OP
mslisaj
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2017
- Messages
- 323
- Location
- Klamath Falls, Oregon
- Tractor
- LS MT125 Loader/Backhoe John Deere Sabre Lawn tractor w/Snow Blade
Thanks "LSmt125 owner" for your comments. Keeping the machine clean for me is easy and after all I bought it new and it was "clean". I understand folks that use their tractors all day long every day don't have the time or inclination to wash and clean a tractor after working and working it all day. If I worked this little tractor every day and was exhausted myself when I got off it I'm not sure it would get cleaned. But I'm retired and I'm proud of this machine and it's just fun for me to keep it looking like new. It's always greased and ready to go if I need it. I'm just a fussy old lady when it comes to this stuff.
It was really interesting for me to drive it with these weights for the first time. As I pointed out the backhoe is heavier but it's also top heavy and with the rigid rear axle when a tire falls in a hole or climbs a rock the tall backhoe really causes a sway that is felt. The tractor is not close to tipping by any means but these low weights really made the tractor feel like it's hugging the ground.
Intesting idea about reversing the "T-bar" holding the weights. Originally I never planned on removing weight for the "perfect" balance. I had also though of buying a scraper box just for the purpose of "ballast" too (I could also use the box for other things of course). But the reality is those weights each are about all that I can handle by myself individually. The 65 pounders I can lift and carry a very short distance but the 100 pound weights I can't lift and can only get them to their edge. I would stand them up and slip the bar through the hole on each weight. Then take a 5' digging bar and use that leverage to stand the stack up on the T part of the retaining bar vertically. Then I would place the three point hitch on that and bolt it together. I work and live alone so I have something here that I can handle. The way I have bolted this together keeps the weights tight so they don't rattle or move around. When I took the weight pack or "heavy hitch" off the machine I put it outside where I'll store it and blocked it up so it won't roll around and disconnected the three point and drove away. But your idea is valid and could be easily converted. Then the T-bar wouldn't need the T. I could pin it to the hitch and it would stick out like a stinger. I could adjust the height of the three point and then roll and slip on each weight on the "stinger" and then use a bolt to retain the stack. That idea actually would have been simpler and it shows what a second set of eyes on a project would reveal.
On not posting much lately well, I do check the board every day but most of the post recently have been from folks with bigger tractors with other issues that don't apply to the little MT125. But if I have something that I can offer I will always jump right in there. I've received a lot of help and idea's from this forum so I'm loyal here.
Thanks again for your comments,
Best regards,
Lisa
It was really interesting for me to drive it with these weights for the first time. As I pointed out the backhoe is heavier but it's also top heavy and with the rigid rear axle when a tire falls in a hole or climbs a rock the tall backhoe really causes a sway that is felt. The tractor is not close to tipping by any means but these low weights really made the tractor feel like it's hugging the ground.
Intesting idea about reversing the "T-bar" holding the weights. Originally I never planned on removing weight for the "perfect" balance. I had also though of buying a scraper box just for the purpose of "ballast" too (I could also use the box for other things of course). But the reality is those weights each are about all that I can handle by myself individually. The 65 pounders I can lift and carry a very short distance but the 100 pound weights I can't lift and can only get them to their edge. I would stand them up and slip the bar through the hole on each weight. Then take a 5' digging bar and use that leverage to stand the stack up on the T part of the retaining bar vertically. Then I would place the three point hitch on that and bolt it together. I work and live alone so I have something here that I can handle. The way I have bolted this together keeps the weights tight so they don't rattle or move around. When I took the weight pack or "heavy hitch" off the machine I put it outside where I'll store it and blocked it up so it won't roll around and disconnected the three point and drove away. But your idea is valid and could be easily converted. Then the T-bar wouldn't need the T. I could pin it to the hitch and it would stick out like a stinger. I could adjust the height of the three point and then roll and slip on each weight on the "stinger" and then use a bolt to retain the stack. That idea actually would have been simpler and it shows what a second set of eyes on a project would reveal.
On not posting much lately well, I do check the board every day but most of the post recently have been from folks with bigger tractors with other issues that don't apply to the little MT125. But if I have something that I can offer I will always jump right in there. I've received a lot of help and idea's from this forum so I'm loyal here.
Thanks again for your comments,
Best regards,
Lisa