R
Height (to pin): 103.8 inches [263 cm]
Clearance, dumped bucket: 79 inches [200 cm]
Dump reach: 26 inches [66 cm]
Dump angle: 44
Clearance, level bucket: 97.3 inches [247 cm]
Reach at ground: 67.3 inches [170 cm]
Rollback angle: 24.5
Breakout force (lift): 3531 lbs [1601 kg]
Lift to full height (at pin): 2100 lbs [952 kg]
Bucket width: 67 inches [170 cm]

 

[TomIre]

Now the challenge is getting that much weight in the barrel! According to my Googling 55 gallon drum full of wet sand will weigh about 900#'s. I'll have to see what else I have around that will fit in the carryall.

 

[oosik]

Just about everything beyond wet sand will represent - $$$. Reject lead wheel weights - but here you will be up against ammo reloaders who dearly prize this product for casting bullets.

Will the carry all hold something larger than a 55 gallon drum - or two drums..........

 

[WranglerX]

Concrete weighs in about 150 lbs per cubic foot, I made a 4 cubic foot box for my SCUT and its at about 600 lbs (-/+) and make front a bit light with FEL empty... But when doing FEL work it seems ok.... I know lot smaller tractor, but....



Here is what my tractor manual has to say about ballast...



A 55 gallon drum is about 7.35 cu-ft, so a drum full of concrete should weigh in some where in range of 1100 lbs...
About 18, 60 lb bags of sacreete...

Dale

 

[jeff9366]

According to my Googling 55 gallon drum full of wet sand will weigh about 900#'s. I'll have to see what else I have around that will fit in the carryall.

Your Branson is about the same weight as my Kubota L3560. FEL lift is a bit more. I have air inflated tires too.

Most days I carry around an TPH implement weighing 600 pounds (cultipacker or rollover box blade) to 850 pounds (ABI TR3 Arena Rake). That is enough counterbalance for 90% of my 1,770 pound FEL lift capacity. When an occasion arises calling for more counterbalance I mount 1,200 pound disc harrow, which, as it extends far to the rear of the tractor is probably equivalent to 1,400 pounds in a carry all. This is only needed once or twice per year.

900 pounds will serve you well most days doing Loader work.

Be cautious. All the carryall and barrel weight will be above axle height, so it will detract from lateral stability. As you raise the Loader above axle height it will detract from lateral stability too.

 

[i7win7]

Just about everything beyond wet sand will represent - $$$. Reject lead wheel weights - but here you will be up against ammo reloaders who dearly prize this product for casting bullets.

Will the carry all hold something larger than a 55 gallon drum - or two drums..........

I'm just not a fan of steel drums on carryall. If barrel falls off while carrying a load it could be fatal. Bottom could rust out and sand quickly lost. Some have used drawbar thru barrel and rigged up a top link connection and concrete filled (won't be QH compatible, probably good thing - better connection to tractor) however moving weight rearward produces more counterweight leverage.

The most important thing is securing load to carryall or tractor - could be life or death decision.

 

[TomIre]

Thanks all for great input as always.
The only 3pt implement I currently have is a heavy duty Bush hog. The only problem using it as ballast is maneuverability as it extends quite a ways.
According to Mr Google sand and concrete are near enough the same weight and I've got sand leftover from a previous project. I may dump some used engine oil into it to help prevent rust and add a bit of weight. I do have a secure lid for it. Plant to strap it on with two 2000 # ratchet straps (two is one, one is none). I'll have to see once it's on the carry all and strapped if there's room for more weight. I figure the total package should be around 1000 #'s so well in the way to 1200-1500.
Good point about center of gravity. I've got a lot of hills so I'll need to be careful. I do have my rear tires spread a good bit to help with that.
Still going to try to stay clear of filled tires if I can. Both because of cost and compaction issues. Once filled it's hard to unfill them!I
Should have it all setup this weekend and we'll see how it goes.

 

[FTG-05]

A couple things to go by:

- If you're 3ph can lift it - it's prolly not enough.

- If you're grapple can lift one rear tire with a load - it's definitely not enough.

 

[Stan B]

- If you're 3ph can lift it - it's prolly not enough.

What?

I put a 2 ft cube (8 cu ft) of concrete and steel on my 3pt for ballast and can send the FEL into relief at ground level. It's definitely enough ballast and the 3pt lifts it easily.

 

[WranglerX]

Ummm... My SCUT (MF GC 1715) 3PH s rated at 1100 pounds lift at ball ends, that seems pretty good as my 600 lb (+/-) ballast make front end light even with FEL in place... And tractor (by the manual ) only weighs in at about 1400 lbs...

Dale

 

[FTG-05]

What?

I put a 2 ft cube of concrete and steel on my 3pt for ballast and can send the FEL into relief at ground level. It's definitely enough ballast and the 3pt lifts it easily.

Tongue-in-cheek - Wikipedia

 

[PEJ5]

It's become apparent that I need some ballast on the back of my tractor as I now have a grapple I'm using. The question is, how much ballast? My tractor is a Branson 3725. 37hp and just over 4000 #'s dry weight. What would you suggest?
I plan to use a carryall and put the weight in a 55 drum.

While the carryall and drum full of sand may be a good test, I estimate you will want 1200 to 1600 lbs and the best way is to build forms around some steel and fill it with concrete. It will be compact and heavy enough to allow you to use your loader to the max.

Mine is on all the time except when I need an actual rear attachment.

 

[Arthur Douglas]

The front wheels on my 4WD, 25hp Bobcat tractor get buried, the rears spin freely even in low, and I've have had to lock the rear differential on more than one occasion to traverse even the tamest portions of my deep-sand, hilly lot. (I know, what I really needed was a track Bobcat. Have you seen the price of a track Bobcat?) Before I go price a camel, would ballast add or further compromise traction in this situation? So far I've taken air from the tires (20psi rear, 25 front) and have resisted adding ballast to them. (I alternate between using a box scraper as ballast or none at all.) Thanks.

p.s. I'm appending this as I break for lunch, then I must go back out (in 109 degree heat) and shovel "Junior" out of the sandbox.

 

[Mat4644]

Good thread on 3 pt DIY ballast on this site. Some made to be tool carriers also. Get a quick hitch and easy to pick up in a hurry. Ballast will make a big difference. Just bought a Kubota LX 25hp tractor and measured the distances. If doing loader work on a short wheelbase tractor such as this 3 pt ballast 13 inches center of gravity behind the lower pin hookups is 40% more effective than wheel weights or loaded tires. I don't like loaded tires because of mowing and it makes tire maintenance more difficult and expensive.

I'm thinking of one of the 3 pt poured concrete ballasts on this site with PVC pipe inserted for shovel and rake carrier. Maybe around 800-900#.