Ballast Front weights

[40Kchicks]

So I just built a rather large implement for my tractor to clean my poultry barns. I’m guessing that it weights somewhere around 5 thousand pounds empty. I’m not done with it yet but I did take it for a first test drive. Now so far I haven’t needed any extra weight on my tractor but with this monster behind me things felt a little to light on the front end and steering sometimes needed some help with the turning brakes.

So I have some options.
I could get the Kubota 120lb suitcase weights. The bracket cost $230 and each weight is $60 and there are 10 of them. I may have to wait a little while until funds become available if this is the best option.

I could build my own weight bracket and cut out suitcase weights which I haven’t looked into how much this would cost.

Or could I fill the front tires. This would add less weight but would be more compact which is important when driving inside. There are lots of you folks out there with filled tires. Did you fill the fronts?

As always your opinions are appreciated
Eric

PS The poultry house cleaner is in the REV I state. It is getting many changes done soon including a real paint job so bare that in mind if you check out the picture.

 

[PineRidge]

Moving that axle and changing the center of gravity or tongue weight a bit would have solved your need for front weights. However weights or filled tires are not the worst things in the world. We use rear weights but have not yet needed front weights. Very nice job on the construction.

 

[Henro]

I had my fronts foam filled and that added more weight than I expected. I did not do it for that reason though. I did it for puncture prevention.

I like the feel of the foam tires when using the loader. More solid and less bouncy [I think]. I had them foam filled so soon after buying the tractor, I don't remember how if felt to use the loader with air in the fronts. My tires are R4s.

Don't know if this helps much, but it's a start... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I see no reason why I would ever not want my front tires foam filled...at least for my use of the tractor.

 

[JerryG]

Is you decaker attached to the tractor in the picture?

 

[Soundguy]

I think I'd make My own. When I found out how expen$ive NH suitcase weights were.. I built a weighted front bumper out of pipe and concrete.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[PineRidge]

Henro were you experiencing a lot of flat tires or did you foam your tires for another reason? I'm just being nosey here.

 

[Egon]

Nice Job. As stated build your own weights as that would be much easier than what you have just done.

Have you considered a wheel that can rotate 360 degrees and set up so it can raised/lowered on the front of the barn cleaner.

Egon

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Henro were you experiencing a lot of flat tires or did you foam your tires for another reason? I'm just being nosey here. </font>

PineRidge

Shortly after getting my tractor I was cleaning up a place where there was a LOT of broken glass and after I saw how easy I got the first flat, I decided to get the fronts foam filled and to see how the back ones did. It cost about $70 per tire for the ones on my B2910 kubota.

Never had a problem with any flats on the rear tires. Did end up filling those with windshield washer fluid.

I think foam filling the fronts was a good move in my case, for my needs. I certainly don't worry about punctures on the front now... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[5030]

Bill:

This last summer, I didn't see any broken glass.....

I did see a few empty beer cans, however.

 

[40Kchicks]

Pineridge:
Moving the axles forward would have certainly put less weight on tongue but would have raised the rear end of the machine and increased the angle of the lift conveyer. Both of these things might have been problems with the design.

Jerry:
<font color="blue"> Is your decaker attached to the tractor in the picture? </font>
Yes it is the first rev of my decaker as you call it. It is similar to a Lewis or KMC poultry housekeeper machine. Many things need changed and buttoned up on it (like guards ect.) which I am going to be working on now that we got chicks back in the barns. I will be doing a full post detailing the construction once I get it done. I have been working on it pretty solid for about a month now.

Soundguy:
Your advice about the weighted bumper sounds good. I worry about damaging my hood while driving in the barns. It gets a little tight in them and it wouldn’t take much to break out the headlights on the tractor by bumping a wall. A weighted bumper and weighted front tires might be the winning combo.

Egon
<font color="blue"> As stated build your own weights as that would be much easier than what you have just done. </font>
I think the suitcase weights would be an easy project because my friend has a CNC metal cutting business. He owes me some free work because I helped him build his big shop. The only thing is my last tractor had suitcase weights and I often hit the barn walls because you would forget that these things were hanging upfront a foot and a half.

<font color="blue"> Have you considered a wheel that can rotate 360 degrees and set up so it can raised/lowered on the front of the barn cleaner? </font>
I really never thought of this but I think the soft bedding materiel and weight would cause the wheel to dig in.

As always thanks for the reply guys. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Eric

 

[JerryG]

The reason that I asked if it was hooked to the tractor in the picture was because I was thinking the same thing as Egon. If the tongue was as long as it appeared in the picture, then you could possible put caster wheels on the front of the machine. You would need a fair size wheel for flotation in the litter.

 

[40Kchicks]

The tongue was built in haste. I plan on making mine more like the one in the attachment. The hydraulic tongue will give me more control. I also want it to be as short as possible to allow for more maneuverability.

By the way Jerry do you use a housekeeper to clean your barns?

Eric

 

[40Kchicks]

This is the current temporary setup. Let me tell you sitting in front of that tiller with no guard when I tested it out gave me the chilly willys. I ordered the mesh for the guard last week.

Eric

 

[JerryG]

I hire my houses cleaned out, but I decake with a Litter Saver. BillyP also uses a Litter Saver. A litter saver incorporates the cake back into the dry litter. I usually do two passes about 8 hrs. to a day apart. That is enough to get everything dry and to get rid of most of the ammonia. I have one man that only buys my litter because I don't remove the cake. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( tongue was as long as it appeared in the picture, then you could possible put caster wheels on the front of the )</font>

Neat idea.. could even do a swivel.. and have a sort of 'trailer dolley setup.. actually having two casters on front, with a swivel. The'll automaticall track when towed, and with two tires will 'float' better.. and unload the tractor rear end to some degree.

Soundguy

 

[40Kchicks]

The nearby Foster Farms company farm has that same priefert tiller. I used it my first cleanout. This summer I bought a used Big O litter tiller. It has more like a T shaped flail instead of the curved shovel flail. It worked really well this summer.

Eric