Multi-Purpose Rear Ballast Project

Spencer · May 28, 2004

( By golly that should keep your tractor's rear tires on terra firma. It llooks like about a 2' cube. If that's the case, it should tip the scales at around 1200 pounds. Nice welding............chim )

chim, your pretty close, it is 24" by 24" by 20.5" tall. I don't remember what that calculates out at but I know thats is exactly what I thought I needed at the time I designed it.

As far as keeping the rear tires on the ground, I hope it does. It is amazing how much more lifting power my FEL has when I have adequate rear ballast. When I don't have enough rear ballast my FEL starts to lighten up the rear of the tractor instead of putting all of that force into the load on the FEL, if that makes any sense.

SPIKER · May 28, 2004

Spencer NICE welding!. looks really good but ya got some of dat dare cement on you reciever hitches on top and some leaked out the sides too! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif it's a same you welded that there up so nice and then covered 90% of it in concrete! lol...

I would think it is going to be more than enough to work out the 3pt lift... also if you bang you're shins on it blame RONR for pointing it out! lol.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Spencer · May 28, 2004

I couldn't wait any longer. I had to hook it up to the 3-point to see if it would fit. I didn't actually pick it up with the 3-point, I want to let it cure more before I do that. I moved it right on the pallet with my FEL. I could only lift the pallet off the ground about 4" but that was enough to reposition it in a location where I could back up to it with the 3-point.

So here is the picture of it all hooked up.

Spencer · May 28, 2004

( Looks Great.

If it were mine, I'd all the time be catching my shins on the drawbar pins!

)

Ron, as you can see from this picture, I don't think I could have had the pins in much further (or made the ballast wider).

You can also notice that it was a good thing that I eased those corners of the concrete. If I had left the box square then the corner of the concrete would just be hitting my 3-point lift arms.

I'm not going to pat myself on the back just yet, but so far so good.

Spencer · May 28, 2004

( Spencer NICE welding!. looks really good but ya got some of dat dare cement on you reciever hitches on top and some leaked out the sides too! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif it's a same you welded that there up so nice and then covered 90% of it in concrete! lol...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Spiker, I was thinking the same thing as I was pouring that first batch of concrete. I already cleaned it up a little bit this morning. I think it will be fine after some more cleaning and another paint job.

Bob_Skurka · May 28, 2004

Spencer, only one more question . . . DID THEY RUN OUT OF BLUE DYE AT THE LOCAL CONCRETE SUPPIER?

flyer · May 28, 2004

Nice welds! Can I ask what welding process you used?

Cliff_Johns · May 28, 2004

Very nice design, and a teriffic job of construction -- welding and concrete.
Just beautiful.

Cliff

Chechnya · May 28, 2004

Very good job. Your welds look fantastic.

Henro · May 28, 2004

Nice work Spencer,

Makes me want to get the welder fired up again, along with the weldor... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rip · May 29, 2004

It does look great and should work well also.

Maybe I overlooked it, but I did not see any mesh or rebars as you were pouring the mud. I would have used both plus considered the fiber reenforced concrete as well for something that is going to be handled and knocked about as this is likely to be.

Good luck and hope the concrete holds together (the steel part certainly should!)

Rip

SPIKER · May 29, 2004

Hey Guys:

I aws at a auction today. there was an old MF there and had a 55 gallon plastic barrel on back filled about 42" high with concrete and cut level to that height. it was round so the lift arms and corners were not a problem. weight I'm sure there was more than enough ballast to keep most tractors planted so firmly it would be hard ot get them moving! lol

anyhow it was a neat idea.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

B7510 · May 31, 2004

( I'm not sure how long I should let this cure before I try to pick it up with my 3-point. )

Concrete will typically gain about 70% of its strength in about 7 days. While it keeps on getting stronger for quite a while, most of the curing occurs in the first 28 days. The big thing is to keep it wet and cool.

Concrete gets its strength as the cement hydrates, that takes water. So wet curing concrete is usually a good idea. The hydration is a chemical reaction that gives off heat, so keeping it cool is also a good idea, a sprinkler hose will work well for both.

Very nice welds, very clean. Using gas or lots of grinding?

Looks to me like you will have pleanty of weight. Looks like it will stay low to the ground too.

I think my little Kubota would just look at that thing and grunt. Probably as the front wheels came off the ground.

good luck.

hazmat · Jun 3, 2004

Looks great Spencer. Sorry you don't have more time to spend on tbn...

GerardC · Jun 3, 2004

What's the verdict? G

polecat · Jun 4, 2004

very very nice!!!!! a true work of art!!!!!! ru going to paint that cement blue!!!???and lets see it !!!!up in the air!!!!

TODD /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 4, 2004

Very nice! I ought to consider getting something like that built before the concrete trucks arrive for the new floor in the barn. I'm not sure how much weight I'd need for my JD 4200 so if anyone knows or knows where I can find out, please feel free to let me know. Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

hazmat · Jun 6, 2004

I'm not sure how much weight I'd need for my JD 4200 so if anyone knows or knows where I can find out, please feel free to let me know. Thanks 

Gary,

Glad to see you "back" at tbn.

Try your FEL or tractor manaul, they usually say how much ballast to use.

I built mine for 75-80% of the 3pt capacity. That was more than NH recommended I needed for the FEL.