55 Gal Rear Weight

[Raycando]

I used 2 water filled barrels on top of my 6 ft. Frontier box blade, works perfectly and didn't even need to chain them on as the bottoms wedged good and tight inside the opening. I placed them at an angle, bottoms towards the outside and tops to the center and then filled with water.

 

[SouthernX]

1) I guess this is stating the obvious but I assume that you want to keep the 55gal cement filled barrel as close to the ground as possible (without dragging of course) for best results (i.e. preventing rear lift).

2) I intended to put the barrel on the 3pt when doing FEL work. When the FEL is off is it a bad idea to leave the 55gal counter weight on the 3pt? I'm thinking that without the FEL the counterweight might provide too much weight on the rear, i.e. if going up a steep incline might you be more likely to tip backwards with that much weight on the rear and none on the front.

 

[Ford850]

1) I guess this is stating the obvious but I assume that you want to keep the 55gal cement filled barrel as close to the ground as possible (without dragging of course) for best results (i.e. preventing rear lift).

2) I intended to put the barrel on the 3pt when doing FEL work. When the FEL is off is it a bad idea to leave the 55gal counter weight on the 3pt? I'm thinking that without the FEL the counterweight might provide too much weight on the rear, i.e. if going up a steep incline might you be more likely to tip backwards with that much weight on the rear and none on the front.

I keep mine as low as I can without dragging, as you said. Usually a foot off the ground though, since I run through dips and rough ground at times.
I leave my ballast off most of the time through the spring-summer-fall, and only carry it when doing heavier chores with my FEL. It's on through the winter when I have my FEL snow blade.

 

[Soundguy]

I accomplished this with my ballast tubs by attaching them ATOP the 3pt drawbar, with threaded studs the protruding down thru the bottom of the tub thru the drawbar for me to add nuts and washers... thus I could leave the 3pt lift 100% relaxed and thus have no load on my hyds, and the load sat real close to the ground.. I could then lift it in full range of the 3pt if i wanted / needed to... To remove it.. just set it on some timbers on the ground... Of course.. I'm not sure why i posted this.. as my ideas were thought of unfavorably before.. so i have no reason to think that will have changed any...

soundguy

 

[SPYDERLK]

1) I guess this is stating the obvious but I assume that you want to keep the 55gal cement filled barrel as close to the ground as possible (without dragging of course) for best results (i.e. preventing rear lift).

I have this concern as well. I plan to build a counterweight from a drum oriented horizontally with pins in the center of the ends so it can rotate and not dig in if it touches down. My Mahindra will take a full length drum sideways with only a little end bevelling. Im saving steel scrap to mix in with the concrete for weight. Im aiming for near a ton on the finished product.

Seems like the horizontal arrangement scaled to the tractor would be good for many applications.
larry

 

[Ridgewalker]

Anyone know what a 55 gal drum weighs when loaded with concrete? I need to build a ballast for my TC29 and wonder how much weight would be correct for it.

 

[Mike058]

Should be close to 1117 pounds. Got the volume from here WikiAnswers - How can you find the volume of a liquid in a 55 gallon drum and the weight of concrete from somewhere else on the forum here.

 

[GinNB]

Soundguy, got any pics of your counterweight with the additions? Winter's coming and I need a few projects to relieve the boredom. I've gotten a few good ideas already from the previous pics and postings.

 

[Soundguy]

Last time i posted them they were criticised.. so I don't feel particularly compelled to do so again. the design is too simple, cheap and easy . many of the people here like complicated, expensive and difficult it seems like..

there are already pics of my 20-30 minute / 15$ ballast weight posted here in past messages anyway....

soundguy

 

[Bedlam]

Soundguy, Please don't feel that way I always look forward to your posts.I'm just so darn mad that a choice few choose to find fault with anything people do and have to comment in a negative way.If they see room for improvements, and or safety concerns, thy should attempt to address it in a nice way. Unfortunately in todays world thats not the norm. I don't think they realize that they undercut just what the purpose of the forums is for..
Ive seem many people and myself included get 'bashed' as I see it.Its difficult to accept that these people are in the minority, and there are many many others who appreciate the postings,and many people who sit by the sidelines and are fearful of posting and getting the same treatment. And with that happening, we all miss out on some good helpful ideas.Sad really, Maybe just post a link for it and then if people have to go criticize it then thats their problem.

Its a tough thing to deal with .. I know first hand.

 

[Egon]

'bashed' as I see it

Did you read the thread referred to? Who initiated what?

 

[GinNB]

Found it Soundguy, thks.

 

[Bedlam]

I have no clue who said what or initiated it I was simply posting a message addressed to soundguy.
Unbelievable really. Nothing wrong with that that I can see.??????????i don't wish to re-visit my posting where I got insulted and '''bashed'' It was hurtful . but I got over it.Its been two years since..So I've put that issue to rest.I simply don't want people to not post because they will face people who criticize.plain and simple

 

[George2615]

Anyone know what a 55 gal drum weighs when loaded with concrete? I need to build a ballast for my TC29 and wonder how much weight would be correct for it.

I recently built a rear ballast for my tractor. I used a plastic 55 gallon drum, Scrap steel I had laying around, and ready mix from the box store. I estimated my weight as follows:

Plastic drum about 10 lb.
Steel welded together for internal framework about 50 lb.
Cement - 12-60lb bags hand mixed and filled barrel about 3/4 full 720 lb.
For a total of 780 lb.

I didn't fill it because I wanted space for some chains, straps, and tools in the barrel. I am going to install some hooks to carry shovels.
If I had filled it I would guess it would have taken another 4-5 bags or another 300 lb.

For the steel I used 1" round bar, 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 3/16 thick tubing, and made provisions for a lifting point and for a rear tow hook. Then added reflectors and reflective tape.

 

[flingwing1969]

Hey, don't forget to put some PVC pipe in so you can carry tools. I think that's one of the coolest features of the concrete-filled ballast...

Love that idea. I need ballast but mostly, like most CUT drivers, I need places to put stuff. I don't plan on a dedicated tub of concrete like this but I like the concept. Mine will be a large metal box with a tailgate that dumps with my hydraulic TL and has a 4 or 5" concrete bottom for weight. Keep it low.

 

[flingwing1969]

I used 2 water filled barrels on top of my 6 ft. Frontier box blade, works perfectly and didn't even need to chain them on as the bottoms wedged good and tight inside the opening. I placed them at an angle, bottoms towards the outside and tops to the center and then filled with water.

If it works, it works, right. And water's cheap. But if you need weight and space is an issue, a gallon of cured concrete is almost three times the mass of a gallon of water.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Last year I needed to load 350 cubic yards of gravel, and found I needed more weight on my L2500 Kubota, but also needed a way to break up the gravel for easier digging.

I ended up putting a 55 gallon drum half filled with sand on top of a single bottom plow and that really helped bust up my gravel so i could dig it out of the pit easier.

Sadly I was so busy in getting the job done that I never bothered to take a photo of the set-up. :-(

 

[eubie5]

Here are a few pictures showing the drawbar through the barrel and the top link bracket I made from the stabilizer bar.

I know this is an ancient thread, but ****, this is nice

 

[eubie5]

In, for info

 

[Ford850]

I know this is an ancient thread, but ****, this is nice

Thank you. It was an easy build for me, using off the shelf supplies for the 3PH attachment points. I still use it every winter for ballast while snow plowing. Occasionally I use it in the summer for heavy loader work too.