I finally took delivery of my B2710 w/402 loader and snowblower this week! So far, so good. I do have a question about rear ballast and loader work. My dealer filled the rear tires with calcium chloride. So far in doing loader work, I've left the snowblower on for additional rear ballast. Question: Will I have sufficient rear ballast (with the filled tires) if I remove the snowblower for loader work? The area I'm working on is around a garage with some tight access. So far, I haven't banged into anything, but with that honkin blower on the back, its only a matter of time. This is my first tractor so I'm still learning these things. In talking with my dealer, he said it would be OK without the blower but he recommended leaving it on. I was just wondering what other's opinions are on this.
Ballast B2710 - Rear Ballast for Loader Work
- Thread starter DRFoster
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Bird
Rest in Peace
It'll just depend entirely on how heavy a load you try to lift with that front end loader. Ballast in the form of an implement on the back is always a good idea (if you have room to work with it on there). I generally use my box blade for that purpose. But sometimes when working in tight places, or with light loads, like cleaning the manure out a barn, I don't use anything. With a little experience, you'll soon get the feel for whether you really need extra weight on the back end; just lift slowly so you don't pick up the back wheels accidentally before you learn.
Bird
Bird
PaulB
Gold Member
I bought a 3 point mounted carryall from TSC for $69, then built a wooden platform on it. I use it to carry water out to the pasture for the horses, but it is also a great way to have adjustable ballast for the loader. I use tube sand bags like they sell to put in the bed of pickup trucks to add weight to the rear end in winter, and put in 1,2,4,6 whatever I need to ballast off the front loader. Whole thing costs under $100 if you have to buy the lumber, and it is fairly small so is not too bad for manuverability.
Bird
Rest in Peace
PaulB
Gold Member
Thanks Bird, I was off line for a while. Go where Bird said, click on the tractor, then go to 3 point implements to see what a carryall looks like. I think Kingkutter also makes one, and I think their web address is kingkutter.com
I never can figure out how to make one of them there blue http things, but I will try http://www.kingkutter.com
I never can figure out how to make one of them there blue http things, but I will try http://www.kingkutter.com
Anonymous Poster
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I MOUNTED 275 LBS OF WEIGHT LIFTING WEIGHTS ON EACH WHEEL.THIS TOTALS 550 LBS ON THE REAR WHEELS WHICH I NEVER TAKE OFF. I GOT TIRED OF WATCHING OUT FOR THE WEIGHT BOX I HAD HANGING OFF THE THREE POINT HITCH.
Anonymous Poster
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A fitting end...
Not too long ago I stopped by a gentlemen putting around on his tractor, was out in the boonies in the Jeep and asked some directions. Probably didn't need them but it's a good way to start a conversation. I really wanted to see what he was using for ballast on his older bigger-than-my-L35 tractor.
It was the engine out of his old farm truck, a straight 6, even the carburetor was still on it. He said he drained the oil, let it drip for a few days, turned it a bunch of ways to get everything out and made some brackets to hang it on is three point. He liked the idea that his old truck was STILL helping him out. His face really lit up when he talked about that truck, I think he said it was a 53 or so Ford. Reason I bring it up is he also mentioned in the barn he has no room with a big implement on the back. He had a bunch of those implements will all kinds of weird metal discs that were way behind the tractor. Others that I couldn't figure out but didn't want to give him 20 questions to answer. I'll have to find my landpride catalog and do some book learnin'! [smile}
del
Not too long ago I stopped by a gentlemen putting around on his tractor, was out in the boonies in the Jeep and asked some directions. Probably didn't need them but it's a good way to start a conversation. I really wanted to see what he was using for ballast on his older bigger-than-my-L35 tractor.
It was the engine out of his old farm truck, a straight 6, even the carburetor was still on it. He said he drained the oil, let it drip for a few days, turned it a bunch of ways to get everything out and made some brackets to hang it on is three point. He liked the idea that his old truck was STILL helping him out. His face really lit up when he talked about that truck, I think he said it was a 53 or so Ford. Reason I bring it up is he also mentioned in the barn he has no room with a big implement on the back. He had a bunch of those implements will all kinds of weird metal discs that were way behind the tractor. Others that I couldn't figure out but didn't want to give him 20 questions to answer. I'll have to find my landpride catalog and do some book learnin'! [smile}
del
gordon
Veteran Member
Re: A fitting end...
Now that I must say is recycling at its best!!! I have seen quite a few items used for ballast but never an old six banger./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Anything that can add weight sure helps and its always best to use what you already have in stock rather than have to buy it.
How much ballast is to much on a compact tractor---if I ever find out I'll surly let you know. More ballast more traction, more stability===more work done and safer as well./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon
Now that I must say is recycling at its best!!! I have seen quite a few items used for ballast but never an old six banger./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Anything that can add weight sure helps and its always best to use what you already have in stock rather than have to buy it.
How much ballast is to much on a compact tractor---if I ever find out I'll surly let you know. More ballast more traction, more stability===more work done and safer as well./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon
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Re: A fitting end...
