Ballast Front Weights

[spd163]

Has anyone tried the front bumper weights that mount on the Ford tractors? Mine has five holes drilled in the bumper and the dealer told me the weights are approximately 40lbs each. I don't think 200lbs would make enough of a difference.
It seems that no matter what I put on the 3pt I lose most of my steering ability because it lightens the front end so much.

 

[Boots]

spd163,
I think you might be surprised at the benefit of 200 pounds way up front. I'm not sure the wheel base length is for your tractor, but assuming it to be 7 feet from the rear wheels to the front weights, and assuming 2 feet from the rear wheels to the 3pt hitch, 200 pounds up front equates to 700 pounds at the hitch. The numbers may not be exactly right, but you get the general idea. My JD which is quite a bit larger in size has the front weights, and it really makes a big difference when I have a heavy implement on the 3pt hitch. In my opinion, if you have loss of steering capability, you should definately add some front weights.

Boots

 

[Bird]

Like Boots said, it'll make a big difference. If you don't have a front end loader and can put some weight in it, then you probably would be very happy with the front weights, and sounds like you need them. If the expense is too much, you can make some kind of weights yourself and bolt on there. I see that done a lot.

Bird

 

[dullpain]

I had a 1900 Ford with about 230 lbs on the front. Believe me it makes a big difference!

 

[shade2u2]

I use old steel barbell plates (25 or 50lbs each) that I hang on my blade or front. These can be bought new for about $.50 per lb. I also remember a post where someone custom welded these barbel plates to fit just like wheel weights. NH weights price estimate from dealer = from $.65 to $.80 per lb for wheel or front suitcase weight for by TC33.

 

[Thomas]

spd163,
I have a formual for front counter balance that my operator's manual says to use for a B7100.
If your interested I can send it to you.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RobertN]

Before I got my loader, I used weights on my b8200 Kubota, about equivilant to a TC18.

I used three weights; I think ~50lb each. It worked ok. There were times when mowing where the front end was light and pushed. I ended up filling my front tires. Between that and the weights, things worked well. I just used water, and drained it when it got cold out. I added my loader a few months later...

Things seemed worse with the roatary mower than with the scraper. The rotary mower hangs SOOOO FAAAR of the back; the leverage forces were too much.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[spd163]

Thanks for all the comments...someone at work suggested mixing water/antifreeze and filling the front tires in combination with the front weights. Is there a problem with using this mixture, and if so what should I use?
Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[GlennT]

I have a VERY small tractor--a JD model 670. I have a variety of implements that I hang on a quick hitch on the back, including a finish mower, a shredder, a scoop, a crane, a chipper, a box blade and a regular blade. It's gotten to the point where I leave my 200 pounds of suitcase weights on the front all the time. If I don't, the front end rises majestically into the air and I can't do anything. Even with the weights on, I have to lean forward on the operator's platform to keep the front end on the ground if I fill the scoop full of dirt or gravel. I feel kind of silly sometimes, but it isn't really dangerous. With the implements on the back, there's no way that the tractor will rear over backwards.

 

[Rch]

GLENNT, be careful, There can be a situation that the tractor is on a tilt, especially downside falling in a hole or sinking in mud, and depending on exactly what is on the back and the distribution of the load in the FEL,the tractor gets pulled to the side and tips over off to the side. Murphy's law; there is more than one way to go wrong!

RCH