Ballast Box Question

[PHILIP8N]

I filled my 1250# ballast box with concrete in October 2010. No regrets in 6 years When I need it, all the weight is there, stable, and ready to go, takes less than 5 minutes to hook up with telescoping side links and hydraulic top link. Philip.

 

[jeff9366]

A tractor BACKHOE is primarily designed to dig.

The FEL is not meant primarily to dig. The FEL is a LOADER.

If you want to dig with the FEL, in a somewhat limited way do to its width, purchase a TOOTHBAR or a BUCKET SPADE. The Toothbar brand most frequently reviewed here with high marks is PIRANHA. In rocky soil, you may need to make a pass or two with a Three Point Hitch mounted Subsoiler to loosen up soil agglomeration 12" to 14" deep for the FEL bucket and toothbar.

Piranha Toothbar

Long Toothbars are also highly regarded, perhaps a tad better in rocky soil on medium weight tractors.

Long Tooth Bars

Tractor bucket spade shovel


Many fill their ballast box with sand, then add water to set weight for each chore. Downside is increased humidity if stored inside, rather than outside.

 

[eng1886trk]

When I pull vines I used the draw bar on the rear with a section of 1/2" rope and a shackle. Girth hitch the vine and attach to the tractor. Works like a charm.

Also I am looking into a product called heavy hitch. It's a hitch that attaches to the 3pt but has brackets to hang tractor weights on it. I feel that my be more versatile for my needs.

 

[varmint]

I favor removable weight in my ballast box, rather than permanent concrete... I figure it's about 600 lbs with a full load of rock, which is enough for my purposes. A bigger box would hold more, obviously, if needed. The small, close box doesn't create problems when maneuvering in tighter spaces, like a rear blade or cutter might.

 

[mike69440]

most dangerous is farming?

can't speak for all years -but in 2014, counting fatalities it looks more like this...

Logging is #1 then fishing... but tractors are used in logging

Dangerous Jobs: These Are the Deadliest Jobs in America

No the Most dangerous job is being President. (9 % due to assassins.) That percentage may increase.

 

[VroomVroom]

I'm not sure how to start a new thread so chose this one to raise the question. Just scanning through the mahindra 2816 manual and it states under "tractor ballast",

The maximum operating weight of tractor should not exceed the following values. The operating weight of tractor includes the weight of tractor, operator, ballast weight and implement.

Front axle.........970 kgs or 2134 lbs
Rear axle..........1350 kgs or 2970 lbs or
Total 2200 kgs or 4800lbs.

It says the 3pt can lift 2200lbs. That would only leave 700 lbs for the driver and tractor? I recently hauled 4 foot wood with it on rear forks I made. I didn't really lift the load, just piled wood on the forks already in the raised position, but there must have been quite a weight being piled maybe 3 feet high and 4 feet wide and deep. Their numbers don't make sense ....

 

[ovrszd]

Were the front tires on the ground so you could control the tractor?? If the answer is yes, you didn't exceed the 3pt capacity.

 

[VroomVroom]

That's how I look at it. No, and I had very little in loader bucket. The bucket was full of 4 to 8 inch round spruce logs 4 feet long. It was mostly downhill with one little upward dip at the end, however the front wheels didn't lift......their numbers are off. When the front starts to pop up....then I know....

 

[VroomVroom]

Also, the loader I thought was about 600 lbs , which the downward force is on the front bumper while some upward force is on the mounts back along the side of your feet, this is also more downward force then they recommend when lifting 1100 lbs

 

[ClaySlayer]

I'm not sure how to start a new thread so chose this one to raise the question. Just scanning through the mahindra 2816 manual and it states under "tractor ballast",

The maximum operating weight of tractor should not exceed the following values. The operating weight of tractor includes the weight of tractor, operator, ballast weight and implement.

Front axle.........970 kgs or 2134 lbs
Rear axle..........1350 kgs or 2970 lbs or
Total 2200 kgs or 4800lbs.

It says the 3pt can lift 2200lbs. That would only leave 700 lbs for the driver and tractor? I recently hauled 4 foot wood with it on rear forks I made. I didn't really lift the load, just piled wood on the forks already in the raised position, but there must have been quite a weight being piled maybe 3 feet high and 4 feet wide and deep. Their numbers don't make sense ....

Naked Tractor is about 2,500lbs. ML106 loader is 700lbs plus bucket...say 900lbs with bucket. Now you're up to 3,400lbs which leaves 1,400lbs for you and whatever else you want to lift with it...and it may even be less than that depending on how much weight is already on the rear axle. Just cause the 3pt says it'll lift 2,200lbs doesn't mean you should. The manual for my Kubota L3301 states that while the 3pt can lift about 2,000lbs (at the pins), the lifted implement weight should never exceed 770lbs. You put several hundred pounds out a few feet from the pins and do the math and the force exerted back at the pins is multiples of whatever you're lifting.