Mid-Mount Weight Box

[Mechanos]

Playing around with idea of building a mid-mount weight box for my 955. Do you think there would be any real benefits? or am I wasting my brain power?

 

[Runner]

I think it is a GREAT idea. Since I have a rear finish mower, I can't hang weight on the back, so I've been thinking about the same thing.

My idea is to get 2 or 3 pieces of 1 inch thick steel plate, maybe 18 inches by 24 inches or so, and make some brackets that would hang them directly under the machine. Maybe use the MMM bracket mounting points.

This would put the weight down low and right in the middle where it needs to be and out of the way.

Good luck and post pictures if you decide to do it.

 

[smalltown]

I am always surprised by the enginuity and resoursefulness of the posters on here :thumbsup:

Would you be calling it a "pot belly weight" ?

 

[Mechanos]

...This would put the weight down low and right in the middle where it needs to be and out of the way...

Whether or not it the weight is "right where it needs to be" depends on what the weight is intended for. For example.... weight in the middle does nothing for counter-balance with using a FEL. It also adds weight to front axle instead of taking weight off the front axle. For FEL work, a rear counter balance is still needed.

My intention for the middle weight was purely for traction. It would add weight to both the front and rear axles (how much per axle depends on the front to back bias of the weight).

 

[rabidracin]

IMO loading tires is best way to add ballast. You won't loose any ground clearance by mounting in the middle and still have use of 3pt hitch arms by not having any ballast box on the rear.

 

[Mechanos]

IMO loading tires is best way to add ballast. You won't loose any ground clearance by mounting in the middle and still have use of 3pt hitch arms by not having any ballast box on the rear.

I already have loaded tires.

 

[RoyJackson]

A midmount weight box would add to the tractor's stability on slopes and provide protection for the underside on the machine (like a skid plate, especially if you extend it forward).
It'll help with traction (for all four wheels) if you plow snow.

But as you wrote...not much help in loader operations.

 

[Mechanos]

A midmount weight box would add to the tractor's stability on slopes and provide protection for the underside on the machine (like a skid plate, especially if you extend it forward).
It'll help with traction (for all four wheels) if you plow snow.

But as you wrote...not much help in loader operations.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Additional traction to all four wheels for box blading, etc. and increased stability on slopes. I already have loaded tires and was looking for more. I have several horsepower more than a "stock" 955 and am looking to deliver more of it to the ground before breaking traction. There is a trade off, though.... with more traction there is increased risk of something else besides traction breaking.

 

[HunterWare]

My only concern would be the shock loading of the MMM supports. Having heavy weights that are free to move up and then slam back down seems like it could cause problems unless one keeps things slow and smooth. I know that I certainly wince every time I hit a bump with my 62C and hear it pop up and then get caught by the lift arms... Shock loading systems just never seems to work out well.

 

[RoyJackson]

My only concern would be the shock loading of the MMM supports. Having heavy weights that are free to move up and then slam back down seems like it could cause problems unless one keeps things slow and smooth. I know that I certainly wince every time I hit a bump with my 62C and hear it pop up and then get caught by the lift arms... Shock loading systems just never seems to work out well.

Good point...although Mechanos hasn't specified, I'd assumed the weight box would be bolted to the tractor's frame.