You know you've got too much ballast when turning the steering wheel doesn't seem to make you turn, and looking down you see the front tires are not leaving any "tracks" in the lawn! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
You know you've got too much ballast when turning the steering wheel doesn't seem to make you turn, and looking down you see the front tires are not leaving any "tracks" in the lawn! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
gordon
Veteran Member
Re: A fitting end...
Ok I'm with you now to much ballast==looking at sky without looking up!
I have run into that problem--looking at the sky that is then comes neutral and back down to earth./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon
Ok I'm with you now to much ballast==looking at sky without looking up!
I have run into that problem--looking at the sky that is then comes neutral and back down to earth./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon
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Re: A fitting end...
Yeah, you can do your imitation of those tractors at the tractor pull, where they pull that sled with the frontward moving weight. Of course that's what I've heard, I'd never watch that stuff, with War and Peace still not finished.
del...
Yeah, you can do your imitation of those tractors at the tractor pull, where they pull that sled with the frontward moving weight. Of course that's what I've heard, I'd never watch that stuff, with War and Peace still not finished.
del...
Thomas
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Re: A fitting end...
Del,
Famers might be one of the first that introduce recycling to the country,for the wasted very little.
Pick there fields of stones and built sone walls,the wood they burnt to keep warm was from the new fields they clear etc...
Ahhh like the old saying goes..waste not want not. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Stay safe and /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Thomas..NH
Del,
Famers might be one of the first that introduce recycling to the country,for the wasted very little.
Pick there fields of stones and built sone walls,the wood they burnt to keep warm was from the new fields they clear etc...
Ahhh like the old saying goes..waste not want not. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Stay safe and /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Thomas..NH
gerard
Veteran Member
Re: A fitting end...
Like Bird I usually use my box blade (with about a two hundred lb weight set across tha back) as rear ballast but I have unloaded tires. If you have loaded tires you'd probably be ok without anything unless you had a full bucket of wet sand/dirt etc and were going down a hill forwards but you can feel pretty easily how light you are in the rear end. If iffy I just keep the load low, hand ON the lever, and if you start to go you just have to dump the bucket. I also found that the york rake, even though much lighter than the box blade, also works well due to the leverage factor and it "extending" further back from the 3 pt.
Like Bird I usually use my box blade (with about a two hundred lb weight set across tha back) as rear ballast but I have unloaded tires. If you have loaded tires you'd probably be ok without anything unless you had a full bucket of wet sand/dirt etc and were going down a hill forwards but you can feel pretty easily how light you are in the rear end. If iffy I just keep the load low, hand ON the lever, and if you start to go you just have to dump the bucket. I also found that the york rake, even though much lighter than the box blade, also works well due to the leverage factor and it "extending" further back from the 3 pt.
TomG
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Yes, a little experience and a feel are developed for how much ballast is needed. The first thing I did when I got my tractor is to order a load of gravel for the driveway. There was no implement on the 3ph, and I now recognize the rear end was light when going downhill. I haven't forgotten that feeling, and now I don't have to think about it. A though just comes to mind--'Oh, guess I need more ballast.' I get a clue that front ballast is needed if the steering is very light.
It may be a good idea to experiment a bit so that a sense is developed for when ballast, or stability, isn't quite enough. That way, a warning light will click on if a task is attempted that the tractor is not capable of--heavy ballast or not.
I think the idea is to use just enough ballast, not as much as a tractor will carry. Heavy ballast has some liabilities of wear and tear, fuel consumption and soil compaction.
It may be a good idea to experiment a bit so that a sense is developed for when ballast, or stability, isn't quite enough. That way, a warning light will click on if a task is attempted that the tractor is not capable of--heavy ballast or not.
I think the idea is to use just enough ballast, not as much as a tractor will carry. Heavy ballast has some liabilities of wear and tear, fuel consumption and soil compaction.
I spent most of the day yesterday working the loader without the snowblower on the 3pt. I "sense" the backend being lighter, but not out of control. Being leary of it, I have been keeping the loaded bucket low with my hand ready to dump should it feel "tippy". So far so good. I'm moving rocks from one place and dirt (what little I can find) to where I've removed the rocks. Anybody need some rocks? Free for the hauling 
They don't call these the "Rocky Mountains" for nothing.
I checked into a carry all from TSC. Sure wish we had a TSC close by. The closest store to us is 400-500 miles away. I called them about mail ordering a carry all, they wanted $50 for shipping. I'm going to do some searching locally before I order one from them. Even if I don't really need the ballast, this thing sounds generally useful for the price.
They don't call these the "Rocky Mountains" for nothing.I checked into a carry all from TSC. Sure wish we had a TSC close by. The closest store to us is 400-500 miles away. I called them about mail ordering a carry all, they wanted $50 for shipping. I'm going to do some searching locally before I order one from them. Even if I don't really need the ballast, this thing sounds generally useful for the price.
Anonymous Poster
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Fred G, how did you fit so much weight on each wheel? When I made them, I could only fit six 25 lb weights on each wheel. If I put more than 6 on, they would stick out beyond the tire. If you have 275 lb on each wheel, that would be 11 weights, almost twice as many. Did you use larger weights or put some on the inside of the wheel?
Andy
Andy
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