Ballast Front weights on Grille Guard??

[Bob_Young]

I like to use my L4300 and MX5000 without the FEL when Bush Hogging around trees. Much more maneuverable and less hazard to the trees. Trouble is the front gets a bit light when I raise the BH, especially when the BB720's on the back. Think I need at least a couple hundred lbs. up front.

The grille guards on both are drilled with four holes arranged the same way the seven (or eight?) holes are on the front weight bracket that's sold for these tractors. Asked my salesman if I could add four - 55lb. Kubota suitcase weights to my grille guards as ballast. He consulted with another salesman, looked the grille guard over and concluded the weight might be too much for the guard and that it really wasn't meant to carry suitcase weights.

Today I happened to be looking through the Kubota 2007 full-line brochure (yeah, I save tractor **** ) and found a picture in the L-series section of an L3400 equipped with FEL brackets and grille guard carrying 4 suitcase weights on the grille guard.

So, which is it? Too flimsy for the weight and done just for photo purposes or something it was designed to do? Don't want to destroy anything, don't want to void the warranty, just want maneuverability with a front end that stays down. I do want to keep the grille guard in place. It saved me several hundred dollars damage to the MX last week.

If anyone else is doing this or if a dealer could speak up on his experiences, I would appreciate it.
Thanks.
Bob

 

[Harvest Moon]

Bob, I saw the same thing, although I haven't purchased any weights yet.

See if this thread helps: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../125439-l3400-la463-grill-guard-suitcase.html

 

[Bob_Young]

Thanks, Harvest Moon. You posted the same picture I saw and that thread addressed my issue exactly.

An hour or so after posting this morning, my salesman called and said he'd checked with the Kubota rep, and the rep couldn't see any reason why weights would pose a problem on the grille guard.

So, I ordered 6 weights and hardware. 4 for the MX5000 and 2 for the L4300. Turns out they take the same 55 lb. suitcase weight. Guess I'll be the one with experience shortly. Looking forward to it. Without the loaders, both tractors are very maneuverable and just the thing for hogging around all my trees.
Bob

 

[lowboy]

I have a BX 24 with a front bumper , I added 2 metal bars 3/8 thick by 3 to the bottom of the bumper and half way up then you some Kubota G8103 suitcase weights to it they are 25# each I have 8 of them on the tractor and they are easy to take on and off . search this site for front fenders and you can see the set up

 

[DLMaine01]

Interesting post Bob. I have added the weight bracket to the factory grill guard/FEL structure on the front of my M4900 but have yet to buy any weights.
Do you mind saying how much the weights cost?
I agree with you 100% that in the tractor is much more maneuverable without the FEL, in my case logging.
Thanks

 

[628pm]

I have a B2620, that I purchased front weights when I purchased the tractor. Was using a heavy implement on the 3 pt hitch, so I placed the weights on the front. At that time I didn't have the FEL installed. Did not think anything of the weights when I put the FEL back on. Lowered the FEL and bent my lines going to the FEL cylinders. So I don't know if you will have the same issue if you try and use the FEL and weights at the same time. But check it out. Didn't break the lines, just bent them up a little.

 

[Piperflyer]

I made my own counterweights from some 6" tube steel and some 2" angle iron I had. Filled the tube steel with concrete mix and it weights in at 170 lbs. More than enough for my brush hog and finish mower. I can put it on and take it off in ten minutes. It just bolts to the front of the tractor frame using the holes that are in the frame. I have no more than $25.00 in the whole thing. All you need is a welder, band saw, and some talent.