How much 3 point counter weight for the MT125

mslisaj · Sep 18, 2018

This is an old question and I have seen it addressed with bigger LS machines but I'm asking this specifically for the MT125 and the LB1107 loader. I have the backhoe and it weighs just over 700 pounds and it is truly the ideal counterweight. But as I have read from others that is a lot of equipment hanging off the back to inadvertantly back into something when you don't need to be dragging it around. For winter operations and moving snow the BH is actually too much weight to have as it makes the front end too light to really steer in snow or ice as the front end will just skid. So I'm in the process of building a "heavy hitch" from a 3 point hitch adapter. I'm planning on welding some hangers to suspend about 360 pounds of wheel weights from it; add the hitch weight and I'll have about 400 pounds back there. Any opinions on how much would be ideal? The loader is "rated" for 1000# at the pins but that doesn't include the bucket so I'm figuring a lift of about 800 is what would be a lot to move. When reading the specs on the tractor the front axle max capacity is about 1600 pounds. I have not weighed the axles on this tractor to see what they carry individually so this is kind of a guess proposition. But I'm just fishing for some thoughts here as my counter weight project continues.

Thanks for your thoughts gentlemen.

Lisa

Rustyiron · Sep 18, 2018

I couldn't tell you how much weight you need, but what your building sound's like you could build it so that you could allow for the wheel weights to be added or removed until you found the sweet spot, or even adjustable for various tasks. Your 700# hoe is also way back from your axle and behaves like a much heavier weight that's "close in" just on the 3pt hitch.

LS Tractor Owner · Sep 18, 2018

Agree with Rustyiron, make it so additional weight can be added or removed. I have my PHD on there now, with the auger, about 350lbs. I could definitely feel how light the back end was, but was able to pickup a full load of 1/2" gravel, move it at transport height, then raise to full height over a fence and dump. I never lifted a rear wheel, but I bet it was close. Next time I'm going to put on my box blade which weighs about 450-500lbs, and sticks out a little further and is much lower than the PHD. I tried to lift about a 1/2 bucket load of dirt one time w/o anything on the 3 point.....that was not fun

mslisaj · Sep 18, 2018

Thanks gentlemen for the feedback. I was going to so something really complicated (at least that is how I pictured it) until I put that "hitch" on the 3 point and looked at it. I'm just going to take a piece of two inch box tubing and start hanging weights on that. I have two small weights that are 65 pounds each and they have a 3 1/2" hole in the center which will be perfect. I'm going out and try to buy two or three more in the 75 pound range and I'll have plenty to play with. The point about the BH hanging way out there is true and it adds more moment to that arm. It's also has too high of a center of gravity to make loader work comfortable. So I think I'm on the right track. I can drill the 2" box tube at different places to pin it and keep the weights tight and keep them low.

My original point was not to overload the "expensive" front axle and damage it but you talk about lifting the rear wheels off the ground which would not be a happy feeling either. Great point. Thanks for your thoughts and ideas here.

Lisa