Your owners manuals for the tractor & loader should have the info you are looking for. My NH manuals both state that counterbalance should be used on the rear when using the front loader, and I wouldn't do it without it. That LS dealer is greatly misinformed on this subject. My NH loader manual also states this. (Quote) Sufficient weight can be added to the tractor by filling the rear tires with liquid ballast, or by installing rear wheel weights, or three point counterweight. If three point hitch counterweight is used, carry it low at all times to maximize stability. The effective counterbalance weight of mounted rear equipment is determined by multiplying the actual weight of the equipment by 1.50. EXAMPLE: If equipment weighing 400lbs is attached to the rear of the tractor, multiply 400lbs. by 1.50. This equals 600 lbs. of effective counterbalance weight. To GmanBart. I had a counterweight that was in a vertical configuration similar as yours. The first time I had it on a slight slope of a hill, I thought the tractor was going to turn over, scared me pretty bad. So, I constructed a weight rack that allows suitcase weights to be installed more to the outside of the rear wheels. This greatly increased the stability of the tractor in general. Now, your weight will work fine on level surfaces, but be extremely careful on sloped ground. With the (8) 100lb suitcase weights I have on the rear bracket, I have an effective 1200lbs of rear counterweight. I can add or subtract weight as needed, too...!
